Northern Ireland's Lough Neagh Eels "amazing"

Northern Ireland's Lough Neagh Eels have been described as "amazing" by one of the UK's most respected food experts.

John Farrand, the managing director of the UK Guild of Fine Food in London, organisers of the hugely successful Great Taste Awards, listed the eels in an article on Food Producers to Watch in 2018.

Writing in London's Evening Standard daily newspaper, Mr Farrand said "the best eel is most likely from Lough Neagh. Their product is amazing".

He continued: "Eel is slightly full of politics in some ways as it's in short supply and there's some protectionism about who has the licences to harvest them, but it's a good debating point, and I think that eels were eaten so much in the East End of London 50 years ago and they are absolutely delicious, that it would be great if we can start to see a bit of a renaissance for them". He said Lough Neagh Eels were readily available in London.

The eels, harvested and processed by the Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative at Toome in county Antrim, are now available in original and smoked pre-packed varieties. Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lough in the British Isles.

One of just three Northern Ireland foods to achieve EU Protected Geographic Indicator (PGI) status, Lough Neagh Eels have been listed by Fortnum and Mason in London.

Lough Neagh is home to the largest wild eel fishery in Europe and its eels are regarded by processors as the best available on the continent - a reflection of the high quality natural feeding available to the fish in the lough. The co-operative operates a sustainability programme to preserve eel stocks.

Fresh eels are shipped to Billingsgate market in London as well as to the Netherlands and Germany.

Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative Society was formed in 1965 to manage the fishery and market the eels for the benefit of the co-operative's members and local fishermen.