By Kevin Mullan

Copyright derryjournal

Benone was temporarily red-flagged last month Benone in North Derry after potentially harmful cyanobacteria emanating from Lough Neagh was detected. Independent MLA Claire Sugden said the presence of the blooms are putting some people off visiting the area. “In my constituency recently, businesses at Benone and Castlerock spoke to customers who are staying away because of the warnings. “Families are unsure whether it is safe to swim, bring children to the beach or even let their dogs near the shore in case it poisons them. “Local charities in my constituency, including Sea2it, have found that the blooms make their clean-up work on the Bann more difficult, and many people want reassurance that the water that comes out of their taps is safe to drink. “We have been given that reassurance, but public confidence will last only if we see the source of the problem being addressed,” said the East Derry representative. Cyanobacteria can create harmful toxins known as microcystins. Over the past several summers high levels of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) in Lough Neagh have had a knock-on effect with bacteria flowing up the Bann and onto the North Derry coast. DUP MLA Maurice Bradley said: “Toxic cyanobacteria blooms, especially in the summer of 2023 and 2024 as well as this year, have depleted oxygen levels in the lough to such an extent that they block light and lead to fish kills and a decline in aquatic biodiversity. “It is not just the ecosystem in Lough Neagh that appears to have collapsed. I do not want to cross into the territory of repeating anything that my colleagues have said, so I will narrow my concerns to the River Bann, which is the only river to spawn salmon and white trout into the Lough Neagh system. Lough Neagh ‘blue-green algae’ blooms highlight pollution crisis in our waterways must be acted upon “Recreational angling and water sports businesses along the River Bann have been severely impacted. Some operators have been forced to close entirely due to unsafe water conditions and customer cancellations, not to mention the blue flag beaches of Benone, Portstewart and Portrush along a tidal stretch of the Bann at the Barmouth.” Environment minister Andrew Muir acknowledged their concerns and said cross-partisan action was needed to address the crisis in Lough Neagh. “You talked about the closure of Benone beach, and that highlights why we need to take action on this together. We can turn the course when it comes to water quality, not just in our rivers but in Lough Neagh and elsewhere, but that requires us to come together collectively,” he declared. ‘Blue-green algae’ do-not-swim warning at Benone in North Derry lifted after successive green results Mr. Muir added: “We have seen a rise in blue-green algae blooms affecting not only Lough Neagh and its catchment but beaches and bathing waters along the north coast. “It concerns me greatly that there were 163 confirmed reports of blue-green algae from 78 unique locations across Northern Ireland as of 4 September, with the blooms being reported in two new locations since August28.” He said work on implementing the Lough Neagh report and action plan are under way. Red-flag swimming ban at popular north Derry beaches as potentially harmful ‘blue-green algae’ detected