Bad news for the two swans which became trapped in algae on Lough Neagh this week.

The algae will be there for as long as Stormont exists, because it does not have the political will to tackle it.

That is the sad conclusion we must draw from examining the Executive’s behaviour towards the lough’s desecration.

The solution to Lough Neagh’s problem lies in science. However, Stormont doesn’t do physical science (it tried it once, but its Climate Change Act is preventing it from upgrading the A5).

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It relies instead on political science, particularly the bit which says that populism wins votes.

Lough Neagh is a victim of that populism, which means that it is essentially the product of political pollution. Welcome to Lough Neagh’s muddy politics.

The Lough has collapsed in large part through the build-up of nutrients, mainly in the form of phosphorus and nitrogen, which feed algae blooms.

The RePhokUs scientific research project (2018-21) identified three sources of high phosphorus input into the north’s waters: agriculture (62%), wastewater treatment works (24%) and septic tanks (12%).

Stormont’s Programme for Government (2024-27) identified Lough Neagh as a key priority........

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