‘Frightening' amount of fish found dead in Cork river
Safety officer and former chairperson of the Mallow Trout Anglers, John O'Connell, said evidence of the kill can be seen from Lombardstown Bridge to Lover's Leap.
'When you consider the catchment area would be up to Lombardstown Bridge, there are dead fish up as far as that, right the way down as far as Lover's Leap, which is about five or six miles.
'It is a huge catchment area and is significant and detrimental as there is thousands upon thousands of fish destroyed.
'I am receiving messages from club members who are walking about, and it is frightening,' Mr O'Connell said.
The catchment area of the fish kill attracted a lot of visitors in June as it hosted the Four Nations International angling competition.
'When you consider in June, the Mallow Trout Anglers hosted the Four Nations International, and where the fish have been killed is where the competition was held.
'It is absolutely frightening,' Mr O'Connell stressed.
The Mallow Trout Anglers were notified of the kill yesterday when a passer-by informed club president Kevin Healy.
'We were first notified of it yesterday, and our president Kevin Healy was notified by a man who was walking his dogs down the paddock, and he noticed the fish and called Kevin.
'Unfortunately, we had a funeral yesterday for one of our long serving members and there was a guard of honour, and it became apparent that it was getting more serious and bigger,' Mr O'Connell added.
Labour TD for Cork North-Central, Eoghan Kenny, told The Corkman that he has been in contact with the Mallow-based club and the next port of call is contact the state bodies.
'I have been in contact with the [Mallow] Trout Anglers, and the job today is to contact the state bodies – Irish Water, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), just to get them to investigate.
'There is concern from the Trout Anglers that there has been dead fish there previously, perhaps not to this extent, but that is the real issue here.
'That is where the state bodies must come in and investigate as they are the experts in this, and they are the ones who need to be examining and take water samples, and I will be led by them,' Deputy Kenny said.
It is understood that two teams from the EPA will begin their investigation today.
A spokesperson for the IFI told The Corkman that they are 'currently assessing the extent of the affected area.'
'Inland Fisheries Ireland(IFI) is investigating the possible infection of salmonid fish in the River Blackwater between Mallow and Roskeen Bridge (Lombardstown), Co Cork.
'IFI is currently assessing the extent of affected area.
'The Marine Institute is supporting IFI and will undertake sampling to identify the possible infection.
'IFI urges anglers to wash, clean and dry all equipment - and avoid crossing catchments with tackle to minimise the risk of spreading any possible infection,' IFI said.
The EPA has been contacted for comment.
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