Ballygawley: Blue-green algae present in Martray Lough
The presence of blue-green algae in Martray Lough near Ballygawley is "disheartening", the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) has said.With the recent good weather, Daera said it was "no surprise that we are beginning to see algae-blooms re-appear again this year".However, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency has not received any reports of blue-green algae in Lough Neagh.The scale and severity of algae blooms this summer will "be dependent on a number of factors," a Daera spokesperson said.
In the past two years Lough Neagh - the largest freshwater lake in the UK - has been badly affected by algae.The algae are bacteria, which can cause skin irritation and sickness in people who come into contact with it, but the biggest risk is to pets, livestock and wildlife.Along with invasive species in the form of water-clearing zebra mussels, and the weather effects of climate change, the perfect conditions were created for the potentially toxic algae to bloom from the depths where it has always been present.
A Daera spokesperson said its minister, Andrew Muir, had repeatedly said there were "no quick fixes to the issues in Lough Neagh, with problems decades in the making and decades in the fixing".Suspected algae bloom can be reported through the Bloomin' Algae App or by emailing the department.
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Belfast Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Two people rescued from NI fire as ongoing gorse blazes stretch emergency crews
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Belfast Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Man rescued from NI house fire as ongoing gorse blazes stretch emergency crews
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BBC News
07-05-2025
- BBC News
Wildfires: Firefighters extinguish gorse fire near Donemana
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