10,000 fish or more killed in River Blackwater

Up to 10,000 fish have been killed in Cork’s River Blackwater, according to Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI).

IFI said current indications suggest a wild fish kill – mainly brown trout - of between 8,000 and 10,000, across a 18km stretch of the Blackwater.

However, local angling clubs told Cork-based media they believe the figure could be as high as 46,000 across 30km of the Blackwater.

IFI said its figure is based off its observations and data submitted by local stakeholders.

Affected trout were observed in the River Blackwater approximately 6km downstream of Mallow, and up to 12km upstream of Mallow, it added.

The dead fish were also seen in the Awbeg River, and the Clyda River, tributaries of the Blackwater which join it west of Mallow.

Sean Long, director of IFI’s south-western river basin district the Marine Institute, the authority for fish health in Ireland, conducted sampling of affected fish on site on 14 August in Mallow.

“IFI expects to receive a related report within 20 days of that date. Disease outbreaks can occur in wild fish populations and are influenced by numerous factors including environmental change.

“No evidence of a polluting or harmful discharge has been detected to date in the river,” he said.

IFI said it continues to consult with Uisce Éireann, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Cork County Council and the Marine Institute on the matter.

The Marine Institute advised that it is not necessary to remove dead fish from the river.

IFI said it will continue to monitor the watercourse in the coming days to further assess the incident and asked the public to report instances of fish kills to its 24-hour confidential phoneline, 0818 34 74 24.