Scientist warns Lough Neagh algae is sign of bigger problem that ...
The blue-green algae on Lough Neagh is just a visible sign of a much bigger problem that is killing water courses, a scientist has warned.
Ulster University academic Joerg Arnscheidt said the crisis has been building since the 1950s.
“This is the legacy of decades of neglect and is going to take decades to fix,” the senior environmental scientist told the Belfast Telegraph.
“There is no quick solution, unfortunately.
“You can’t take out the lake bed and extract the nutrients which are feeding the bacteria.”
It comes after dozens of protesters carried a coffin during a weekend “wake” at the lough due to fears that it is slowly dying.
Campaigners have been highlighting concerns about the blue-green algae, which is lethal to wildlife and birds.
Mr Arnscheidt said the cyanobacteria did not suddenly appear overnight, and attributed the main cause to the sustained increase of nutrients — mainly as a result of agriculture.
“The warmer temperatures and wind direction are factors that have made the blooms more visible, but the bacteria is always there,” he explained.
“Numbers have been going up for decades because of the nutrients in the lake.
“That has accumulated so much that it can sustain bacteria for quite some time to come, at least a couple of decades.”
Lough Neagh supplies 40% of our drinking water and is home to the biggest commercial wild eel fishery in Europe.
NI Water maintains there is no risk as a result of the algal bloom, despite the potential for tap water to smell and taste unusual.
Mr Arnscheidt agreed that there is no risk to the water supply or commercial food supply because, despite its appearance, the lough is still relatively healthy.
“It benefits from the wind bringing in oxygen. I’m more worried about smaller rivers and lakes which are dying, but no one notices because they are less accessible,” he said.
“Lough Neagh is just the biggest sign that something is very wrong with our waterways.
“Mussels and crayfish are dying in smaller lakes and will continue to die.
“There is also less insect life, which means the entire ecosystem will be impacted because fish have less to eat. That leads to declining stocks.”
Former Agriculture and Environment Minister Edwin Poots previously claimed the cause of the toxic algae was largely due to an invasive species of zebra mussels and expressed doubts about whether there was a scientific solution.
However, Mr Arnscheidt believes that significant progress has been made to mitigate the transfer of nutrients and determine critical source areas where soil connects with waterways.
“What we need is a country-wide approach where the relevant agencies and bodies work directly with farmers,” he added.
“Remedies include things like having effective drainage schemes and buffer strips installed along riversides and edging agriculture away from wetlands.
“The rise in living costs means farmers have been more resourceful with slurry, but limited storage capacity can be detrimental.
“But the damage has been done, and while algal blooms will disappear over the winter, the bacteria will remain.”
