New AFBI Research vessel to aid monitoring of Lough Neagh

DAERA Minister Andrew Muir visited Ballyronan Marina to officially handover the research vessel “Salar” from DAERA to the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), to aid with their research programme into blue green algae in Lough Neagh.

Minister Muir said: “My Department has reviewed how its vessels can be best utilised, and the transfer of this asset represents both value to the public purse as well as my commitment to address the blue green algae crisis in our waterways.

“Through collaboration and dedicated research, this new research platform will help deliver my vision to have a healthy, resilient environment with high water quality status and environment standards thereby contributing to the health and wellbeing of our citizens.”

Pieter-Jan Schön, Director of Environment and Marine Science at AFBI said: “AFBI is delighted to accept the transfer of operational control of the Research Vessel Salar from the Department. The sharing of resources demonstrates the strong joined up approach within the public sector to better support the recovery of the Lough ecosystem.”

AFBI scientists will use this vessel as a platform to further understand the interactions between nutrients in sediment and water column, the ecological function and status of the lough, the influence of biological elements such as zebra mussels and of course the cyanobacteria and planktonic community itself. 

The vessel will provide the platform capable of delivering the required science programmes. This is new capacity, providing capability not currently accessible in the lough, which enables AFBI to develop the science programme and build on the 50-year water quality monitoring programme.

The vessel is a flexible, adaptable and value for money solution to perform essential research on the biological and environmental processes which influence water quality and the ecological integrity in Lough Neagh. 

The 21-year-old vessel underwent inspections, repairs and sea trials between April and August 2024 to satisfy AFBI of the seaworthiness and suitability of the boat for its research purposes. These were satisfactorily completed.

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