11/09/2026
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Scrap the Cap on water pollution fines.
Scrap the Cap on water pollution fines in the new Fisheries Bill, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill
A number of key organisations working closely on issues affecting Lough Neagh, its rivers and the communities surrounding the Lough have called for the proposed cap of £50,000 on serious water pollutions incidents to be scrapped.
The organisations making this call include the River Blackwater Catchment Trust, the Ballinderry Rivers Trust, the Lough Neagh Rivers Trust, Friends of the Earth NI, The Rural Community Network, The Lough Neagh Partnership, the Lough Neagh Development Trust, and the Ulster Angling Federation.
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READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW!
Call to Scrap the Cap on pollution penalties from key organisations in new Stormont Bill
A number of key organisations working closely on issues affecting Lough Neagh, its rivers and the communities surrounding the Lough have called for the proposed cap of £50,000 on serious water pollutions incidents to be scrapped.
The organisations making this call include the River Blackwater Catchment Trust, the Ballinderry Rivers Trust, the Lough Neagh Rivers Trust, Friends of the Earth NI, The Rural Community Network, The Lough Neagh Partnership, the Lough Neagh Development Trust, Development Trusts NI and the Ulster Angling Federation.
Speaking today, David Kennedy from the Lough Neagh Rivers Trust stated:
“The forthcoming Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill at Stormont will set the legislative framework on our waterways and water quality for decades to come.
“As the NI Assembly website states “The Bill introduces an increased maximum penalty for water pollution offences, reinforcing the importance of protecting the water environment regardless of the source of pollution.”
“However, there are serious concerns that the bill falls far short of what is required in terms of water quality improvements and pollution control.
“As set out in the consultation phase of the Bill that the aim of new legislation was to align with practices in the UK however the opportunity has been missed by placing a cap of only £50,000 on the most serious pollution offences.
“What we have seen in England, Scotland and Wales is the possibility of unlimited financial penalties, known as Variable Monetary Penalties, for the most serious of offences where offending is proved to a criminal standard and much larger cap of £500,000 for cases brought under civil law as a serious deterrent to pollution.
“Further to this the forthcoming Stormont Bill fails to update the 1966 Act with a clearer, more concise, definition of ‘deleterious matter’ i.e. polluting materials entering our waterways and does not change the wording “cause or knowingly permit" allowing polluters to claim that not having knowledge or claiming an accident acts in their defence.
“There has been considerable focus on water quality, and significant resources dedicated to addressing this issue, over the past number of years, not least with the focus on Lough Neagh and the blue green algae blooms appearing each year.
“The organisations supporting this call are rightly worried that we are legislating for more of the same and that the legislative powers will not be able to meet the high benchmark of what is required in order to see our waterways, rivers, lakes and ultimately our drinking water sources, be improved and protected to the standards required.”
Benburb GAME Angling club Antrim & District Angling Association Ballynure Angling Club Glenavy Conservation and District Angling Club Kells Connor and Glenwherry Angling Club Crumlin & District Angling Association Coagh Angling Club Ballinderry Bridge Angling Club Moyola Angling Association Cookstown & District Angling Club
