Lough Neagh protectors rally at Stormont with five demands

Lough Neagh protectors rallied at Stormont on Tuesday with five demands to save the lake.

Campaigners told us they are very worried about what will happen on the lough this year, following two already confirmed reports of toxic blue green algae.

Their calls include stopping sand extraction so it's impact can be investigated; tackling agricultural pollution that sparked the algae bloom; buying it back for the community; an independent environmental protection agency and urgent investment into research after the loss of the freshwater laboratory at Traad Point.

Read more: Lough Neagh: Partnership considering 'rights of nature' for hard hit lake

Read more: The state of NI rivers: Not one stretch in 'good' overall health

Lough Neagh dipper, Mary O'Hagan from Save Our Shores, said: "I am really worried about it. We've already had two reports. I reported blue-green algae in Cranfield where I would usually swim and that was confirmed. It's already in Rea's Wood again.

"When you take into account the fact last year's bloom was so massive and that has died off - that would have added to the nitrates and phosphates raising the levels again in the lough. There's more there this year to feed it and it's only going to take a blast of sun.

"We wanted to bring our protest to Stormont to let them know we are less than happy with the progress that has been made so far as regards any kind of legislation or action on the lough.

"This is not a simple fix and we know it's not a simple fix. The first thing is that we would like to see an end to sand dredging because we do believe the sand dredging is destroying the ecology in the lough and is further adding to the blue-green algae."

Environmental activist and PBP member from Lurgan, Padraig Cairns, added: "I live quite close to the loughshore and got involved in the Save Lough Neagh campaign last summer when the algae bloom first appeared.

"We have a list of five campaign demands and the end of commercial sand extraction would be one of them. We need to take the lough out of private hands and it needs to be owned and operated by the communities that live around the lough shores.

"Another would be tackling the agricultural pollution and run-off and... an independent environmental agency that has the power to hold Stormont accountable."

Mary added: "Urgent investment as well... as we lost the freshwater laboratory. In my opinion that was an invaluable tool."

Belfast councillor, Brian Smyth, also joined the protest. He said: "The pollution levels in Lough Neagh are getting worse. From what I am being told, we have seven or eight years to stop it turning into the biggest septic tank in Europe. It represents 40% of the drinking water in Northern Ireland and around 55% of the drinking water in Belfast.

"I'm here to show support in terms of the broad movement that is building around Lough Neagh.

"As a Belfast city councillor, it's our most vital public and strategic asset [and] if Lough Neagh is allowed to wither away and die, communities in Northern Ireland will wither away and die.

"There seems to be no sort of energy coming from Stormont. We had that motion a number of weeks ago around Lough Neagh but we've seen very little so far... Where is the emergency rescue plan? Where's the funding?"

People Before Profit MLA, Gerry Carroll said: "Lough Neagh isn't dying, it's being killed by successive policies emanating from Stormont.

"Ministers have been back in office for a month or so now... people are here today gathering to demand action.

"There needs to be a sense of urgency from the DAERA minister and an urgent plan to save the lough and tackle waste going into the lough and toxins in the lough."

Alliance MLA, John Blair, said: "I'm not at all surprised that the public who live and trade and conduct their recreation on the shores of Lough Neagh have come to Stormont to register their protest and make clear their demand for things to be done better.

"My own party's position is something the rally is calling for today and that's the establishment of an independent environmental agency. I'm very pleased to see that being addressed by the demonstrators and that other politicians have adopted that policy.

"We can realistically expect that the blue-green algae will return this year so what we have to look at now is that there are proper environmental plans in place for the longer term to ensure the wellbeing of those who live and trade along the lough.

"Those who fish there, those who sail there, those who swim there, those who walk their dog there. But these have to be long term plans so they have to be done on an interagency basis for the benefit of all of us."

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.