Warning that Lough Neagh recovery 'could take years'

THE recovery of Lough Neagh, which has been blighted with pollution and blue-green algae blooms, could take decades, Stormont’s Environment Minister has said.

Andrew Muir was speaking following another summer of issues with what is the largest freshwater lake in the UK.

The poor condition of the lough recently saw the eel fishing season cut short.

In the Assembly today, Andrew Muir was asked about his department’s Lough Neagh Recovery Plan.

He said of the 37 actions in the plan, 14 have been delivered, 22 are actively progressing and one is pending because it is reliant on another action being taken.

“I remain committed to driving forward delivery of the remaining actions at pace," he said.

“Progress today reflects co-ordinated efforts across key themes including scientific research and innovation, enhanced monitoring and enforcement, education and stakeholder engagement, regulatory reform and strategic communications, while supporting strides have been made.

“It's essential to recognise the recovery of the lough requires sustained, long-term action.

“Given the depth and complexity of the problem, substantial recovery will take many years, if not decades."

The minister said that key interventions need support from other Executive ministers on, particularly in relation to wastewater infrastructure.

“I’m going to be looking at strengthening regulation and enforcement in relation to sewage pollution,” he said.

“I have also been very clear and put it on the record that we need to be brave in terms of stepping forward and looking at investment that's required in our wastewater infrastructure, and I'm happy to support the Infrastructure Minister in terms of any proposals that may be put forward in that regard.

“Also in recent climate change, we've had the warmest summer on record, and that is not unrelated to the scenes that we've witnessed in Lough Neagh.

“So we're consulting on the Climate Action Plan, once we conclude that I'm going to get that finalised and bring it to the Executive for agreement, and hopefully people can support me on this, because there's opportunities from climate action, but there's also a moral imperative and a legal imperative to take action in that regard."

Mr Muir said that Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK and Ireland which does not have an independent environmental protection agency.

In terms of the agriculture sector, he added that everyone has a part to play in improving water quality.

“I want to put it on record my thanks to the good work that's been done in previous decades by farmers” he said.

“There is good work being done, they're fantastic custodians of the countryside and we need to help them in terms of the road ahead.

"I'm working with the Finance Minister. I need support in terms of a just transition fund for agriculture.

"We also need to get around the table, finalise an agreed scheme of measures in relation to the Nutrients Action Programme, further consult on that, and then get agreement to move forward.

"I believe we can. If there's a will, there's a way."