Agriculture has been attributed as the “principal cause” of pollution in Lough Erne, according to Minister of Justice in the Northern Ireland Executive, Naomi Long MLA.
Minister Long engaged in a debate on pollution in Lough Erne in place of Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir.
She revealed that over the past five years, there have been 387 confirmed pollution incidents in the Lough Erne system.
Of those, Minister Long stated that the “principal cause of pollution is attributed to agriculture” at around 44% of those incidents, followed by industry at around 16% and then Northern Ireland Water at around 12%.
Sources from agriculture have also attributed around 63% of all medium- and high-severity incidents reported in the Lough Erne catchment.
Since 2019, there have been 21 confirmed pollution reports associated with Northern Ireland Water assets in the Enniskillen area. All those incidents have been described as low severity.
Minister Long stated: “We also know that excess nutrients in the environment cause pollution in our waterways and that the main contributing sources are agriculture and, to a lesser but still significant extent, waste water from treatment works and septic tanks.
“We need to do more to reduce the overall phosphorous surplus in the Northern Ireland agriculture system.
The minister also detailed that a review of the nutrient action programme that is under way is also considering associated recommendations from the Lough Neagh action plan.
Minister Long said it is envisaged that the outcome of the review will be published in November, along with a consultation on the proposed action programme for the next four years and the strategic environmental assessment report.
It is envisaged that all measures in the current action programme will be retained for the next programme, the minister confirmed.
“It is also clear from water quality data and scientific evidence that additional measures will be needed.
“Although the nutrient action plan is long established, we need to ensure that there is full implementation at farm level and improved compliance,” she added.
Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan said that sustainable agriculture practices must be invested in to protect waterways.
Dolan said: “Farmers, who have long been stewards of the land, need our support.
“By incentivising eco-friendly farming techniques and providing access to new technologies, we can ensure that food production and environmental protection go hand in hand,” she said.
