Sinn Féin Councillor Pearse McGeough has described a major fish kill in the River Glyde as devastating following a pollution spill that has wiped out thousands of fish and caused significant environmental damage.
Cllr McGeough said he visited the area and was saddened by what he witnessed.
“I visited the area and was saddened to see so many dead fish in the now contaminated river.
“The River Glyde is famous for its Atlantic Salmon, Wild Brown Trout and Sea Trout and fishermen have spent a lot of money in the past in stocking the river and maintaining the balance of the delicate eco-system of the area and this is a huge blow to them as well as the damage caused to the river, which could take up to twenty years to recover. It has been described by those on the ground as a ‘complete wipe out’ and ‘devastating’.”
The councillor said the Environmental Protection Agency and Inland Fisheries Ireland had attended the scene and would prepare reports to establish the full extent of the damage.
“The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) have been at the scene and reports will be prepared which will identify the full extent of the damage. The pollution has wiped out thousands of fish for a stretch of around 12-15 miles and is devastating to the River Glyde, tourism, anglers and most importantly to the fish and their future spawning areas. I have spoken to my colleague Ruairí Ó Murchú TD who has contacted Inland Fisheries.”
Inland Fisheries Ireland has confirmed it is investigating what it described as a locally significant fish kill on the River Glyde in the vicinity of Tallanstown.
IFI Fisheries Environmental Officers have been on site since Tuesday evening investigating the incident.
Species discovered dead include adult and juvenile Atlantic salmon, eel, brown trout, pike and coarse fish.
Samples taken from the river have been sent for laboratory analysis and a considerable stretch of the river has been affected. The estimated number of fish mortalities is currently being assessed.
IFI said it is actively investigating the cause of the ecological incident and that a definite line of enquiry is being pursued. Local authorities have also been notified.
Monitoring and assessment of the impact on the river will continue as investigations progress.
“We must not underestimate the gravity of this situation,” Deputy Ó Murchú said after speaking with Inland Fisheries.
“There have been people on site last night and this morning working to remove the dead fish from the River. It is a very sad sight. This has to be dealt with now but we have to also learn from it, secure our waterways and work towards protecting the integrity of the biodiversity and ecosystem within the River and indeed all our rivers.”
