Latest news with #Daera
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Portstewart Strand: Dead minke whale removed from County Londonderry beach
A dead minke whale has been removed from Portstewart Strand in County Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said the whale washed up on the beach on Sunday National Trust said it worked with a range of agencies and marine mammal experts to follow protocol, removing and disposing of the whale on Tuesday afternoon. "It was important the removal happened as quickly as possible as decaying marine mammals pose a serious health risk," a spokesperson added. Laurence Ghisoiu, senior visitor experience officer for the National Trust, told BBC News NI the last time a whale was beached on Portstewart Strand was in then, it was taken to landfill. While minke whales are known to be among the smallest, they can grow to about 35 ft (10m) and weigh up to 20,000 lb (9,000 kg).The species can usually be seen between July and October in UK waters and live for up to 50 can come ashore for many reasons, including injury, illness, bad weather and navigational errors leading them into shallow water.
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Coastal Erosion: App shows Northern Ireland's changing coastline
Northern Ireland's coastline has been moving for how much it has moved and what it might do in the future has been mapped by a team at Ulster University in what they say is a first for the have used two centuries' worth of maps and other information to create an app the public can professor who led the project said the changes to our coastlines have been "massive". The app is an extension of the historical coastline project funded by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera).Professor Derek Jackson, a coastal geographer, has described the app as an "info tool"."You click on parts of the map where you're interested in and that will describe the historical changes that have taken place in layman's language. ""I've been surprised by just how much the coast has actually moved either landward or seaward over the 200 years of looking at this," he added."We've seen massive changes that we didn't realise actually took place."The team examined information for 140 locations along the Northern Ireland found that hard geology meant little change for some places, while softer coastlines had experienced both erosion and even expansion. "Some areas have actually grown forward, for example, some parts of County Down," said Prof as other parts like Magilligan, County Londonderry, have "eroded dramatically"."So it's surprising just how dynamic the coast has been over the last 200 years."The tool factors in the scientists' best estimate of how each part of the coastline might change in the future, considering the impact of climate change while also factoring in the effects of the Ireland was pushed down by "probably a kilometre thick of ice" during the last Ice Age, which ended approximately 11,700 years the rebound effect of that, Prof Jackson said, has afforded some protection as sea levels rise."It's almost like a sponge - when you press down on a sponge it rebounds back into shape again."And the coast and the land surrounding the coast did that as well."That rebounding kept pace with sea level rises around the world and that then gave us semi-protection as well. But that honeymoon period is coming to an end." As well as being publicly accessible, the app should help councils and planners in assessing planning Jackson said working with nature is vital."We probably should not be building on dynamic coasts because they're so mobile."If we're in a natural environment we have to understand how it functions, how it works over time, and sometimes little, tiny things that we do can have a massive impact on the natural behaviour of coasts."
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Farmers say NI pollution proposals 'out of touch'
Farmers have said plans to reduce water pollution as a result of agricultural activity are "out of touch" with the reality of agriculture. Northern Ireland's long-overdue Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) for 2026-29 has been published for consultation. Many of the proposals are linked to the Lough Neagh Action Plan. Making low emission slurry spreading equipment (LESSE) mandatory and placing restrictions on the use of phosphorus fertiliser are among recommended revisions. President of the Ulster Farmers' Union, William Irvine, said it was "deeply concerning" the proposals from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) "lean heavily" towards enforcement and regulation rather than education, incentives or collaboration with farmers. "Farmers are not shying away from their responsibilities," he said. "For the last 20 years, since NAP was first introduced, we have been implementing practices to improve water quality. "We fully recognise the need to protect and improve water quality, but it must be done in a way that's balanced, fair and grounded in the day-to-day realities of farming in NI. "The proposals within NAP reflect a clear disconnect with local agriculture and fail to deliver what's truly needed." Daera said it was "widely recognised that the intensification of agricultural production has had negative impacts on the environment". Daera Minister Andrew Muir said action was needed to improve water quality and meet legal obligations. "This is why it is essential to review NAP and consider additional measures to reduce the overall phosphorus surplus in our agricultural system," he said. "The main additional measures include further restrictions on use of chemical phosphorus fertiliser and a farm phosphorus balance limit for more intensive farms." He added that while 62% of the nutrient load in waterways could be traced back to to agriculture, other sources such as wastewater treatment and septic tank seepages also play a role. His department also wants to "enhance" the enforcement powers available to it, to apply fixed or variable monetary penalties for breaches of the NAP. Speaking on BBC's The View, Muir said he recognised that the measures proposed in the NAP are "challenging" and the consultation is "very complex". "Ultimately we do need to change so we can improve our waterways and I don't want to consign Lough Neagh to the scenes we've seen in recent years," Muir said. He added that since NI Water was established in 2007 they have had a "permission to pollute". He added that he was "fed up" with the lack of investment in wastewater infrastructure, and that the Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins "needs to get her head out of the sand and needs to turn the situation around". "What I am being left with as the minister for agriculture, environment and rural affairs is the job of cleaning up the sewage that NI Water are pumping into our waterways." On Friday, the minister announced that the consultation would be extended to 12 weeks and will now close on 24 July. "I recognise that the proposals in the revised NAP have a level of complexity because of the detailed science and evidence underpinning them," he said. "Therefore, having listened to the concerns from farmers and industry about the need for more time to consider the consultation proposals, I am extending the consultation period by four weeks." Muir said the extension is an "important opportunity" for people to respond or offer alternative proposals, and stressed that no final decisions have yet been made. Intensive farms – mostly dairy and some beef farms - can be granted a derogation for using slurry on their land, allowing them to apply up to 250kg nitrogen per hectare per year from grazing livestock manures, rather than 170kg. The number of farms that currently have a derogation is 427. The lower limit for nitrogen would be reduced to 150kg/N/ha/year, putting another 3,100 farms in the category. In total, the consultation document said, these farms account for 17% of all farms, yet produce some 50% of total manure nitrogen. They will also represent a significant proportion of surplus phosphorus because of their greater reliance on feed inputs. These farms would also be subject to a Phosphorus Balance Limit of 10kg/ha/year in 2027, reducing to 8kg in 2029. Other schemes seeking ways of better using slurry and the nutrients it contains include the sustainable use of livestock slurry and using slurry to generate biogas. Sewage bacteria above legal limits at NI swimming spots More than 2,000 fish killed in river pollution Stormont potentially breached water laws - minister Funds not available for major water infrastructure plans
BBC News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
NI water pollution: Farmers says Stormont proposals 'out of touch'
Farmers have said plans to reduce water pollution as a result of agricultural activity are "out of touch" with the reality of Ireland's long-overdue Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) for 2026-29 has been published for of the proposals are linked to the Lough Neagh Action low emission slurry spreading equipment (LESSE) mandatory and placing restrictions on the use of phosphorus fertiliser are among recommended revisions. 'Farmers are not shying away' President of the Ulster Farmers' Union, William Irvine, said it was "deeply concerning" the proposals from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) "lean heavily" towards enforcement and regulation rather than education, incentives or collaboration with farmers."Farmers are not shying away from their responsibilities," he said."For the last 20 years, since NAP was first introduced, we have been implementing practices to improve water quality."We fully recognise the need to protect and improve water quality, but it must be done in a way that's balanced, fair and grounded in the day-to-day realities of farming in NI."The proposals within NAP reflect a clear disconnect with local agriculture and fail to deliver what's truly needed."Daera said it was "widely recognised that the intensification of agricultural production has had negative impacts on the environment". Why is the plan being introduced? Daera Minister Andrew Muir said action was needed to improve water quality and meet legal obligations."This is why it is essential to review NAP and consider additional measures to reduce the overall phosphorus surplus in our agricultural system," he said."The main additional measures include further restrictions on use of chemical phosphorus fertiliser and a farm phosphorus balance limit for more intensive farms."He added that while 62% of the nutrient load in waterways could be traced back to to agriculture, other sources such as wastewater treatment and septic tank seepages also play a department also wants to "enhance" the enforcement powers available to it, to apply fixed or variable monetary penalties for breaches of the NAP. 'Permission to pollute' Speaking on BBC's The View, Muir said he recognised that the measures proposed in the NAP are "challenging" and the consultation is "very complex".He told the programme he will be extending the consultation period by four weeks."Ultimately we do need to change so we can improve our waterways and I don't want to consign Lough Neagh to the scenes we've seen in recent years," Muir added that since NI Water was established in 2007 they have had a "permission to pollute".He added that he was "fed up" with the lack of investment in wastewater infrastructure, and that the Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins "needs to get her head out of the sand and needs to turn the situation around"."What I am being left with as the minister for agriculture, environment and rural affairs is the job of cleaning up the sewage that NI Water are pumping into our waterways." Better ways of using slurry Intensive farms – mostly dairy and some beef farms - can be granted a derogation for using slurry on their land, allowing them to apply up to 250kg nitrogen per hectare per year from grazing livestock manures, rather than number of farms that currently have a derogation is lower limit for nitrogen would be reduced to 150kg/N/ha/year, putting another 3,100 farms in the total, the consultation document said, these farms account for 17% of all farms, yet produce some 50% of total manure will also represent a significant proportion of surplus phosphorus because of their greater reliance on feed farms would also be subject to a Phosphorus Balance Limit of 10kg/ha/year in 2027, reducing to 8kg in schemes seeking ways of better using slurry and the nutrients it contains include the sustainable use of livestock slurry and using slurry to generate biogas.
BBC News
02-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Bird Flu: Birds will be free to roam as control zones to be lifted
A compulsory housing measure on poultry and captive birds in Northern Ireland will soon be lifted, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) has announced. The measures, which were to keep all birds and poultry indoors to mitigate the potential spread of avian flu, will be lifted at 12:00 (BST) on Saturday 10 May. The Republic of Ireland will also follow suit and lift the same measures on this date. The move was part of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) in Northern Ireland, which was introduced on 18 January this gatherings of captive birds are still not permitted. Daera Minister Andrew Muir said the last confirmed case of avian flu in poultry was "in late February" and thanked poultry farmers who have suffered an "incursion of disease this year" for their "engagement and cooperation". Muir added that even with measures relaxed the message "remains the same to all bird they have just a few birds or they must continue to do their bit to maintain strict biosecurity measures on premises". Thousands of birds were culled in Northern Ireland due to avian flu from the start of 2025. Bird flu was confirmed at three commercial poultry premises and a captive bird collection in the Mid Ulster area. Northern Ireland's Chief Veterinary Officer Brian Doher said, "The risk of an AI incursion in Northern Ireland has been kept under close review by the Department."He added that reviews and evidence have been considered to determine the "most appropriate time to reduce the current protective measures in place". A ban on gatherings will remain in place on birds including galliforme (including pheasants, partridge, quail, chickens, turkey and guinea fowl), anseriforme (including ducks, geese and swans) and poultry. This measure is part of the Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) which places a legal requirement on all bird keepers in Northern Ireland to follow strict biosecurity measures.A biosecurity checklist is available on the Daera website.
