Lough Neagh: Environment minister to meet Earl of Shaftesbury

The new minister for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir says he will meet with the Earl of Shaftesbury this week

Environment Minister Andrew Muir is to meet the owner of Lough Neagh's bed and soil later this week.

Andrew Muir announced he would meet with the Earl of Shaftesbury during his first minister's question time.

Mr Muir said he was looking forward to a "frank and open" discussion with the earl.

Last year saw the largest freshwater lake in the UK blighted by unprecedented blooms of potentially toxic blue-green algae.

Blue-green algae is a bacteria which can cause skin irritation and sickness in people who come into contact with it, but the biggest risk is to pets, livestock and wildlife.

Blue-green algae is toxic to animals and can cause illness in humans

The Shaftesbury family has held ownership of the bed and soil of the Lough since the 19th century.

Before that, they had been owned by the Chichester family since the Plantation of Ulster.

There have been calls for the Lough to be taken into public ownership after blue-green algal blooms appeared last year.

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Nicolas Ashley-Cooper, who is the 12th member of his family to hold the title of Earl of Shaftesbury, told BBC News NI last year he was open to the idea of selling the Lough but would not be giving it away.

Earl of Shaftesbury Nicolas Ashley-Cooper told BBC News NI last year he was open to the idea of selling the lough but would not be giving it away

Work is under way to look at future management options, after the Lough Neagh Partnership secured funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for a two-year project.

The new minister for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) told the Northern Ireland Assembly that work and meeting the earl formed "a twin-track" approach for looking at the problems and future of the Lough.

"I would say there's no quick wins associated with the issues associated with Lough Neagh," Mr Muir said.

"It is highly likely and I think this is important that I put this on the record in the chamber here today, it's highly likely that the scenes we saw last year will occur this year.

"And to be honest, and I'm saying this from a genuine place, I think it is a damning indictment that this situation was allowed to unfold."