Fish kill on Bandon River

22 August 2011

On Thursday last the 18th August, following an alert from a member of the public, staff of Inland Fisheries Ireland discovered a significant fish kill in the Bandon River County Cork.

In excess of 350 salmon and trout were found dead over a 1 mile stretch of the river. This included fish up to a 6 pound salmon however many of the fish were in an advanced state of decomposition having been dead for a number of days. Following an extensive search no specific source of pollution was identified and it is concluded that it was a transient event that had passed by the time investigations began and was not continuing when the fisheries staff searched the river.

Commenting on the fish kill, IFI’s Head of Operations Dr. Greg Forde said “During the summer rivers are particularly vulnerable and all facilities, factories and farmers who have discharges to water must be particularly careful. Trout and salmon are vulnerable to high summer water temperatures and low water and a fish kill can be caused by a small discharge that reduces the oxygen in the water. This summer there have already been three fish kills in the Cork and Kerry area and extra vigilance by all is required.”

Inland Fisheries Ireland is also calling on the public to be alert to the threat to waters by pollution and to report any dead or dying fish immediately to the local IFI Offices or through the 24 hour emergency hot line 1890-34-74-24.

For further information contact:

Greg Forde
Head of Operations
Inland Fisheries Ireland
0872527388

Notes to 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 will promote, support, facilitate and advise the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling and develop and advise the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling.