Fish Kill at Kilgarvan in a Tributary of the Ballyline River, Co. Kerry
On the morning of Saturday 16th March 2013 Inland Fisheries Ireland were contacted by Kerry County Council regarding a pollution incident from a farm in the Kilgarvan area of Ballylongford, Co. Kerry.
The person reporting the incident had called their emergency line to say that an accidental slurry spill had occurred on his farm.
Inland Fisheries Ireland officers responded immediately. Upon arriving at the farm, one side of the slurry pit wall had collapsed resulting in a large slurry spill. Two cattle were also injured in the incident and had to be put down. The slurry went into a watercourse which is a tributary of the Ballyline River which flows into the Shannon Estuary at Ballylongford Bay. Kerry County Council staff also attended the scene.
The farmer had carried out emergency measures on site attempting to contain the slurry and also trying to minimise the impact to fish and wildlife downstream.
Fisheries Officers carried out a visual inspection downstream but as the slurry was still passing downstream there was strong discolouration and so it was impossible to see any dead fish. Samples were taken and sent for analysis immediately.
The situation was monitored over the weekend. A full walkover of the stream was carried out as the water cleared on Tuesday 19th March.
Inland Fisheries Ireland can confirm that a fish kill took place as a result of the pollution incident. 150 brown trout, hundreds of stickleback, 1 eel and 1 flounder were recovered.
The section of river downstream from the farm to Gortanacooka Bridge was the most heavily impacted. Currently there is a lot of organic sediment in the river from the farm to the first bridge in Graffa Bog. This will not disperse until there is a flood in the river. The farm was also inspected on the evening of the 19th March and the water within the watercourse was clear.
The investigation continues.
Ends…
Media enquiries: Suzanne Campion ,Head of Business Development, Inland Fisheries Ireland,
Anglesea Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.Tel: 052 6180055 Fax: 052 6123971; Email suzanne.campion@fisheriesireland.ie Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie
Notes to the Editor
Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. IFI promotes, supports, facilitates and advises the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. It also develops and advises the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling. www.fisheriesireland.ie
