Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is undertaking investigations to various incidents in counties Cork, Kerry and Galway that have arisen in recent days.
Fisheries staff are investigating a fish kill at Curraghalicky Lake near Dunmanway, Co Cork, where several hundred juvenile bream were recovered from the water on Friday (10 July).
IFI works with other government agencies in line with the new national interagency protocol for investigating significant fish kills, and the protocol has now been now activated in relation to this incident.
IFI is also investigating a suspected pollution incident in the Ross River at Killavullen, Co Cork following a report to its 24/7 confidential hotline of heavy discolouration in the river. No dead fish had been reported as of Friday. Cork County Council has been notified.
Elsewhere, IFI is investigating a suspected pollution incident in the Deenagh River at Killarney, Co Kerry. No dead fish have been reported and Kerry County Council, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Environmental Protection Agency are involved in the investigation.
IFI is also investigating a fish kill in Co Galway in which up to 120 fish have died.
A suspected pollution incident occurred on a tributary of the Dunkellin River in east Galway. Species of fish discovered dead include salmon, trout, perch, stone loach, stickleback, and lamprey.
Fisheries staff have been on site since Thursday night (9 July) to assess the incident. IFI adds that it is following a definite line of inquiry about a possible source of pollution.
Monitoring and assessment of the impacts at all four sites will continue to be undertaken.
Meanwhile, in Co Sligo, IFI is monitoring the health of some wild salmon specimens on the Ballisadare catchment.
At this stage, a small number of wild salmon appear to be suffering signs of ill health at the Ballisodare River, and IFI staff are monitoring their condition closely.
IFI is liaising with other agencies on the matter and IFI officers took water samples on Friday for analysis.
Thus far no mortalities have been recorded, and no other fish species appear to be affected.
IFI continues to urge the public to report issues of concern to its confidential 24/7 number, 0818 34 74 24.
