Anglers warn of “toxic” algae scum on lough

Sean McMahon

A major fishing competition on Lough Sheelin, which normally attracts over 200 anglers, may be cancelled due to a mass blue-green algae bloom.

Europe’s finest wild trout fishery was almost wiped out in the 1980s and 1990s, but the hard work of local anglers saw Sheelin restored to pristine condition.
However there is now an algae slime floating on the lough's surface at Killnahard Pier shore line.
Tests have not been undertaken on the water yet, but given its blue green hue, local anglers readily voiced their view that it's toxic.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) confirmed to The Anglo-Celt that their officers have been monitoring the lake conditions and reported the bloom to the EPA last month. Furthermore, the EPA monthly water sample results are “reportedly showing a decline in the water quality of the lake month on month for 2017”.
Lough Sheelin Trout Protection Association's environmental officer, Eamonn Ross, said that this is the worst bloom witnessed in over 30 years at the lough. Mr Ross claims the water poses a risk to public health, and that the blue-green algae growing on the lake can produce dangerous toxins that can be lethal to animals.
“This blue green algae is very dangerous in that it is known to be toxic. We have seen this bloom on the lake on and off for the past six to eight weeks and the same situation has been happening for the past five years. We have highlighted it with the Fisheries Ireland, the EPA and Cavan County Council,” said the Lough Sheelin Trout Protection Association's environmental officer. 
“Whatever actions that have been taken so far are not working. There is a new plan being put in place for river basin management between 2018 and 2021 and, in our view, that is not strong enough to deal with this situation on Lough Sheelin.”
“To tackle that, the authorities are going to have to look at some sort of... treatment system,” said Mr Ross.

 

Enhancement
All funds raised from the well attended competition, held at the beginning of October, is used to enhance the streams feeding into Lough Sheelin. The Lough Sheelin Trout Protection Association spend up to €20,000 a year on stream enhancement works. 
“They say that unless the lough's condition improves in the coming weeks, they will be forced to cancel the competition for the first time.
“If in future years this algae begins to appear in spring and continues for the summer, this lake will be dead in two or three years,” Mr Ross warned.
This sentiment was echoed by angler Phil Donoghue from Edgeworthstown, but now living in Galway. 
He has been fishing the lake since the late 1970s and describes it as the jewel in the crown because of the fantastic trout it produces.
“If the water quality keeps going the way it has been going in the last few years, and if nothing is done about it, it will be a thing of the past,” Phil said. “I think it is sad to see it happening and I would like to see something done about it.”
“There are billions of them and they float around in the water column and stop light penetrating into the water,” explained Mr Ross of the algae. 
“Then what happens is that the beneficial plants, such as the charophyte weed (essential for fly, trout and bird life) will die.”
In response to a query from The Anglo-Celt, Amanda Mooney, director of Inland Fisheries Ireland – Limerick explained: “Lough Sheelin is susceptible to algae blooms in spring and autumn. 
“The humid and calm conditions and diffuse sources contribute to this. 
“Inland Fisheries Ireland officers have been monitoring the lake conditions and reported the bloom to the EPA last month, who are remitted to monitor the water quality on the lake. The EPA monthly water sample results are reportedly showing a decline in the water quality of the lake month on month for 2017.”
“Inland Fisheries Ireland carries out agricultural and industrial inspections to monitor potential sources of pollution to the lake as a preventative measure and 150 inspections were carried out in August. Written warnings are issued where immediate action is required but, in general, most farms and industrial units were clean and dry during the month of August, with the majority of holding tanks emptied in preparation for the close of the spreading season.”
Colm O'Callaghan, assistant senior engineer, environment section, Cavan County Council meanwhile explained that blooms were not confined to Lough Sheelin in recent weeks.
"Algal blooms have occurred in a number of County Cavan lakes in recent weeks. The algal blooms are particularly noticeable on the lake surface following periods of calm weather or along shorelines where they can accumulate as a result of onshore breezes. Recent weather has been particularly conducive to the development of these algal blooms.
"The algal blooms arise as a result of excess nutrients which have accumulated in the lakes over a significant number of years. Cavan County Council are hopeful that recent improvements in water quality of inflowing streams will result in a reduced number of algal blooms in future years."