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INLAND FISHERIES IRELAND is continuing to investigate a pollution incident that killed at least 5,000 fish in the River Allow, a tributary of the Munster Blackwater in north Co Cork.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) said that the pollution killed the fish in a Special Area of Conservation, and that the location is a noted spawning habitat for fish.
The scale of the pollution is still being determined by IFI investigators, who said that dead fish had been found 4km downstream of the source of the pollution, which the IFI did not name.
The incident occured over the weekend but was only reported yesterday by local anglers.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the Kanturk Trout Anglers Association said the group was “devastated on multiple fronts by this shocking incident” and that it had been forced to cancel an upcoming competition, which it described as “much less important” than the fish kill.
“What a shame that what should have been a celebration of our sport an a positive impact on the local economy is now gone,” the post read, adding that it was suspending all angling along the stretch of the affected area.
Among the species of fish killed in the stretch of river are juvenile Atlantic salmon, brown trout, lamprey, eel, stone loach, roach, and dace.
The river also supports a population of freshwater pearl mussels.
“At this moment in time, we have no idea what effect this pollution has had on the freshwater mussel,” Michael Touhy of the Kanturk association told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme earlier today.
The IFI said: “Water samples have been taken from the river to gather evidence of the discharge, and source point of contamination, to advance any potential prosecution.”
Seán Long, IFI director for the south west region, told RTÉ that they received a call from a local water treatment plant, informing the organisation of a spill on Sunday.
Uisce Éireann has a water treatment plant in Freemount and the body said it was investigating a reported spill there.
Long said that the incident had set conservation back years and described it as “devastating”, particularly for local anglers.
The IFI has urged the public to report instances of fish kills, water pollution, habitat destruction, or illegal fishing to our confidential 24/7 number, 0818 34 74 24.
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There is an adjoining report that Harris states that ‘you can’t pitch a tent anywhere you want’.
I have a question: when these tents are distributed, are those they are given to told where they can be pitched?
I have another: is there anywhere where they can be pitched that is acceptable to the government?
And who is paying for these tents anyway?
The government, via ‘charities’, on behalf of the taxpayer?
The government, which then destroys those tents within hours of distributing them?
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: they are pitched up in Milltown now making camp.
@Sean Money: @Sean Money: Do you know if there is anywhere these can be pitched that is acceptable to the authorities?
If not, then why are these being distributed?
Are our government departments really *that* disfunctional?
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: exactly they are in cahoots with the tent makers, millions spent on tents now
See this ffg governments will never and I mean never stop pollution of everything for profit ,
@Robert Halvey: Bet they sell the fish too!!
Slurry, I suppose. Farmers, I suppose.
The reason it was only reported yesterday is because nobody works the weekend
I don’t see pike on the list. Probably being killed off by the angling clubs. They kill pike all over Ireland seemingly with the blessing of the IFI. Taking out the predators leaves weak and sick fish to spawn. In turn making the fish sizes smaller in the rivers. You don’t take a predator out of a habitat
@Michael o Dwyer: it’s not the clubs killing them off, it’s the international fishing folk who clean out the rivers and lakes of every fish they get their hands on, no matter the size . They are a plague
@Michael o Dwyer: It’s more likely that it’s just a narrower river that doesnt contain pike. Of which there are many around the country
Pharmaceutical waste !
@sakk sa: irish water chemical leak at the water plant, either chlorine or fluoride
Hopefully the carcasses can be salvaged for food or even pet animal feed.
have your say