Brown trout kill probe continues

Investigations are continuing following the death of up to 1,000 fish in the River Blackwater.

A possible fungal infection outbreak may have killed the brown trout and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has said it is currently assessing the impacted area, which spans an 8km stretch of the river between Mallow and Roskeen Bridge, Lombardstown.

Inspections of the Allow and Minor Awbeg rivers have not detected incidences of infected or dead trout.

IFI is liaising with Uisce Éireann, the EPA and Cork County Council, all of whom have had staff on the river throughout.

Marine Institute staff are supporting IFI and are undertaking sampling to identify the possible infection.

IFI is now urging anglers to refrain from fishing in the affected stretch of river.

They are also being asked to wash, clean and dry all equipment, and to avoid crossing catchments with tackle to minimise the risk of spreading any possible infection.

IFI is investigating how a potential disease outbreak may have occurred. Investigations, at this stage, have not yielded evidence of pollution.

An IFI spokesperson said: “Monitoring and assessment of the river will continue to be undertaken to help identify the cause of the incident. Water levels are very low in the River Blackwater at Mallow, and water temperatures have been recorded between 17-19 degrees. Freshwater fish are vulnerable to low water levels and high temperatures.”

Ireland has been impacted by hot and dry weather spells this summer, and these conditions have led to the periodic closure of fisheries in the west in recent months.

IFI continues to appeal to people to report instances of fish kills or suspected water pollution to its 24-hour confidential phoneline on 0818-347424.