A fishing club has described the fish kill in County Down’s Kilkeel River as the “worst environmental event” it has ever witnessed.
The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) said approximately five kilometres of the Kilkeel River in the Mourne region had been affected. The department launched an investigation after the incident was reported last week.
Daera confirmed that trout, eels and lampreys were among the wildlife found dead in the river.
Kilkeel Angling Club described the scale of the pollution damage as “catastrophic” and warned of serious long-term consequences for the river’s ecosystem.
Daera said that “no active emissions were found”, but added that a full investigation was under way to identify the source of the contamination in the Kilkeel River.
The department also said the total number of fish killed in the County Down river had not yet been confirmed.
Kilkeel Angling Club said: “Several generations of young fish have been wiped out.”
The club added: “This fish kill could have a serious impact on river salmon and sea trout populations for many years to come.”
“The River Kilkeel is an important local waterway and provides a vital habitat for wildlife.
“The extent of the environmental damage is particularly difficult to grasp because our club and its members have dedicated so much time and voluntary effort to protecting and improving the river.”
Source: www.bbc.co.uk