To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what plans he has to limit the formation of toxic algae blooms in Lough Neagh and to prevent them from travelling down the River Bann to north coast beaches.

It has become clear that there are no quick fixes to the occurrence and probable re-occurrence of blue green algal (BGA) blooms at Lough Neagh. This is a problem that has been decades in the making and it could take decades to resolve.

Nutrient surplus entering the aquatic environment has been identified as one of the key drivers of water quality issues that led to the prolific BGA blooms in Lough Neagh in 2023 and the subsequent downward transmission of these blooms. DAERA is taking action on several fronts to address this.

My officials are working with The Agri-Food and BioSciences Institute (AFBI) to agree a programme of scientific work for Lough Neagh, including the development and validation of models to apportion nutrient loading from agricultural and non-agricultural sources. A review of potential in-lake future management options is also being taken forward by an Independent Science Advisory Group (SAG), chaired by my Chief Scientific Advisor. This work will complement a Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) scheme that aims to identify viable technical solutions to deal with the immediate effects of BGA within the Lough.

One further action my Department is taking is through the College for Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), where a programme to deliver training for farmers / land managers at various levels targeted towards Lough Neagh catchment areas has already started.

I hope my response provides you with an insight into the range of work being undertaken. I look forward to working with all stakeholders including my Executive and Assembly colleagues in finding solutions to address this complex issue facing Lough Neagh and our beaches.