Two lakes in Northern Ireland have been closed to anglers following the discovery of toxic blue-green algae blooms that pose a public health risk. Loughbrickland Lake in County Down and Moor Lough near Strabane were shut down after the blooms appeared within the past week.
The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure made the decision based on advice from environmental health officers. As toxins can accumulate in fish, the public has been advised not to consume any fish caught from either lake until further notice.
People are urged to avoid contact with the water at Loughbrickland Lake, although the bathing ban at Strabane has been lifted. Possible side effects from the toxins include skin rashes, eye irritation, vomiting, fever, diarrhoea, and muscle pain.
Loughbrickland Lake feeds a stream that runs through a local park. Signs have been erected by the council advising visitors to keep children and pets away from the water. The blooms are caused by a surge in algae due to dry weather, which slows water flow and increases nutrient concentration from farming and other activities.
The department stated that the blooms will decline as the weather changes. It is seeking further guidance on how long toxins may remain in the fish, which will determine the duration of the closures. Last year, Loughbrickland Lake experienced a similar build-up of algae and weed that killed several fish.
