People in the local area were also concerned that a disease, which killed more than 17, 000 commonseals in the North Sea in 1988, was starting to affect the mammals again.
Michelle McIlveen of the DUP referred to the importance of Strangford as a breeding ground for common and grey seals, and said the assembly should not underestimate the importance of the mussel beds as a filtration system and as a nursery for other species.