Major fish kill at Glenagannon River in Donegal

Inland Fisheries Ireland, the state agency responsible for the protection and conservation of freshwater fish and habitats, is investigating a major fish kill incident in the Glenagannon River at Inishowen in County Donegal.

Environmental and Fisheries Officers from the North-Western River Basin District were alerted to the incident by a member of the public via its 24-hour confidential hotline number on Friday, 26th August. 

Following patrols conducted along the river on Friday (26th August) and Saturday (27th August), Inland Fisheries Ireland has confirmed that over 2,250 juvenile brown trout and Atlantic salmon were killed. The fish kill covered approximately 4 kilometres of the river and comprised several year classes of fish.

Inland Fisheries Ireland is following a definite line of inquiry to determine the cause, which may result in legal proceedings being initiated. 

The Director of the North- Western River Basin District with Inland Fisheries Ireland, Milton Matthews, acknowledged the ongoing support of the public in reporting suspected cases of water pollution and fish kills, saying: “We would like to thank the member of the public who alerted us promptly to this serious incident through our 24-hour confidential hotline last Friday. This enabled our environmental team in Letterkenny to instigate our investigations without delay. This can be critical in identifying and confirming the underlying cause of fish kill incidents such as this one on the Glenagannon River.” 

To report fish kills or water pollution, members of the public are encouraged to call Inland Fisheries Ireland’s hotline on 0818 34 74 24, which is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

ENDS

For media information

Sarah Bohan

Communications Manager

Inland Fisheries Ireland

E: sarah.bohan@fisheriesireland.ie

T: 087 65 39936