Algae danger is posed by bacteria

I SUBSCRIBE to an internet mailing list to do with boating on Ireland’s inland waterways.

Over the past couple of weeks, there have been a number of postings to the list expressing concern about blooms of blue-green algae in Lough Derg, on the lower Shannon.

The worry is based on the fact that many species of blue-green algae are poisonous. To my knowledge, one dog has already died this year after drinking from Lough Derg and a post mortem has shown algae to be the cause of death. Several other dogs and some farm animals have died in previous years.