Lough Neagh consultation launched - amid concerns over ownership, algae and fishing

THE long-awaited Lough Neagh Heritage Resilience Consultation has been launched.

Lough Neagh Partnership is behind the document, which much be completed by the end of May.

The LNP said that the responses will be used to inform a ‘10-Year Lough Neagh Resilience Plan’.

Last summer the Lough and other waterways in the catchment were blighted by toxic blue-green algal blooms and there have been concerns over the ownership of the soil and bed of Lough Neagh - which is dredged by a number of construction firms - by an English aristocrat.

Contributing factors to the environmental problems are believed to include nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural fertiliser run-off, climate change and the spread of the invasive zebra mussel species, which filters water to allow sunlight to penetrate deeper.

“This project aims to preserve and protect the unique landscape of Lough Neagh, ensuring its vitality for generations to come.” said a spokesperson.

“Your feedback and insights during this consultation are vital to developing a robust plan for the area’s future.

“The Lough Neagh Partnership is embarking on a comprehensive endeavor to gather valuable insights and information regarding heritage, ownership and environmental concerns associated with Lough Neagh. Situated in Northern Ireland, Lough Neagh stands as the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles, bearing immense ecological and cultural significance.

“Your participation in this survey will contribute immensely to our understanding of the diverse perspectives surrounding Lough Neagh. Your input will inform critical decision-making processes aimed at preserving and enhancing the ecological integrity of this vital resource. .

“This initiative is dedicated to the preservation and protection of Lough Neagh’s landscape heritage for the benefit of future generations. Your involvement during the consultation period is essential to shaping the future stewardship and safeguarding of this treasured landscape.

“ Our methodology incorporates four strategic phases: engagement with key stakeholders, dissemination of Online Questionnaires, conducting comprehensive desktop research, and the development of two informative online webinar sessions. These preliminary stages are critical to our research and will inform the content of our webinars, which we aim to complete by June 2024.

“After this consultation phase, we will begin the detailed formulation of the 10-Year Heritage Resilience Plan for Lough Neagh. Concurrently, our team will initiate investigations into innovative ownership and management frameworks for Lough Neagh’s governance.

The overall project is supported by the Heritage Fund, which has contributed £224,395 funding.

At Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council’s Community Planning Committee in January it was agreed to provide an increased annual contribution of £24,200 to Lough Neagh Partnership for the period 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 and just a few weeks ago, approved £6,666 towards the Resilience Plan Project.

The LNP said that completing this questionnaire should require no more than 15 minutes of your time and must be completed by May 31, 2024.

The consultation can be found at: https://loughneaghpartnership.org/the

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Meanwhile, Agriculture and Environment Minister Andrew Muir warned MLAs that work to rectify the condition of Lough Neagh could be paused over the potential financial allocation for his department in the forthcoming Stormont budget.

He said that resource funding bids made by Executive ministers totalled more than three times what is available to Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald.

Mr Muir said last month that ‘difficult interventions’ would be needed to address the problems in the lough, a major source of drinking water.

And last week, he told MLAs: “I’m very conscious that the budget situation that Northern Ireland faces in terms of potential decisions will involve very difficult choices to be made by all ministers. And I’ll not shy away from those decisions myself. I’m not someone who is known for that and I am someone who is very keen to ensure that as an Executive, we are successful, and we are able to set a budget.

“But it’s important that our budget is a fair budget and is a budget that allows the departments to deliver upon their expectations and duties for the people of Northern Ireland.”

Mr Muir said his concern regarding the budget is that, in terms of what his department would be able to do, would be “potentially doing less, rather than more”.

“That would mean that in terms of any actions associated with Lough Neagh that they will be paused,” he warned.

“And I don’t think that is credible nor acceptable. We need to be able to invest in terms of actions associated with Lough Neagh.”

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin’s Declan Kearney has written to the DAERA Minister urging him to address the financial pressures which will potentially impact upon Lough Neagh’s commercial freshwater fishing industry again this season. 

The South Antrim MLA said: “During a recent Assembly sitting, I highlighted the serious financial pressures which had affected the Lough Neagh fishing industry in 2023 and said I would write directly to the DAERA Minister about the need to address the hardships which will potentially re-emerge for the Lough’s commercial fishermen again this season.

“The eel fishing season on the Lough normally lasts six months, from May until October. Last year this was reduced to a period of just six weeks, with significant financial hardships caused for fisher families and devastating repercussions for the freshwater fishing industry and other businesses which are reliant upon Lough Neagh for incomes and livelihoods.

“The extent of these intensive financial pressures has received little attention. However, if similar levels of blue-green algae pollute the Lough again this year, local fishermen and other businesses will be faced with an unsustainable financial situation.

“Eel fishing is synonymous with Lough Neagh in both historical and contemporary terms. Our local eels have been awarded the prestigious Protected Geographical Indication status. Yet, the numbers of fishermen working on the Lough has reduced by as much as 80% during the last 30 years.

“I have now written to the DAERA Minister outlining my concerns and urging him to ensure that the financial and livelihood hardships for local fishermen are taken into account within his department’s strategy to tackle the catastrophic impacts upon the ecosystem and economy of the lough.

“I have also called for a step change regarding engagement with local people and an appropriate communication strategy in advance of this summer period. It is essential that the experiences of 2023 are applied to preparations and contingency planning for this year as a matter of urgency.”