July 07, 2025

07/07/25 Northern Ireland pollution, dry stone walling, shellfish

11 minutes

New proposals to improve water quality in Northern Ireland could prove fatal for pig farming there according to the Ulster Farmers Union.

The Nutrients Action Programme aims to reduce agricultural pollution in loughs and rivers and would involve limiting the amount of phosporus and nitrogen that can by spread on the land in slurry. The consultation on the programme has already been extended once and now the UFU says pigs numbers would need to be reduced by as much as 80% if the plans get the go-ahead.

Craftsmen are building a new four and half mile dry stone wall in the Cotswolds. Part of one England's biggest road construction projects, the wall will run alongside the new road near Cheltenham. Work started last year and won't be completed until next summer.

All week we're looking at shellfish from lobsters and oysters to mussels. The Shellfish Association describes it as an industry with huge untapped potential but producers are still suffering from the loss of trade to Europe since Brexit as exports account for most of their business.

Presenter = Caz Graham

Producer = Rebecca Rooney

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