Blue-Green Algae - News Update

Lough Neagh Community Drop-In Events

A series of community drop-in sessions on the multi-agency work being undertaken to address blue green algae and wider water quality issues are being held around the Lough Neagh shoreline in the coming weeks.

The three sessions will provide an opportunity for the community living around the lough to learn more about blue green algae and the actions needed to improve water quality. Representatives from the Department as well as a range of partner organisations working on Lough Neagh will be available to discuss their role in tackling the issue as well as offering advice to members of the public about what they can do to help reduce pollution of our waterways. Groups represented at the event will include NIEA, DAERA, Forest Service, CAFRE, AFBI, Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland Water and the Food Standards Agency as well as local non-governmental environmental organisations such as the Rivers Trust and Lough Neagh Partnership.

The sessions are running from 12 noon to 7pm on the following dates:

  • Wednesday, 9 October - The Marina Centre, 135A Shore Road, Ballyronan BT45 6JG.
  • Wednesday, 16 October– St Clare's Community Hall, 55 Chapel Road, Glenavy, Dundrod BT29 4LY.
  • Wednesday, 23 October– Craigavon Civic Centre, 66 Lakeview Rd, Craigavon BT64 1AL.

For more information contact email catchmentplanning@daera-ni.gov.uk

Blue-Green algae, or cyanobacteria as they are correctly called, have the potential to release toxins and the public is reminded that blue-green algae can be harmful to humans and is highly toxic to animals.

What to do if you think you see blue-green algae?

Blue-Green Algae - Confirmed Locations

DAERA has worked with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI), NI Water, Food Standard Authority, and the Public Health Agency on the production of an Inter-Agency Blue- Green Algae Monitoring Protocol. The protocol describes the roles and responsibilities of both organisations and individuals, as well as how we monitor different types of waterways, depending on usage. It details the DAERA Response Protocol for surveillance and monitoring blue-green algae and outlines the Bathing Water Monitoring in place for 2024.

NIEA will continue to investigate reports of algal blooms submitted through the incident hotline or Bloomin’ Algae App to confirm if blue green algae are present. Notifications of confirmed blooms are then sent to the person who reported the bloom and the relevant local authority and other stakeholders.

Members of the public can report suspected blue green algal blooms in several ways - via the Bloomin Algae App which can be downloaded at: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology | ceh.ac.uk or e-mail emergency-pollution@daera-ni.gov.uk or phone 0800 80 70 60.

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