Bert and Tara from the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) visited Year 5 as part of the children’s “Water” topic. During the visit the children had the opportunity to discuss the blue-green algae crisis in Lough Neagh.The pupils learned that the blue-green algae is a type of bacteria that is growing in Lough Neagh and when the conditions are right, blue-green algae can form blooms that can discolour the water and then forms scum on the water’s surface . This leads to poor water quality and is dangerous for the aquatic plants and animals in Lough Neagh.The children had the chance to examine first hand some of the aquatic animals that are found in Lough Neagh, in particular the Zebra mussels. The Zebra Mussels survive by filtering particles from the water and as a result remove food normally available to other species living in Lough Neagh.
