TEST RESULTS TO date from the Environmental Protection Agency “do not raise concern” over a significant fish kill where up to 46,000 fish died.

The kill happened on a 30km section of the River Blackwater between Lombardstown and Killavullen in North Cork.

Minister of State for Fisheries and the Marine, Timmy Dooley, as well as senior advisers, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) Acting CEO Suzanne Campion, the EPA, and other staff met in Mallow today to discuss the incident.

In a statement, the IFI said a key finding from the Marine Institute was that no evidence of bacterial infection or systemic disease was noted in test samples.

They said virology results will be available towards the end of August.

Testing to date also indicates the lesions observed on the fish are likely to be associated with an environmental irritant.

“Results to date from the EPA do not raise concern, and more water quality results will be available in due course,” a spokesperson for the IFI said.

The IFI will continue to coordinate with authorities including the Marine Institute, the EPA, Cork County Council, and Uisce Éireann to investigate the fish mortalities.

Suzanne Campion thanked local anglers and the public for the information they provided to assist in the IFI’s investigations to date.

“The IFI welcomes today’s constructive engagement and collaboration with angler groups,” she said.

“We share their deep concerns over the very large number of fish mortalities on the Blackwater.”