Lough Neagh Partnership urges Minister to rethink ‘deeply disappointing’ fishermen support package

Gary McErlain, Chair of the Lough Neagh Partnership

The Chair of the Lough Neagh Partnership has urged DAERA Minister Andrew Muir to urgently reconsider a newly announced financial support package for fishermen, warning that it fails to reflect the true scale of loss suffered by the industry amid the ongoing environmental crisis at the lough.

Gary McErlain said the £100,000 support scheme for Lough Neagh brown eel fishers, announced earlier this week, risks underestimating the financial hardship facing fishing families whose livelihoods have been severely impacted by recurring blue-green algae blooms and the suspension of the 2025 season.

While welcoming the principle of assistance, Mr McErlain said the decision to base payments on 2024 income levels was “extremely disappointing”, given that earnings had already collapsed by that point.

“The financial package announced this week has left us with a lot of questions. Whilst in principle we welcome any assistance being offered, it is extremely disappointing that the support package has been assessed on 2024 income at a time when the industry was already in severe trouble, with earnings at an all time low.”

He added:

“The grant assistance offer being put forward bears little resemblance to the scale of loss and hardship endured by the fishing community.”

Mr McErlain said using 2024 as the benchmark ignored the damage already done following the major algal bloom in 2023, which marked the beginning of a sustained downturn for fishermen on Northern Ireland’s largest lake.

“Using 2024 as a baseline is deeply concerning, as it ignores the fact that the livelihoods of fishermen had already been negatively impacted following the algal bloom of 2023.”

Beyond economics, he stressed that fishing on Lough Neagh is a generational way of life, deeply embedded in local communities.

“As someone who has fished these waters all my life, I know first-hand the pressures fishermen are under. This announcement gives the impression that industry is not being taken seriously.

“The scale of the environmental and economic crisis should demand a response that reflects the true losses suffered and the long term damage that has been inflicted on the fishing industry.”

Warning of long-term consequences, he said there was a real risk that the current approach could permanently dismantle a historic sector.

“There is a great danger of wiping out an entire fishing culture on Lough Neagh due to the ongoing environmental crisis. We would ask the Minister to reconsider the level of grant being offered to the fishing industry in light of this ecological and financial catastrophe.”

Details of the Support Scheme

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir announced the £100,000 financial assistance package on Wednesday 17 December, aimed at brown eel fishers affected by the suspension of the 2025 fishing season.

The scheme mirrors the previous Covid support package for Lough Neagh fisheries, offering payments equal to 50 per cent of the annual income foregone as a result of the closure.

However, due to the number of vessels that have exited the industry over the past four years, the assistance will be calculated solely on the value of brown eel landings during the 2024 season.

To qualify, applicants must have recorded a minimum of £1,000 in brown eel landings in 2024, with vessels licensed by DAERA to fish in Lough Neagh and holding a permit from the Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Cooperative.

Announcing the scheme, Minister Muir said the sector was facing unprecedented challenges.

“Our historic Eel Fishing Sector is at a critical juncture as it adjusts to the reality of recurring blue-green algae blooms at Lough Neagh and other fishery issues that may have implications for established markets and future seasons operations.

“I am pleased that we have been able to offer support and my officials are moving to get this financial assistance to the industry at this difficult time.”

He added:

“This one-off payment will allow the sector to consider how it will adapt in subsequent years to the challenges it faces, and I would encourage them to use this time to identify new markets and introduce measures to improve the management of eel stocks. Financial assistance will also assist with maintaining the fleet’s vessels and other associated costs.”

Acknowledging the human impact of the crisis, the Minister said:

“The situation impacting the Brown Eel Fishers has been a stark reminder of the human cost of the Lough Neagh crisis, and we must collectively work to turn the tide on water pollution in Northern Ireland.”

DAERA has confirmed that it will write to eligible stakeholders in early January to invite applications.