Northern Irish Lough Neagh Pollan gains EU protection

Lough Neagh Pollan has been granted protected status by the European Commission. The fish is the fourth product from Northern Ireland to have been recognised as a Protected Food Name (PFN) under EU law. It has become the first to receive the status of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), which is a more rigorous designation.

The Pollan is also the second from Lough Neagh to be recognised by the EU and follows the designation of Lough Neagh Eels.

PFN status recognises the regional importance and distinctive characteristics of this variety, ensuring that only Pollan produced in Lough Neagh can be marketed as Lough Neagh Pollan. Northern Ireland's existing three PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) products are New Season Comber Potatoes, Armagh Bramley Apples and Lough Neagh Eels.

Pat Close, chairman of the Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative Society (LNFCS), the company which holds the fishing rights to Lough Neagh and which is responsible for registering both Lough Neagh Eel and Lough Neagh Pollan with the EU schemes, said; "The PDO accreditation is just reward for the fishermen of Lough Neagh who work diligently using sustainable, traditional fishing methods to maintain a viable future for the species and the industry.

"Pollan is the only European vertebrate found uniquely in Ireland, with Lough Neagh the only lake currently capable of sustaining a viable commercial stock of pollan.

"This accolade celebrates the authenticity and heritage of fishing for pollan on Lough Neagh as well as the unique characteristics of the species."

Dr Derek Evans Project Leader within Freshwater Fisheries section of Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), said; "The listing of Lough Neagh Pollan as a unique food item, from one single source is wholly befitting for this very distinctive fish species.

Lough Neagh Pollan has become the first product in Northern Ireland to secure PDO status and follows in the footsteps of our three PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) products New Season Comber Potatoes, Armagh Bramley Apples and Lough Neagh Eels.

Lough Neagh Pollan (a member of the salmon family) is one of only a handful of fish species native to Ireland that have remained here following the extinction impacts of Ice Ages.