Wake to be held at Lough Neagh as concerns grow over toxic algae
Blue-green algae is potentially harmful to animals and can cause illness in humans
Last updated 15th Sep 2023
Hundreds of community activists are expected to descend on Ballyronan Marina this weekend for a wake to mourn the potential demise of Lough Neagh.
The future of the UK's largest freshwater lake hangs in the balance as blue green algae takes hold.
Lough Neagh supplies half of all drinking water in Belfast, and 40% of Northern Ireland's overall total.
It is also home to the largest commercial wild eel fishery in Europe.
The blue-green algal bloom over the summer has caused havoc, not just in Lough Neagh but right up to Northern Ireland's north coast.
Water from the Lough flows down the Upper Bann and into the Atlantic Ocean at the Barmouth between Portstewart and Castlerock in County Londonderry.
'Love Our Lough', a group set up in response to the disaster, is holding a peaceful protest on Sunday afternoon from 2pm to 4pm at Ballyronan Marina.
Organisers outlined how those attending are urged to wear black clothing to reflect how the lake is facing an "environmental disaster."
Dr Louise Taylor, founder of the group described the popular nature spot as "undervalued and overlooked for many many reasons."
She said "My heart is absolutely broken by what I have seen and what I am witnessing. it is the dirtiest secret of Northern Ireland, a lot of people have known for years and years and years that it is being polluted to incredibly dangerous levels."
"It is not being respected, it is not being cared for."
"This is a public health emergency and an ecological crisis. We must come together to Love Our Lough and support each other."
In a statement DAERA said: “The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is fully committed to protecting our environment and working with partners and stakeholders to ensure our waterways are healthy for biodiversity, the public and for animals.
“DAERA has a range of significant programmes underway to improve water quality including the development of River Basin Management Plan, the Soil Nutrient Health Programme, the Nutrient Action Plan, Environmental Farming Scheme and Environmental Challenge Fund.
"The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) also undertakes extensive monitoring and inspection programmes as well as investigating all reported pollution incidents.
“Whilst it is recognised that significant pieces of work are progressing, improvements in water quality will take a considerable period of sustained effort over many years, and DAERA and NIEA cannot deliver this on their own. Every person in Northern Ireland needs to consider how their behaviour impacts on the water environment.
"We all have a part to play in this long-term effort to positively contribute to a sustained improvement in the status of our water bodies.”
It added that meetings have been held to discuss the blue-green algae issue with a number of relevant government departments and other agencies.
Here are some more pictures of the algae 🔽:
Green and blue algae deposits at Loughneagh near the Marina in Ballyronan