Inland Fisheries Ireland warns farmers to be vigilant about dangers of water pollution
PRESS RELEASE Friday, 3rd June 2016
Inland Fisheries Ireland warns farmers to be vigilant about dangers of water pollution
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has today (03.06.16) issued an appeal to all farmers to be extremely vigilant at this time of year when harvesting silage and spreading slurry to avoid water pollution.
Silage operations are ongoing all summer and silage effluent has the potential to cause devastating pollution in streams and rivers. Silage effluent is one of the most polluting substances to threaten the environment and can cause massive fish kills if it enters a watercourse.
Slurry spread on grassland over the summer months can also wipe out fish and invertebrate life if allowed to enter a stream. Water levels in streams and rivers are low in the summer months and have less dilution capacity, so are particularly vulnerable to pollution at this time.
Dr Greg Forde, Head of Operations at IFI, said: “The fisheries service is appealing to all farmers and contractors to be careful that no silage effluent is allowed to run off into drains or watercourses. Round bales are the most environmentally friendly way to store silage, however, if a silage pit is used, it must be properly lined to prevent leakage.
“Good farmyard management will help to prevent accidental run-off and protect the local environment. Slurry spreading should only be carried out in dry weather, and not when heavy rain is forecast. It should never be spread close to a watercourse, and tanks should never be cleaned beside a stream or river.
“Inland Fisheries Ireland is grateful to the farming community for its co-operation at this busy time of year, and for its assistance in maintaining a clean and healthy environment in our lakes and rivers.”
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has a confidential hotline number to enable members of the general public to report incidents of water pollution, fish kills and illegal fishing - 1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24.
For more information, visit www.fisheriesireland.ie.
ENDS
Further Information:
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
Note for Editors:
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.
Angling is estimated to contribute €836million to the Irish economy annually and supports in excess of 11,000 jobs primarily in rural and peripheral locations.
