- By Louise Cullen
- BBC NI agriculture and environment correspondent
During the blue-green algae crisis, the FSA issued precautionary advice against the consumption of recreationally caught fish.
Private fishermen in Lough Neagh can once again consume their catch, after the Food Standards Agency (FSA) confirmed it was safe.
During the blue-green algae crisis of summer 2023, the FSA has issued precautionary advice against the consumption of recreationally caught fish.
Its scientists wish that some toxins produced by algal blooms did not accumulate in the fish’s flesh.
Fish from commercial fisheries are not included in the warning.
Their facilities are subject to strict food processing guidelines.
The FSA’s chief scientific adviser, Prof Robin May, said the test results showed that the toxins did not accumulate in the parts of the fish that were eaten, meaning the fish were safe as long as they were well handled and digested.
“With this new information, we now advise that recreational anglers enjoy eating the fish they catch but that they should be careful when handling and gutting the fish to avoid contamination of the edible parts of the fish that there are toxins that can be present in the internal organs. ,” he said.
“Before cooking or freezing fish, fillets should be rinsed with clean water to remove any contaminants from the gutting process.
“The advice remains that recreational fishing should not take place in areas where algal blooms are visible and that fish showing abnormal behaviour, dead or dying should not be eaten.”
‘Back to normal’
“There was a time when my ancestors used to dip their teapot in Lough Neagh and make their tea from it whenever they were out fishing,” says Gary McErlain
With two confirmed reports since the start of 2024, toxic blue-green algae in Lough Neagh has potentially begun to reawaken.
Last summer, it brought the islands’ largest freshwater lake into the headlines, and it brought misery to those who live and work around and in the lough.
As a seventh-generation fisherman on the lough, Gary McErlain has felt the effects.
The eels he catches each summer retreat to the murky beds beneath the suspended algae, beyond the reach of his nets.
That meant what was a major industry on the lough during the summer “kind of collapsed”, he said.
And what could happen this year plays in his mind.
“There was a time when my people among my ancestors and others used to dip their teapot in Lough Neagh and make their tea from it whenever they were out fishing,” he said.
“I’m not saying we’re going back to that anytime soon.
“But we need to get back to some kind of normality in Lough Neagh, because the whole infrastructure was destroyed last year.”
Ciara Laverty says blue-algae levels have risen on the scales
Part of Ciara Laverty’s job is to monitor the number of wildlife in the lough.
He was a ranger for the Lough Neagh Partnership for four years.
The blue-green algae didn’t stop his work, but it did have an effect on him.
“It’s a really depressing situation to see it in that state,” he said.
“Every year out in the lough, I’ve seen bits of algae but last year it really hit the scales and sometimes, you get a stench from it too.
“And I think it’s a marker that the environment is changing – the ecology of Lough Neagh is changing.”
The problems of the lough were mentioned on the opening day of the newly restored Northern Ireland Assembly and it was one of the first visits on the agenda of the new minister for agriculture, environment and rural affairs.
Quick action needed for ‘important’ lough
Everyone agrees there is no quick fix, but people like Martin Townsend believe the work must start now.
He was part of the UK Environment Agency team that reviewed how the River Thames is managed.
He said a resource like Lough Neagh was important and quick action was needed.
“The longer you leave these conversations, the more urgent they become,” he said.
“And frankly, things are getting more fragile.
“There are complications associated with the lough in terms of land ownership, competing demands, the processes of change in discussions – you don’t find a perfect solution overnight.
“So actually getting the right conversations at the right pace happening, I think, is incredibly important.
“But the longer you leave it, the harder it gets.”
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) formed a working group to review the lough’s problems and prepare for the expected return of algae.
This is due to report back in a while.
Speaking before the Daera committee this week, the department’s minister, Andrew Muir, spoke of his “sense of shame” about what happened at Lough Neagh.
“The problem that was bubbling under the surface came to the top,” he said.
“But what’s bubbling under the surface has been going on for decades and it’s happening because of environmental mismanagement.”
And he said that if people truly and sincerely want to tackle the issues, a “really concerted effort” across government and society is needed.
‘Jewel in the heart of Northern Ireland’
For Ciara, the silver lining in the blue-green algae crisis of 2023 is that Lough Neagh is finally getting the attention she believes it deserves.
“It’s a gem in the heart of Northern Ireland, it’s got every environmental name under the sun,” he said.
“Everyone is still talking about the issues and it is very promising to see the new minister make Lough Neagh a priority.
“So I was filled with hope.”
His optimism is shared – cautiously – by Gary.
“People take Lough Neagh for granted,” he said.
“They love it, but they take it for granted.
“And I’m glad to see so many people really coming out of the woodwork and putting their face to it and their voice to it.
“There is certainly enough said and done and seen now to change the policy on this. We have to get the job done.”
