THE START of one of Ireland's oldest fishing industries will be missed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The multi-million pound commercial eel fishing operation, which is based on the banks of the River Bann at Toome, Co Antrim, has also fallen casualty to the lockdown.
Traditionally the eel fishing season begins on May 1 and runs through the summer months.
However, the world-wide health crisis means that the trade has crashed with many international businesses being forced to suspend operations and is unlikely to recover significantly in the near future.
The huge drop in demand for eels in recent months means that the Lough Neagh Fisherman’s Co-Operative Society, which was set up in the 1960s, has been forced to put back this year's start date.
Lough Neagh is home to Europe’s largest wild eel fishery and during the peak season up to three tonnes of eels, which have protected status, are handled every day.
Eighty per cent of the catch is usually flown to Holland daily where they are processed and sent on to markets across Europe. The remainder goes to England.
It came as a further nine deaths were recorded in the north yesterday and 43 south of the border bringing the all island total to 157.
Across the UK, 26,711 have now died - the second highest in Europe.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dáil yesterday that a plan is being developed to relax the current Covid-19 lockdown, but any easing of the restrictions will be done gradually.
He said he knew the lockdown was difficult but said "we must keep doing what we're doing".
Also appearing at his first Downing Street press briefing since recovering from coronavirus, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK is "past its peak" of Covid-19 cases and is on a "downward slope".
Mr Johnson also said he will set out a "comprehensive plan" next week on how to restart the economy, reopen schools and help people travel to work following the coronavirus lockdown.
Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann however warned there would be no "major or sudden shifts back to the way things used to be" for some time and urged the public to "keep digging in".
