Annual boat registrations on the Erne system have doubled since 2000, prompting a call from Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Diana Armstrong for a shift to greener boating.

Total registered vessels on Lough Erne now stand at 8,824, with annual registrations rising from an average of 225 to around 530. Armstrong said the figures confirm the waterway's status as one of Ireland's fastest-growing boating destinations and that the growth presents an opportunity to future-proof tourism.

She urged Waterways Ireland to collaborate with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the Department for Infrastructure, and authorities in the Republic of Ireland to develop grant schemes that help owners switch from diesel to electric, hydrogen, biomethane or other cleaner fuels.

Armstrong also said investment in charging and refuelling infrastructure around the lough is needed to make greener boating practical, arguing it would benefit the environment, strengthen tourism, protect the long-term health of the waterway and keep Fermanagh at the forefront of sustainable outdoor recreation.