Lough Neagh crisis laid bare as fishers warn: “We’re losing an industry”

L-R: Declan McAleer MLA, Deputy Chair of the AERA Committee; Robbie Butler, MLA, Chair of the AERA Committee; Kathleen McBride, CEO of Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co‑Operative Society; Michelle McIlveen MLA, AERA Committee member and Dr Janice Thompson, Committee Clerk.

The scale of the crisis engulfing Lough Neagh was laid bare this week as Stormont committee members heard stark warnings from local fishers who say their industry is “dying” amid environmental decline, collapsing confidence, and inadequate support.

Meeting on Thursday at the Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-Operative Society in Toomebridge, members of the Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (AERA) Committee came face-to-face with the human impact of a worsening ecological emergency—one that is now threatening livelihoods, public health, and a centuries-old way of life.

“Confidence has been severely eroded”

Ulster Unionist MLA and Committee Chair Robbie Butler described deep frustration after hearing directly from those working on the Lough, warning that the situation has reached a critical point.

“The persistent and highly visible problem of blue-green algae at Lough Neagh continues to underline the scale of environmental decline we are dealing with,” he said.

“This is not a new issue, yet there remains a concerning lack of urgency from the Department in sticking to and delivering on the timelines it has set out.”

For fishers, the consequences are already being felt.

“The inability to trade Lough Neagh eels last year, combined with wholly inadequate financial support, has left many questioning their future in the industry,” Mr Butler added.

A 9,000-year-old tradition at risk

Evidence presented during the session painted a stark picture of an industry in rapid decline.

Fishing on Lough Neagh dates back around 9,000 years, yet today those on the water say the sector is on the brink.

One fisherman told the Committee:

“If you look back 50-odd years… 200-odd boats. And to look today… something has gone wrong somewhere along the line… it’s an industry that’s dying.”

Another highlighted the reputational damage now attached to the Lough’s produce:

“I’ve attended markets where people realised I’m from the Lough Neagh Co-op and have turned away, appalled that we would even be selling fish from the Lough. That’s hurtful to an industry.”

The collapse in public confidence, combined with environmental degradation, is compounding pressure on an already fragile sector.

Pollution, algae and climate pressures collide

Mr Butler pointed to a complex web of interlinked causes behind the Lough’s decline, including pollution, invasive species such as zebra mussels, and climate pressures.

“These factors are not operating in isolation; they are compounding one another and continuing to wreak havoc on both the eel fishery and wider water quality,” he said.

“The longer decisive action is delayed, the greater the long-term damage will be—not just environmentally, but economically and socially for those communities who rely on the Lough.”

He also warned that the crisis extends beyond the environment.

“Water quality and air quality are intrinsically linked to better health and wellbeing outcomes. What we are witnessing at Lough Neagh is not just an environmental issue, it is a public health concern.”

Calls for urgent action and meaningful engagement

Representatives from the Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-Operative stressed the need for stronger, more meaningful engagement with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

While acknowledging the Lough Action Plan addresses water quality, one representative warned that without decisive intervention, the industry may not survive long enough to benefit from it.

“We need to look going forward at what’s going to happen with Lough Neagh, or we are going to be losing an industry here that won’t be able to pick up the pieces,” they said.

Mr Butler echoed those concerns, urging the Department to act faster and more decisively.

“The Department must now redouble its efforts to support Lough Neagh fishers… This is about protecting livelihoods, restoring confidence, and delivering for the wider public and environmental good.”

Wider agriculture issues also under scrutiny

The Committee session also examined broader pressures within Northern Ireland’s agri-food sector.

Representatives from the Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association (NEMA), alongside ABP Food Group and Dunbia, warned that proposed changes to sheep carcase classification could create additional costs and operational challenges.

The sector currently supports around 5,500 jobs and between 18,000 and 20,000 farmers, with over 60–70% of Northern Ireland’s sheep meat exported outside the UK.

Industry representatives cautioned that divergence from existing approaches could slow processing lines, increase contamination risks, and add costs of £1–£2 per animal.

From crisis to action?

Following the meeting, Committee members toured the Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-Operative visitor centre before visiting recycling company Enva to explore innovations in appliance recovery.

But it was the stark testimony from Lough Neagh’s fishing community that left the strongest impression.

Behind the statistics and policy debates lies a deeper story—of a historic industry fighting for survival, and a natural resource whose decline is now impossible to ignore.

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At a glance

• Stormont’s AERA Committee met at Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-Operative in Toomebridge

• Fishers warned the Lough’s eel industry is at risk of collapse

• Blue-green algae, pollution, and invasive species are driving environmental decline

• Confidence in Lough Neagh produce has been severely damaged

• Fishers say financial support and engagement from DAERA is inadequate

• Fishing on the Lough dates back around 9,000 years

• Public health concerns raised over water and air quality

• Committee also examined proposed changes to sheep classification rules

• Meat sector supports ~5,500 jobs and up to 20,000 farmers

• Calls growing for urgent, coordinated action to restore the Lough