Lough Neagh Fishery Transparency
No Data,
No Nets
Lough Neagh is a shared natural resource. If wild fish are being commercially removed, the public deserves to see the evidence that it is sustainable.
If the data is not public, then the public can have no confidence.
Latest update
30 April 2026 — Website created
This site was created to bring together publicly available information on commercial fishing in Lough Neagh and highlight key gaps in data, transparency and evidence.
This is bigger than fish.
Lough Neagh sits at the centre of a wider public argument about pollution, accountability and how shared natural resources are managed.
Commercial fishing may be lawful. That is not the same as proving it is sustainable. When a lough is already under environmental pressure, public confidence depends on clear evidence: what is being taken, how much is being taken, what rules apply, and whether fish stocks can withstand it.
No public confidence.
This project is not aimed at individual fishermen or working families. It is about transparent, evidence-based management of Lough Neagh.
Current situation
The latest catch data has not been released.
A 2026 Environmental Information Regulations request asked DAERA for Lough Neagh scale-fish catch data for 2021–2025, including trout, pollan, perch, bream, roach and pike. DAERA said raw data may be held, but that the dataset was undergoing active review, verification and quality assurance checks. It withheld the information under Regulation 12(4)(d), which can apply to incomplete material or information still in the course of completion. Source: DAERA/26-34.
The result: commercial fishing continues, but the most recent verified public picture is incomplete.
Why should people care?
Trust
Public confidence depends on being able to see the evidence behind decisions.
Accountability
The future of Lough Neagh should not depend on closed-door confidence. It should rest on public information.
Food buyers
Restaurants, wholesalers and food buyers should be able to check whether wild-caught fish are backed by current sustainability evidence.
Environmental pressure
Fishery decisions should be understood alongside wider issues such as water quality, algal blooms, phosphorus and nitrates. Source: DAERA release log.
What we know so far
Published evidence identifies Lough Neagh as a commercial fishery. UK Parliament material describes commercial fishing for eels, trout, pollan, perch, roach and bream, and refers to the role of the Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-operative Society in managing the fishery. Source: UK Parliament written evidence.
DAERA’s commercial fishery guidance for Lough Neagh sets out rules including closed seasons, minimum sizes, mesh sizes, gear restrictions and enforcement powers. Source: DAERA guidance.
The Lough Neagh Pollan PDO specification describes commercial harvesting and traceability requirements, including records of weight landed, who landed fish, and onward sale details. Source: Pollan PDO specification.
What is still missing?
The public does not need slogans. It needs the basic information required to assess risk, sustainability and accountability.
| Information needed | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Verified landings data by species and year | Shows what is being removed from the lough and whether pressure is rising or falling. |
| Active licences and permits | Shows the scale of authorised commercial fishing. |
| Gear types and fishing methods | Helps assess bycatch risk, selectivity and pressure on vulnerable species. |
| Independent stock assessments | Shows whether fish populations can sustain commercial extraction. |
| Enforcement records | Shows whether rules are being monitored and breaches addressed. |
| Scientific basis for catch limits | Shows whether decisions are precautionary and evidence-based. |
What should happen next?
Publish the data
Verified commercial landings should be made public by species and year.
Show the controls
Licence numbers, permits, gear types and enforcement information should be transparent.
Review the evidence
Commercial fishing should be reviewed where current stock evidence is incomplete or unclear.
Use precaution
Where evidence is weak, vulnerable species should not be commercially exploited without review.
Questions worth asking
For buyers
Is there current stock evidence? Are verified landings data available? What fishing method was used? Is the product linked to current licensing and permit controls?
For policymakers
When will verified catch data be published? What stock assessments support continued fishing? How many commercial licences and permits are active?
Source library
This site rests on publicly available material.
- DAERA/26-34 — Lough Neagh scale-fish catch data, 2021–2025
- DAERA/25-140 — Commercial netting figures and dealer-return data
- DAERA 2025 information release log
- UK Parliament written evidence on Lough Neagh commercial fishing
- DAERA commercial fishery legislation handout
- Lough Neagh Pollan PDO specification
About this project
This is a public-interest information project focused on transparency, evidence and sustainable management of Lough Neagh.
It does not target individual fishermen, workers or families. It does not publish unverified allegations. Its focus is public information, institutional accountability and responsible decision-making.
Contact: admin@nodatanonets.org
No data. No confidence. No confidence, no nets.