Fight on to save lough

A lake disease - “a vile algal bloom” - had been identified in the Lough.

It was similar to an algae which caused lakes in other parts of the world to die.

Reference to the problem was made by the Minister of Agriculture, Major Chichester Clarke, at the annual luncheon of the Association of Rural District Councils in Portadown.

The Ministries of Development, Commerce, Health and Social Services and Agriculture planned a long-term approach to the solution of the problem.

The Minister said plans would include a detailed scientific study to be carried out in co-operation with the New University.

The species of algae to blame was a particularly nasty one and fishermen said this was the most dense and longest lasting bloom they can remember.

Experiments had shown it was toxic to fish and wild fowl.