Investigation Launched After 5,000 Fish Die in Cork River

In a tragic event over the weekend, at least 5,000 fish die in Cork River. Sean Long, a director at Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), described the scene as “heartbreaking for the community.” An investigation into the occurrence has been started by the IFI, which is in charge of safeguarding and conserving freshwater fish and their ecosystems.

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Fish Die in Cork River After Spill from Nearby Treatment Plant

When IFI received a tip about a spill at a neighbouring water treatment plant on Sunday, the disaster started to unravel. According to Long, a senior fisheries environmental officer inspected the river downstream and discovered a tragic scene. The river, usually teeming with life, was barren. Dead trout, salmon fry, lamprey, and eel were found along a 4-5 km stretch, with no signs of insects or other life forms. 

“It’s an ecological disaster for the river’s fish, at a time when biodiversity loss is already significant,” Long said. “The community, and the anglers in particular, are devastated by this.” 

IFI officers surveyed 8km of the river, finding no additional fish kills further downstream towards Kanturk. Long indicated that the damage likely occurred between Saturday night and Sunday, and the contaminants have since diluted and dispersed.

While cautious about identifying the exact cause, Long hinted they have a “fair idea” of what caused the incident. However, he declined to comment on any potential threats to human health. The difficult work of evaluating and healing from this ecological calamity now rests with the community.