Latest news with #NorthernIrelandEnvironmentAgency
Agriland
2 days ago
- Agriland
Court: NI farmer fined for water pollution offence
A court in Northern Ireland has fined a farmer for a water pollution offence arising from 'farm effluent' being discharged into a river. Hugh Allen of Drumahiskey Road, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim was convicted today (Friday, June 6) at Coleraine Magistrates' Court for an offence under Article 7(1)(a) of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, as amended. The 55-year-old had pleaded guilty and was fined £1,500 plus £15 offenders levy. Court The court heard that Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) water quality inspectors responded to a report of dead fish in the Ballymoney River on June 18, 2024. The inspectors carried out their investigation in an upstream direction to where grey fungus was visible on the bed of the Ballymoney River. The inspectors traced the polluting impact further upstream to a location where a concrete pipe was actively discharging farm effluent to the waterway. As part of the investigation, a statutory sample of the discharge was collected and analysed. The sample results indicated that the sample contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which would have been potentially harmful to aquatic life in a receiving waterway. On June 19, 2024, inspectors examined the silo area on the suspected farm. A silage effluent collection channel was noted to have been blocked with grass and as a result silage effluent was discharging from the silage clamp into a piped drain before entering the Ballymoney River. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) advised anyone wishing to report a pollution incident to call the 24-hour NIEA Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
Irish Post
29-05-2025
- Irish Post
Coins left by tourists causing significant damage to Giant's Causeway
COINS left by tourists at one of Northern Ireland's most popular beauty spots are causing significant damage to the site. Made up of more than 40,000 basalt columns, the Giant's Causeway was designated Northern Ireland's first Unesco World Heritage Site in 1986. Visitors have been lodging coins into the basalt formations at the Giant's Causeway in Co. Antrim for over 40 years. Some of the coins left behind at the Giant's Causeway The practice has become significantly more widespread in the past decade, a spokesperson for the attraction has confirmed, with tourists, inspired by the sight of existing coins, inserting their own into the natural joints and fractures of the stones. 'As these coins corrode, they expand, leading to damage and staining of the rock surface,' they explained. The National Trust, which manages the site, said the cost of removing the coins could be as much as £30k and has urged visitors to stop the practice in order to protect the famous landmark. 'We know that visitors really love and cherish the Giant's Causeway, and many form deep personal connections to this special landscape," Dr Cliff Henry, National Trust Nature Engagement Officer at the Giant's Causeway, said. The Giant's Causeway in Co. Antrim was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 "We know some may want to leave a token of their visit, but the coins are causing damage and we are urging people to stop the practice and to leave no trace so this natural wonder remains special for future generations.' A report by the British Geological Survey in 2023 concluded that the coins wedged into the joints and cracks in the rock is having a detrimental impact on the basalt rock of the Giant's Causeway, both aesthetically and physically. 'The report has found that fracturing and disintegration of the basalt rock adjacent to joints and cracks into which coins have been inserted is the result of the 'expansive delamination of the coins upon oxidation'," Dr Henry, explained. 'In other words, the coins are rusting, and expanding to three times their original thickness, which puts huge pressure on the surrounding rock causing it to crumble. "Unsightly streaks of copper, nickel and iron oxides are also staining the stones where the coins are corroding.' In response to the survey a trial coin removal was conducted by Cliveden Conservation in February 2024. Building on the success of this trial, and with funding from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), a pilot conservation project was further commissioned in the summer of 2024 by the National Trust and the Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust, on behalf of the WHS Steering Group. Between January and March 2025 stone conservation specialists CONSARC and The Rock Stone Masonry carried out detailed mapping and surveying of the site and carefully removed coins from test areas. In total nine kilograms of coins were removed from the stones and a second phase of coin removal is due to take place this autumn. The National Trust is now appealing to visitors to help these efforts by not adding any more coins at the site. 'It is hoped that if visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice the problem can be solved," Dr Henry said. 'We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive," he added. "We are appealing to visitors to help us protect the World Heritage Site by stopping the practice of inserting coins into the Causeway stones.' See More: Antrim, Coins, Damage, Giant's Causeway, National Trust
Irish Post
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Irish Post
Wildfire ‘tears through' Northern Irish conservation site
AN ONGOING wildfire which has been burning since the weekend has 'torn through' a Northern Irish conservation site. A third of Slieve Beagh, which straddles counties Monaghan, Fermanagh and Tyrone, is estimated to have been damaged since the fire took hold, according to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Northern Ireland's Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir said the fire is 'another stark reminder on how quickly they can spread, creating significant risk to life and property while causing extensive environmental damage'. He added: 'The fire in Counties Tyrone and Monaghan has torn through approximately a third of a precious protected site which includes a Special Area of Conservation for the endangered Hen Harrier during nesting season as well as important blanket bog habitat. A wildfire has ripped through Slieve Beagh in Co. Tyrone 'With the current conditions set to last [in the days ahead] I plead with everyone to heed the elevated hazard warning issued, remain extra vigilant to fires in our countryside and report to the Police or Crimestoppers anyone you know involved in deliberate and malicious fires. 'Once ignited, fire can spread rapidly, especially in areas with dead grasses, gorse, forestry and heather. 'Large areas can become engulfed in a very short period of time putting life, property and wildlife at real risk. This activity must stop before someone is killed or injured.' Members of the NIFRS are still tackling the wildfire (Pics: NIFRS) The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has urged the public to remain vigilant as the warm dry weather continues this week. 'With the dry weather set to continue over the next few days we are asking the public to support their Firefighters by staying safe from fire in the countryside,' NIFRS Area Commander Barry Ross said. 'Dealing with wildfires is not only challenging and physically demanding for our Firefighters, it is extremely resource intensive for our Service and partner agencies,' he added. 'If you are enjoying the weather this weekend, please do so responsibly and follow our safety advice.' See More: Northern Ireland, Slieve Beagh, Wildfire
Agriland
28-04-2025
- Agriland
Court: 70-year-old convicted for agricultural pollution
A 70-year-old man has been convicted and fined in court in Northern Ireland today (Monday, April 28) over an incident involving the pollution of a river with agricultural effluent. Michael McCullagh, Gorticashel Road, Greencastle, Co Tyrone was convicted at Omagh Magistrates Court, under Article 7(1)(a) of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 as amended. McCullagh pleaded guilty and was fined £1,000 plus £15 Offenders Levy. The court heard that on October 17, 2023, Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) water quality inspectors responded to a report of water pollution impacting the Carnanransy Burn, a tributary of the Owenkillew River. The inspectors discovered the entire width of the bed of the waterway was covered with fungal growth. The source of pollution was traced upstream to a concrete pipe which was actively discharging agricultural effluent to the Carnanransy Burn. Upstream of the pipe, the waterway was visibly clean. Agricultural pollution On the farm, close to the silos, the inspectors observed agricultural effluent being directed towards a collection tank. The collection tank was observed to be full and overflowing, resulting in a dark-coloured liquid entering an open drainage channel, which was connected to the concrete pipe noted to be discharging to the waterway. As part of the investigation, a statutory sample of the discharge was collected and analysed. The sample results indicated that the sample contained poisonous, noxious, or polluting matter which would have been potentially harmful to aquatic life in a receiving waterway. It is an offence under the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (as amended by the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006) under Article 7(1)(a) to make a polluting discharge to a waterway.
The Independent
15-04-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Year's first cases of blue-green algae confirmed in Lough Neagh
Blue-green algae has returned to Lough Neagh with the first confirmed cases of 2025, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has confirmed. Noxious blooms of the algae covered large parts of the lough, the UK's largest freshwater lake by surface area, during the previous two summers and also affected other waterways and beaches in the region. The NIEA said two reports had been made from locations on Lough Neagh and were verified on April 10 and 11 at Traad Point and Kinturk (Curran's Quay). This followed earlier algae reports at Martray Lough, Ballygawley and Ballysaggart Lough in Dungannon. Environment Minister Andrew Muir previously said he expected the algae to return this year. A Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) spokesman said: 'Minister Muir is on record a number of times saying that there are no quick fixes, with problems decades in the making and decades in the fixing. 'It is therefore unfortunately no surprise that we are beginning to see algae blooms reappear again this year, particularly with the good weather. 'The severity and scale of the problem we will be facing this summer will be dependent on a number of factors. ' Work is well under way to tackle the problem through the Lough Neagh Action Plan and the minister is determined to turn the tide on water quality, but we know that this will be a long-term endeavour.' Lough Neagh supplies 40% of Northern Ireland's drinking water and sustains a major eel-fishing industry. Nitrogen and phosphorus from agricultural fertiliser running off fields and from wastewater treatment is a contributory factor in the blue-green algae blooms. The spread of the invasive zebra mussel species is also understood to have played a role in the blooms, as they have made the water clearer, allowing more sunlight to penetrate, stimulating more algal photosynthesis. Climate change is another factor as water temperatures rise. The Stormont Executive last year launched an action plan to deal with the environmental crisis at the lough. Mr Muir told his Stormont scrutiny committee last week that spring should be about renewal, 'not news reports of blue-green algae'. He added: 'Significant work is already under way to tackle the nutrient overload in our rivers, lakes and loughs. 'I will continue to lead and seek support for the tough decisions needed over the time ahead to improve our waterways and tackle climate change.' The DAERA spokesman added: 'NIEA encourages members of the public to report a suspected bloom through the Bloomin' Algae App or e-mail emergency-pollution@ with a photo, if possible, and details on the location of the potential bloom. 'All reports of blue-green algae can be viewed on the DAERA blue-green web viewer Blue-Green Algae – Confirmed Locations. 'NIEA will continue to record events and review any significant increase in bloom numbers.'
