Northern Ireland’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, Andrew Muir, has announced 20 actions the department will take to “address the challenges in Lough Neagh”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Muir announced the actions today (Tuesday, July 2), stating that the actions taken by the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) will help improve water quality and tackle blue-green algae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Muir said many of the DAERA actions were already underway and that those remaining will be taken forward by the department as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 20 DAERA actions form part of the wider Lough Neagh Report and Action Plan which is currently under consideration by the Executive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 20 measures announced today are DAERA-only actions and do not require Executive approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A report published recently from Queen\u2019s University Belfast (QUB) highlighted deep feelings of \u201csadness, anger, disbelief, fear and anxiety<\/a>\u201d over the Lough Neagh blue-green algae ecological crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The report is based on a series of interviews conducted by researchers from QUB, with local communities, including those involved in fishing and farming, who are most directly affected by the \u201cenvironmental crisis\u201d in Lough Neagh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DAERA has previously stated that excess nutrients from agricultural activities and wastewater pressures are \u201cprimarily\u201d to blame for the growth of the blue-green algae in Northern Ireland\u2019s waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While announcing the DAERA actions, Muir said Lough Neagh is “of huge importance to people here”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “It is our most important natural resource, supplies 40% of our drinking water and its significance to those who depend on the Lough for business and recreational purposes cannot be overstated,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhilst the wider Lough Neagh Report and Action Plan remains under consideration by the Executive colleagues I have a responsibility to ensure that the actions that my department can take are taken and taken at pace. The time for action is now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI will continue to engage with Executive colleagues to secure agreement on the remaining issues within the report, but the situation is such that it is important to take the necessary action that we can now.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Muir said the department knows that the policies and programmes it has advanced in the past have “contributed to creating the impacts we are now witnessing”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe also know that excess nutrients in the environment cause pollution in our waterways and we also know the main contributing sources are agriculture and, to a lesser but still significant extent, wastewater, from both treatment works and septic tanks.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am committed to improve water quality, address the challenges in Lough Neagh and tackle blue green algae and have already allocated \u00a37.5million towards this, however, further investment will be needed not only in the short but in the longer term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “Inadequate funding will have a detrimental impact on implementing the interventions needed,” the minister added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The actions announced today, and those remaining within the Lough Neagh Action Plan, are grouped into four key pillars: education; incentivisation; regulation; and enforcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 20 actions listed by the department are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Education:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Incentivisation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Regulation:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Enforcement:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe issues surrounding the lough and the wider water environment are complex and very challenging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Addressing these issues will require changes in our behaviours and practices and I am determined to build and sustain a culture of environmental responsibility fostering an attitude of zero tolerance to pollution,” Minister Muir explained. <\/p>\n\n\n ‘Lough Neagh is of huge importance’<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Lough Neagh Action Plan<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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