Blue-green algae: ‘Little known’ about impact on wildlife

Earlier in the summer, an otter was pictured washed up on the slipway at Newferry in Portglenone.

The animal was coated in a green algae-type substance, but it’s not known if that contributed to its death.

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said officials attempted to retrieve the animal after being notified by Mid and East Antrim Council, but it had gone from the area when they arrived.

A spokesperson confirmed they have received no further reports.

Dr Neil Reid from Queen’s University Belfast is wary of claims that the algae has killed birds, otters and other wildlife.

“We have to be quite cautious because they could have died for other reasons and ended up in the algae.”

Dr Reid said none of the animals that were reported to have died as a result of the algae have undergone formal testing for the toxins or a post-mortem.

“With respect to things like wildfowl, swans, these could have died for other reasons, such as bird flu,” he said.

“And other animals may have died just of natural causes.”

Blue-green algae isn’t algae; it’s bacteria—cyanobacteria—of which there are many kinds.

The form in Lough Neagh is microcystis aeruginosa, which can emit toxins.