Matt Service, from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, told the Times ongoing research proposes monitoring the lough for salinity, temperature and other variables as well as introducing a system to absorb any contaminants in the water.

In 2001 the Northern Ireland Executive published a shellfish management plan, which stressed the importance of developing a sustainable aquaculture industry "with minimal environmental impact."

Following the publication Queen's University and the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) launched a research project to investigate the capacity for aquaculture at five sites in Northern Ireland, including Larne Lough.

In 2004, a consortium of researchers launched the first phase of the SMILE (Sustainable Mariculture in Northern Irish Sea Lough Ecosystem) project. Half of Larne Lough was surveyed as one of five shellfish production sites in Northern Ireland.

Speaking to the Times, Mr Service said: "We then produced a management plan with recommendations to look at carrying capacity - which in broad terms is how many shellfish can be put into the lough."

In the past, Mr Service said, growers have reported problems and the SMILE team are currently working with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) - which has launched an investigation to establish why shellfish producers experienced problems. At present, Mr Service said: "There's no real reason why Larne should not be fully productive."

Researchers are planning to install a monitoring buoy in Larne Lough within six weeks to check temperature, salinity and other variables. And SMILE and the NIEA plan to put a system into the lough which will absorb contaminants.

Mr Service added: "There were concerns within the industry that the SMILE project was an end point and it was being imposed." This is not the case, he said. "The coastal zone is under increasing pressure so we need a sustainable deal."

The project's main aims included establishing models for sustainable aquaculture in Northern Ireland and examining the potential environmental effects of different shellfish cultivation strategies.