Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Lower Bann Navigation in Northern Ireland that Portna Lock east of Kilrea will be closed to navigation from Monday 9 October for a period of around six weeks.

This is to facilitate the installation of new lock gates to the upstream lock chamber, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Causeway Coast and Glens councillors have echoed growing concerns over the state of the aquatic environment following recent blooms of toxic blue-green algae, as the Belfast Telegraph reports.

Alliance Councillor Peter McCully tabled a motion at last week’s Environmental Services Committee Meeting that emphasised the “detrimental impact these blooms have had on local businesses”.

As previously reported on Afloat.ie, at least one long-standing business on the Lower Bann has announced its closure, claiming its future is “unsustainable” given the likelihood of dangerous cyanobacteria blooms happening “on a yearly basis”.

Cllr MuCully said the response from Northern Ireland’s Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to this summer’s incidents is “not sufficient” and his motion calls for DAERA to convene cross-party talks across all affected council areas to develop and action plan.

Lough Neagh has also been affected by toxic blue-green algae blooms in recent months, with angling groups claiming that the lough is “dying” due to the affects of pollution from untreated wastewater and agricultural run-off.

The lough’s eel fishermen have added their voices to the call for action, saying their industry has collapsed this season.

"Never have I seen so many eel fisherman resorting to scale fishing in order to make some form of income,” one co-op member told the Irish News, which has more on the story HERE.

A popular destination for watersport on Northern Ireland’s North Coast has blamed governmental inaction over wastewater discharges for its decision to close after nearly three decades.

In a statement on social media, Rob Skelly of the Cranagh Activity Centre said recent blooms of toxic blue-green algae that have affected Lough Neagh and the Lower Bann are travelling out to sea through the river system, past its location.

“With this likely to happen on a yearly basis we feel that our business has become unsustainable and that we have no option but to close,” Skelly added.

He also echoed recent comments from concerned angling groups in saying that “we are seeing the collapse of the ecology of the Lough Neagh and Lower Bann system”.

The Belfast Telegraph has more on the story HERE.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels on and users of the Lower Bann navigation that emergency repair works are being carried out on Movanagher Lock until next Friday 23 June.

Passage through the lock southwest of Ballymoney in Co Antrim will not be possible until this time, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and users of the Lower Bann that Carnroe Lock has been reopened open to navigation after repair works.

The Northern Ireland river lock had been closed for infrastructure maintenance last December, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Masters of vessels are advised that water levels between Carnroe Weir and the The Cutts are currently high, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways adds.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters of vessels and users of the Lower Bann that water levels between Carnroe Weir and the The Cutts are currently low due to a technical issue at The Cutts sluice gates, south of Coleraine in Northern Ireland.

Masters of vessels are advised to restrict movements along this section of the Lower Bann navigation until further notice, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Lower Bann navigation that infrastructure maintenance works at Carnroe Lock, south of Coleraine in Northern Ireland, are under way as of Thursday 1 December and are expected to continue until March 2023.

These works will necessitate the closure of the lock and therefore navigation through Carnroe Lock will not be possible during this period, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland advises masters of vessels on the Lower Bann navigation that essential bridge maintenance works are are being conducted at Kilrea Bridge in Kilrea, Co Derry as of Monday 12 September 2022 for a period of eight weeks.

These works will necessitate the closure of the eastern arch to all navigation. However, navigation is still facilitated through the adjacent two arches which are marked accordingly, the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways says.

Waterways Ireland advises all users of the Lower Bann that essential long-term maintenance works have been completed at Carnroe Lock and it is now reopened to navigation, as of Friday 12 August.

New upstream gates were announced in late 2020 for the Northern Ireland river lock which last had its gates replaced more than 50 years ago, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.

Waterways Ireland advises all masters and users of the Erne System that the channel east of Castle Island, Enniskillen will be closed from Monday 4 July to the end of September to create a water activity area.

The designated area will be clearly marked by floating buoys. Access to Castle Museum Jetty will be maintained when approaching from the north of Castle Island.

Mariners should use the navigation channel to the west of Castle Island and proceed at slow speed and with minimum wash adhering to any instructions or displayed signage. Mariners should be aware of small non-motorised craft also operating in the navigation.

Elsewhere in Northern Ireland, masters and users of the Lower Bann are advised that Carnroe Lock remains closed due to ongoing essential repair works.

“As we move towards completion of the remedial works, Waterways Ireland will further advise by means of a Marine Notice on a reopening date,” the cross-border body for Ireland’s inland waterways said.

Updated Monday 4 July: A previous version of this article contained an incorrect link.