Will Irish wildfowlers foot the bill for water upgrade?

Calls to bring Lough Neagh out of private ownership could lead to an increase in shooting lease costs, pricing some wildfowlers out of sport. It would also negatively impact the extensive conservation work done by many fowling clubs. 

The demands to take the lough out of the private ownership of the Earl of Shaftesbury and into community ownership under the Lough Neagh Partnership follow the approval of a plan, published by the Northern Irish Executive, to tackle ongoing environmental issues in the area. 

The 37-point action plan, produced by Andrew Muir’s Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), was given the green light by ministers in July. It was developed to deal with the environmental issues on the lough — the UK’s largest body of freshwater — especially the huge algal blooms seen over the past few years. 

Gary McCartney, regional director of the Countryside Alliance Ireland, who lives near the lough, said: “I have seen a noticeable decrease in the number of shooters there. 

“Last year, the number of people wildfowling was affected by the algae, given that toxins in the water can impact the health of gundogs used to retrieve quarry,” he pointed out. 

Excess nutrients in the water from various sources including agriculture, NI Water and septic tanks, combined with warm weather, all contribute to the huge blooms of cyanobacteria that continue to impact habitats and businesses all around the lough. The plan proposes a review of pollution penalties and research initiatives to investigate potential solutions to the algae problem. 

Mr McCartney said: “Some will be reassured that should ownership of the lough be transferred to the partnership, it would seem shooting can continue. but at what cost? Lord Shaftesbury already charges, which includes paying VAT, but the question remains whether there would be further steep increases if the Lough Neagh Partnership gains control. Would wildfowling areas be limited, or even the dates you can shoot on the lough be restricted?” 

Mike Swan, senior adviser at GWCT, said: “It would be such a tragedy if the wildfowlers of Lough Neagh were to lose out in some way over this story of attempting to improve water quality. There is a long and distinguished history of wildfowling as an entirely sustainable activity on the lough and the wildfowlers deserve to be recognised as among the greatest forces for conservation here.” 

Last week, the Antrim and District Angling Association advised its members not to consume any fish they caught on Lough Neagh.