The South Antrim MLA said: “The decision by LNFCS to close eel fishing for the 2025 season is devastating news for many, in my South Antrim constituency and other communities on the lough shore, coming on top of existing anxieties around the ecological crisis at Lough Neagh.
“The statement from the Co-operative refers directly to the significant environmental change within the Lough and is a stark reminder that we must do all we can to start to reverse this damaging, downward spiral.
''My Alliance colleague, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA, is again meeting with representatives of the industry in the coming days to discuss the implications and explore ways to help communities that have been impacted.
“During this mandate, Minister Muir has made strenuous efforts to improve Lough Neagh’s water quality through the Lough Neagh Action Plan, the NI Environmental Improvement Plan and the Nutrients Action Programme.
“However, the Minister continues to face unnecessary delay in some instances and outright obstruction in others, when it comes to securing political support for the action required to save Lough Neagh, its native species and the fishing sector there.
“Statements and photo opportunities from Sinn Féin, the DUP, UUP and others are completely at odds with voting patterns in the Assembly when it comes to taking action.
“Collaboration across all sectors is essential, and Sinn Féin, which holds the Infrastructure Ministry, must clearly outline its planned actions to improve wastewater treatment. Their partnership with the DUP, UUP and TUV in opposing the NAP consultation shows a concerning lack of preparedness to make decisions following their own calls for action.
“Our natural resources and our communities, particularly those around the Lough, deserve better than this abject failure from other parties to follow up on calls and promises made and it’s time for them to step up and take action.”
“The statement from the Co-operative refers directly to the significant environmental change within the Lough and is a stark reminder that we must do all we can to start to reverse this damaging, downward spiral.
''My Alliance colleague, DAERA Minister Andrew Muir MLA, is again meeting with representatives of the industry in the coming days to discuss the implications and explore ways to help communities that have been impacted.
“During this mandate, Minister Muir has made strenuous efforts to improve Lough Neagh’s water quality through the Lough Neagh Action Plan, the NI Environmental Improvement Plan and the Nutrients Action Programme.
“However, the Minister continues to face unnecessary delay in some instances and outright obstruction in others, when it comes to securing political support for the action required to save Lough Neagh, its native species and the fishing sector there.
“Statements and photo opportunities from Sinn Féin, the DUP, UUP and others are completely at odds with voting patterns in the Assembly when it comes to taking action.
“Collaboration across all sectors is essential, and Sinn Féin, which holds the Infrastructure Ministry, must clearly outline its planned actions to improve wastewater treatment. Their partnership with the DUP, UUP and TUV in opposing the NAP consultation shows a concerning lack of preparedness to make decisions following their own calls for action.
“Our natural resources and our communities, particularly those around the Lough, deserve better than this abject failure from other parties to follow up on calls and promises made and it’s time for them to step up and take action.”