The sight of Northern Ireland's waterways being covered in slimy, potentially toxic blue-green algae has become a regular occurrence in recent years - and 2025 is no different.

The algae has been detected almost 100 times across Northern Ireland since the start of the year, with the majority of sightings in Lough Neagh and the Lower Bann, as well as Lough Erne.

Lough Neagh, the UK's largest freshwater lake, has been blighted by large blooms of the potentially toxic algae in recent years.

With these blooms becoming a recurrent event, not just confined to summer, and scientists warning they are likely to keep happening for many years to come - how bad is the issue and what's being done about it?

From bubbles to space – Tara Mills and Declan Harvey speak to BBC NI’s Agriculture & Environment Correspondent, Louise Cullen about the problem, and how it might be solved.

Also: can you grow pineapples in NI’s climate?

Get in touch: thestateofus@bbc.co.uk