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Northern Ireland Environment Link (NIEL) welcomes the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs’ (DAERA) consultation on the proposed Nutrients Action Programme (NAP) for 2026–2029, recognising it as a starting point for improving NI’s precious freshwater environment. Recent statistics make it clear that water quality in NI is not going in the right direction. Beyond the effects that this could have on human health and biodiversity, there may also be important implications in terms of meeting national and international targets related to environmental protection, such as the goal to effectively protect 30% of land (which includes rivers and lakes) by 2030.

The NAP aims to control and reduce nutrient pollution, which refers to the excessive presence of nitrogen and phosphorus in water. Nutrient pollution can lead to harmful algal blooms, dead zones in water bodies, and ecosystem damage – posing a threat to health, to nature, and to the sustainability of businesses that rely on nature. NIEL is pleased that the development of the proposed NAP has been largely led by science and data, and that it includes reference to transitional and coastal waters, reflecting the importance of adopting a source-to-sea approach in protecting and enhancing water quality.

The NAP proposes several measures, including the introduction of a phosphorus balance (limit) for the most intensive farms—estimated at around 3,500 out of 26,000 farm businesses in Northern Ireland – and a ‘focused approach,’ whereby additional measures will be introduced in sensitive areas, or areas where water quality is declining. Many of these actions could help to improve long-term environmental outcomes and should be implemented at pace in order to future-proof our land, farms and sustainable food production.

We recognise that delivering these changes will not be easy and acknowledge the challenge that many farmers face in adapting to new restrictions and practices, particularly amid rising costs and a continuously shifting policy and regulation landscape. That’s why we’re calling for a strong programme of advice, investment and long-term support to enable a just and workable transition.

For example, the roll-out of the world-leading Soil Nutrient Health Scheme (SNHS) is already assisting farmers with efficient fertilizer use, but more investment in bespoke and accessible education and advice is required to help farmers act on their soil data and make informed nutrient management decisions.

We also stress that agriculture alone cannot carry the burden. Significant investment in sewage and wastewater infrastructure is urgently needed to address parallel nutrient pollution from urban and industrial sources. The nutrient crisis in our waterways will not be solved without joined-up action across sectors.

NIEL also emphasizes the importance of integrating nature-based solutions, such as uncultivated field margins, riparian buffers, tree planting and wetland/peatland restoration into the NAP. Crucially, these measures can deliver multiple benefits including reduction in nutrient losses, enhanced biodiversity, and climate resilience. We advocate for these solutions to be mainstreamed through long-term agri-environment schemes and capital investment measures to assist farmers in implementing sustainable practices, where the environment is viewed as a profit-centre on the farm.

NIEL also emphasises that the measures proposed in the NAP hold clear potential for transboundary impacts, and it is vital to ensure compliance with legislative requirements in this area.

You can find more information on the NAP Consultation here, and can respond online here.

Read the full press release via the link below…