A new study of Northern Ireland's waters has found that stocks of cod and whiting are at their lowest ever recorded levels.

The Northern Ireland State of the Seas report, launched by NI environment minister Edwin Poots and agriculture minister Michelle Gildernew, showed that while herring and haddock stocks are improving, some species remain "seriously depleted", according to the Belfast Telegraph.

"This is a key time in managing our marine environment," said minister Poots. "We have an extremely rich and varied coastline with the marine species in our seas contributing to over half the overall biodiversity in Northern Ireland."

The report also evaluates the potential of other marine resources such as tourism, beaches, shipwrecks and renewable energy - all of which will contribute to new planning laws covering the marine environment.

The Belfast Telegraph has more on the story HERE.

NI environment minister Edwin Poots has appealed to the public for information on marine animals following the suspicious deaths of five seals in Strangford Lough last week.

The grim discovery comes only weeks after a wave of fatal corkscrew-like injuries to seals in the same region.

The UK Department of Environment confirmed to the BBC that one of the seals had similar corkscrew imjuries, while another had been shot.

Minister Poots told BBC News: "Despite warnings from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency in the media, there are still people who have no qualms about carrying out this inhumane practice."

He added: "Now, in the light of the latest deaths, it is even more important that we find out who is behind this and put a stop to it."