MLAs told of prawn shell 'solution' to Lough Neagh pollution problems

A novel proposal to deploy waste prawn shells to tackle the blue green algae pollution crisis at Lough Neagh has been presented to MLAs.

The Northern Ireland Fish Producers' Organisation, which is the representative body for the commercial sea fishing industry in the region, highlighted a research initiative involving Queen's University in Belfast that developed a process to turn shell waste into a substance called chitosan.

The organisation said chitosan is used extensively in cutting edge water treatment projects, with CEO Harry Wick explaining that the substance's positive iconic charge causes it to bind with pollutants, including algae and phosphates.

Mr Wick, who briefed members of the Agriculture committee on Thursday, said that then forms a sludge that can be removed from the lough and disposed of safely.

He said it differs from chemical treatments in that it is completely natural.

Mr Wick said the local industry was partnering with a North American company called Tidal Vision which, he said, was already successfully using chitosan-based technologies to treat similar pollution problems in the US.

He said there was around 1,000 tonnes of waste prawn shell produced every year in Kilkeel and the proposed approach could generate value from that by-product to help Lough Neagh in a form of circular economy.

"This is an example of industry drawing on the best technology and practices from around the world and using our own industry's natural by-products to apply them," he told the committee.

"To realise this and to ensure we are self-reliant with this kind of work going forward a chitosan refinery will need to be built in Northern Ireland and our partners have the technology and the will to be able to help us with that.

"That refinery, in conjunction with Tidal Vision's world leading expertise, will give Northern Ireland and our collaboration the platform to develop into a European powerhouse of environmental clean-up."