Following a meeting with Northern Ireland Environment Minister Andrew Muir to examine the ongoing environmental issues around the lough, Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, the Earl of Shaftesbury, made the following remarks.

Large stretches of the lough were blanketed in toxic blue-green algal blooms last summer, which also had an impact on nearby beaches and other waterways.

This year, the algae have reappeared.

By surface area, Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It supports a significant eel-fishing business and provides 40% of the drinking water in Northern Ireland.

The earl has already declared that he is open to investigating novel ownership structures.

Mr. Muir is in favour of a community-based ownership structure modelled after those that have worked well in Scotland.

In an effort to address the numerous environmental problems at the lough, the minister has created an action plan; however, the document has not yet received the necessary approval from executive colleagues in Northern Ireland.

Of the 37 initiatives in the plan, 17 require complete executive backing.

It is thought that phosphate and nitrogen from agricultural fertiliser runoff from fields have a significant role in the blooms of blue-green algae.

Executive authority is required to limit the use of chemical fertilisers on grasslands.

The blooms are thought to have been influenced by the invasive zebra mussel species' proliferation because they have cleared the water and increased sunlight penetration, which has increased algae photosynthesis.

Another concern mentioned is climate change; last June, the greatest water temperature at Lough Neagh was recorded.

Following his meeting with the minister, the earl made the following statement: "I had a productive conversation with the minister on the problems facing Lough Neagh.

"We spoke about how important it is that the Northern Ireland Executive accepts his Lough Neagh Report and Action Plan as soon as feasible.