20/08/2026
Tackling the pollution crisis in Lough Neagh, the UK and Ireland’s largest freshwater lake, requires collaboration and robust scientific evidence.
That’s the focus of CLEAR-Neagh (Catchment-Level Environmental AMR & eDNA Reconnaissance for Lough Neagh), our project combining advanced DNA-based methods with environmental data to better understand where pollution is coming from and how it moves through the catchment.
We recently held the project’s first stakeholder workshop, bringing together representatives from government departments, regulatory bodies, non-governmental organisations, water companies, conservation agencies, public health bodies and consultancies.
This was a chance to share knowledge and explore different perspectives that will help shape the project’s delivery. Dr Linda May described a restoration case study from Loch Leven, Scotland, and Dr Susheel Bhanu Busi explained the goals and planned outputs of CLEAR-Neagh. Group discussions explored ongoing efforts to reduce pollution in Lough Neagh, and identified what is helping or hindering their implementation and effectiveness. We reflected on how CLEAR-Neagh outputs could help overcome barriers to change, and how outputs should be tailored to make them relevant, accessible and useful for different audiences.
A key message was that Lough Neagh, and lakes in general, are inter-disciplinary. Outputs need to be inclusive, adapted to multiple audiences, and involve relevant parties, including the public, from an early stage.
CLEAR-Neagh will improve our understanding of pollution sources, microbial contamination, algal blooms, and environmental health within the Lough Neagh catchment. It will inform future mitigation strategies and support the lough’s restoration and long-term protection.
UKCEH is delivering the project in collaboration with the Lough Neagh Partnership and Biota Trace Systems Ltd, with funding from DAERA NI and the Natural Environment Research Council via the Freshwater Quality Programme (Water@Leeds, University of Leeds).
