An estimated 5,000 fish have been found dead in the Blackwater tributary, the River Allow, in North Cork, prompting an investigation by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). First observed by officials from Cork County Council on Sunday, the scale of the environmental disaster has yet to be fully determined. However, death of fishes have been reported up to 4km downstream from the source.
Emerging from the Mullaghareirke Mountains in Sliabh Luachra on the boundary of Cork-Kerry-Limerick, the Allow runs about 37km through Kanturk before coming together with the Blackwater. As per IFI, the contamination leak emerged in a Special Area of Conservation on the river, a region known for being a breeding ground for species such as salmon and brown trout.
The calamity prompted the cancellation of a major fishing competition that was due this weekend. Deceased fish found in the tributary, which combines with the Dalua before it flows into the Blackwater, include young Atlantic salmon, brown trout, lamprey, eel, stone loach, roach, and dace.
The IFI team, who visited the site on Sunday after receiving the alarming news, returned on Monday to further investigate the environmental disaster and evaluate its impact on the local ecosystem. Water samples have been collected to help identify the source of contamination and gather proof of the discharge.
Uisce Éireann, which operates a water treatment facility in Freemount near the Allow, is looking into a reported leak at the plant, as per their official statement to RTÉ News. Inland Fisheries Ireland’s director, Sean Long, who described the incident as devastating for the community, revealed that the IFI was informed about a leak at the treatment plant on Sunday afternoon.
Mr Long, a high-ranking environmental officer in fisheries, recently conducted an investigation into the river located downstream of the local plant. He described the scene he encountered as one of unimaginable destruction. Dead fish, comprising trout, salmon fry, lamprey, and eel, were scattered across the river. Noticeably, there were no indications of living organisms, including insects such as flies and beetles.
Mr Long expressed dismay at the lifeless state of the river, typically bustling with fishes and insects, being now eerily silent for an estimated distance of 4km or 5km. He labelled this incident as an ecological catastrophe, particularly disheartening for the local community and the anglers amidst an already alarming loss in biodiversity.
Additionally, IFI officers covered an 8km river stretch near Kanturk without detecting further instances of fish deaths. Mr Long hypothesised that the harm was predominantly inflicted either on Saturday night or Sunday and then the deadly substances got gradually diluted and flowed downstream the river. While hesitant to confirm the definitive reason behind the fish mortality, Mr Long expressed a solid assumption about the potential cause.
He revealed that they had plans to conduct the Trout Anglers Federation of Ireland (TAFI) River Interprovincials, a massive event for the club, in Kanturk on the coming Saturday with 40 anglers expected to participate. Regrettably, due to the environmental mishap, they had no choice but to call it off. Consequently, TAFI has had to try and find another venue and time slot for the event, causing great disappointment.
Mr Long voiced his concerns about the extent of the devastation, noting that they have confirmed a minimum of 5,000 fish deaths across a minimum of five kilometers. He also suggested the likelihood of a chemical leak, which has not only resulted in the death of fish but also decimated insect life. This loss will heavily impact the chances of fish repopulating the river due to a lack of food.
Mr Dennehy shared Mr Long’s concerns, stating that they are still unaware of the full devastation. He reported witnessing trout struggling for breath quite far downstream the prior day.