Nicholas Ashley-Cooper, the 12th Earl of Shaftesbury, recently gave an interview to the Irish News. He holds legal ownership of the bed and soil of Lough Neagh, Ireland's largest lake located in Northern Ireland.

Toxic algal blooms appeared in Lough Neagh in summer 2023. Companies extract sand from the lake bed through suction dredging. These firms pay royalties to the Earl and Northstone, a construction company, per tonne removed.

The Earl stated that concerns about environmental effects from sand extraction are overstated. Sand dredging companies funded studies costing £500,000 to show no harm to the lake.

Professor Chris Harrod of Glasgow University said the scarring from dredging causes very significant impact on the lake system. He called for more monitoring and study.

Environment Minister Andrew Muir ordered an independent review of dredging's environmental impacts in summer 2024.

An October meeting in Belfast presented plans to reshape ownership of the lough to stakeholders. The Earl did not attend or comment on it.

Rebekah McCabe of Involve NI welcomed the Earl's suggestion of a free transfer of the lough's bed and soil.