Public warned against swimming at popular UK beach after blue-green algae outbreak
Bathing ban issued at UK beach ahead of bank holiday weekend
- Benone Beach in Londonderry has been issued an "advice against bathing" notification due to the detection of blue-green algae.
- The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) confirmed high levels of the algae through its monitoring programme, leading to the temporary notice ahead of the bank holiday weekend.
- This incident at the popular north coast beach comes amidst wider concerns over the proliferation of blue-green algae across Northern Ireland, particularly at Lough Neagh.
- Over 100 blue-green algae detections have been made across Northern Ireland this year, with Lough Neagh experiencing noxious blooms for the third consecutive summer.
- Factors contributing to the algae blooms include agricultural run-off, wastewater treatment, the invasive zebra mussel species, and rising water temperatures due to climate change.