Inland Fisheries Ireland statement re fish kill in Co. Donegal

Inland Fisheries Ireland is continuing to investigate a fish kill in Co Donegal in which more than 300 fish have died.

The pollution incident occurred on a tributary of the Skeoge River, in Bridgend, Co Donegal, which flows into a Special Area of Conservation.

Fish mortalities were observed in a 1 kilometre stretch of the water.

Species of fish discovered dead include juvenile brown trout, and European eel.

Inland Fisheries Ireland(IFI) fisheries environmental officers have been on site since early this morning, Thursday June 6th, to investigate the incident.

A number of samples have been taken from the river to gather evidence of the discharge.

Donegal County Council is also carrying out its own investigation into the pollution event.

IFI is actively probing the cause of this harmful ecological event, but it’s too early to definitively establish how it occurred.

Monitoring and assessment of the impact will continue to be undertaken to identify the cause of the fish kill, and the quality of the water.

IFI - the State agency responsible for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats - continues to urge 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.