Public advised to stay away from blue-green algae at Moorlough

WALKERS are being advised to stay away from the water at Moorlough and to keep dogs on a leash after the discovery of blue-green algae at the local beauty spot.

Cllr Paul Boggs spoke out after he was alerted to the substance in the water by a dog walker. In a social media post, Cllr Boggs said, “I have made Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) aware, who are working with the Environment Agency to find the cause and a possible solution.”

Known as cyanobacteria, the substance is not actually algae but gives the appearance of such, like a pea soup.

Found in flowing, fresh water such as lakes, ponds and rivers, it can contain toxins which are known to be fatal to pets and cause severe illness in humans.

Cllr Boggs said, “Signs have been erected warning people not to enter the water or allow their pets to do so and I would urge people to follow that advice.

“Blue-green algae has been a persistent issue in waterways across Ireland for some years now, including in our biggest lake, Lough Neagh.

“Indeed, I was pleased to hear Michelle O’Neill reference the importance of Lough Neagh directly in her first speech as First Minister.”

A spokesperson for DAERA, which has reponsibility for Moorlough, said, “A Water Quality Officer (WQI) investigated the report and confirmed the presence of blue-green algae.

“Notification of the confirmed bloom was sent to Cllr Boggs, Derry City and Strabane District Council and DAERA Inland Fisheries. NIEA staff returned to the site on January 23, 2024 and observed no signs of an algae bloom.”

Meanwhile, the public are also being encouraged to help monitor waterways via a new app called ‘Bloomin’ Algae’.

The spokesperson added, “This enables members of the public to submit a photo of the bloom taken on their phone and state what activity takes place at the location, so that the potential risks to people and animals can be gauged.”