Countryside Alliance Ireland is extremely disappointed that the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has failed to engage with companies already offering potential solutions to the blue-green algae crisis on Lough Neagh.
While legitimate questions remain around the effectiveness of specific technologies. Countryside Alliance Ireland is concerned that, despite contact from companies such as Bioaire and LG Sonic, there is no public record of DAERA entering into substantive discussions about their technologies. Instead of exploring what these businesses could bring to the table, the Department is diverting public funds into tenders for five other companies to develop “new” solutions, when practical, existing options are already available.
At the very least, DAERA should have trialled these technologies before dismissing them outright. It is worth noting that LG Sonic highlighted the scale of the issues facing Lough Neagh and the lack of DAERA engagement as far back as the initial meeting at the Seamus Heaney Centre in Bellaghy. These warnings were clear and early, yet little action has been taken to build on them.
We commend several cross-party MLAs, such as Jonathan Buckley, who have consistently raised awareness of these available solutions and voiced their own disappointment at DAERA’s lack of engagement. Their leadership in pressing this matter has been vital in ensuring that the issue of blue-green algae is not swept aside, and that the public is made aware of the options already on the table.
Adding to public frustration, DAERA has just announced it is spending £800,000 on a satellite-based project to monitor Lough Neagh from space. While monitoring is important, local people are asking why vast sums are being allocated to observation, while practical, ground-level solutions already available are being ignored. Communities want to see investment in action that reduces and removes algae, not simply more research into what we already know is a crisis.
This failure to properly explore existing technologies raises serious concerns. Lough Neagh is one of Northern Ireland’s greatest natural assets, sustaining wildlife, supporting livelihoods, and providing recreation for thousands of people. The continued spread of toxic blue-green algae threatens not just the environment, but also rural communities, tourism, fishing, and the cultural life of the region. In that context, refusing to engage with companies that might help is indefensible.
As Jonathan Buckley MLA has rightly asked – what’s being hidden? Why avoid dialogue with firms that claim to have workable answers, while squandering money on untested or remote projects? Transparency, accountability, and urgency are needed now more than ever.
Countryside Alliance Ireland calls on DAERA to:
• Immediately open discussions with Bioaire, LG Sonic, and other firms with relevant expertise.
• Trial existing technologies to determine their effectiveness on Lough Neagh.
• Work openly and collaboratively with MLAs, stakeholders, and communities to ensure that Lough Neagh is restored and safeguarded for the future.
Gary McCartney, Director of Countryside Alliance Ireland, said:
“It is simply unacceptable that DAERA is ploughing hundreds of thousands of pounds into satellites and speculative projects while seemingly refusing to even trial technologies that could help reduce algae here and now. Lough Neagh is too important to gamble with. We need leadership, transparency, and immediate action – not more delays and diversions.”
The people of Northern Ireland deserve to know that every viable option is being explored. Our environment cannot wait.