Collective action is needed to begin to find a fix to the ongoing crisis in and around Lough Neagh, according to the agriculture and environment minister.
Andrew Muir met the 12th Earl of Shaftsbury, Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, and said that the issue of ownership and sand dredging at the lough were discussed.
Mr Ashley-Cooper said he was “open to exploring options for future ownership as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure a secure and sustainable future for Lough Neagh”.
Toxic blue-green algae bloomed across wide swathes of the lough last summer, with a combination of agricultural run-off, sewage, the emergence of zebra mussels and potentially sand dredging to blame.
“I expressed my firm commitment to collaborate with his team and other Lough Neagh stakeholders to find a comprehensive, long-term solution,” the earl said.
“The algae bloom in 2023 highlighted the severe risks to human and animal health, emphasising the pressing need for a centrally managed government body with the authority to regulate activities impacting the lough’s health and protection.”
He added: “Additionally, my position on the ownership of the lough bed and soil remains the same since I assumed responsibility for The Shaftesbury Estate of Lough Neagh Ltd in 2005. I am open to exploring options for future ownership as part of our ongoing efforts to ensure a secure and sustainable future for Lough Neagh.”
Mr Muir, the minister for agriculture, environment and rural affairs, said he discussed a range of issues, including ownership, sand dredging and licenses.
The earl, who owns the bed and large parts of the shores of the lough, benefits from issuing licenses to sand dredge in the lough.
“I’ve been clear that there are no quick fixes to this issue, neither will a change in ownership provide the immediate solutions that we need to tackle blue green algae,” Mr Muir said, adding he cannot “fix this alone” and “collective action” is needed.
The minister said he will discuss an action plan with the Executive within weeks and noted the Lough Neagh Partnership was awarded £250,000 in lottery funding “to research the future management of Lough Neagh, including public ownership”.
Lough Neagh passed to the Shaftesbury line following marriage into the Chichester family in the 19th century. It was the subject of various legal actions, including in the early 20th century when fisherman unsuccessfully disputed ownership in a case that was heard by the House of Lords.
Issues around Lough Neagh were raised at Stormont on Thursday as senior officials from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs gave evidence to an Assembly oversight committee.
DAERA finance director Roger Downey was asked by SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone about the funding required to address the problems with the lough.
Mr McGlone questioned whether the department had set aside, or earmarked, money, or looked at the potential costs of rectifying the serious problems facing the lough.
Mr Downey said work was ongoing on the budget process, with senior officials within the department developing bids for their respective sectors of responsibility.
“We’ll be putting that together and then discussing proposals with the minister then to bid to the executive as appropriate,” he said.
Pressed by Mr McGlone over whether the department anticipated specific funding for Lough Neagh, Mr Downey added: “I’m anticipating bids coming in to cover that, and then that will be in the mix with everything else and we will be bidding for that and making a case to get additional funding into the department to cover that.”
