Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has confirmed that agricultural discharge was the cause of a serious fish kill on the River Glyde, Co Louth, which it estimates killed over 20,000 fish along a 25km stretch of river.

The affected area spans from Aclint Bridge, Co Monaghan, to Lynns Weir, Castlebellingham, Co Louth.

“IFI officers have been conducting sampling and clean-up operations on the river and deploying kayak, drone and foot patrols to assess the affected area.

“Fish mortalities include Atlantic salmon, eel, brown trout, pike, minnow and coarse fish species.

“The source of the pollution has been identified as an agricultural discharge and has been stopped,” an IFI spokesperson said.

Potential prosecution

Water samples taken at the river have been sent for laboratory analysis and a file is now being prepared for potential prosecution.

Louth County Council has added it has been monitoring oxygen levels in the River Glyde in Co Louth and is satisfied the incident is clearing, with levels returning to normal.

The council has liaised with Uisce Éireann, which has confirmed that there are no issues affecting water for public abstraction.

“The Tallanstown water treatment plant was decommissioned over a year ago and there are no other public abstraction points in the area. The River Glyde discharges into Dundalk Bay at Annagassan.

“To date, no impacts on coastal waters or bathing water sites have been reported,” IFI added.

IFI is reminding members of the public to exercise caution when working near water bodies at this time of the year.

IFI continues to urge the public to report instances of fisheries concern to its confidential 24/7 number 0818-34 74 24.