Over 7,500 fish killed at Cavan Town river
It is estimated that over 7,500 fish have died after a large fish kill that took place at Cavan Town river last week, while investigations are now following a “a definite line of inquiry”.
Samples have been taken from the river and have been sent for analysis.
Meanwhile, an Uisce Éireann spokesperson confirmed they are “aware” of the incident involving “the release of untreated effluent from College Street wastewater pumping station in Cavan town” and are “co-operating fully” with ongoing investigations by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A spokesperson for the utility said it has taken “a number of immediate operational measures” in response to the incident, and are also investigating “a shock load” that had entered the network.
IFI officers attended the site last Wednesday morning.
Dead fish including brown trout, European eel, roach, lamprey and minnow, as well as freshwater crayfish were surrounded by a turquoise green substance in places.
Angler Tony Dunne said he was “absolutely heartbroken” after witnessing the fish kill at Cavan Town river.
“It’s happening too often,” the Ballinagh man said.
The European eel is classified as critically endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of threatened species, and Tony said to see them dead was “just horrible”.
He expressed his fear for the further river and lake network, explaining that the Cavan Town river flows into Derrygid Lough before running into the Lough Oughter system.
“Hopefully it gets diluted and doesn’t travel on further into the system,” he said, predicting it will take a “long time” for the river to recover.
“The whole eco-system there has basically collapsed.. Only time will tell [how it will recover].”
Fish mortalities were observed over a 2km stretch of the river. “IFI, the EPA, Cavan County Council, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and the River Basin Management Service have been on the ground investigating the issue,” an IFI spokesperson stated.
They said an interagency group, led by IFI met, again on Friday to discuss progress on the investigation and included representatives from the EPA, Cavan County Council, the River Basin Management Service, the HSE, and the Department of the Environment.
“IFI has been working with statutory bodies in line with the new national interagency protocol for investigating significant fish kills and is the lead agency on this case.
“A definite line of enquiry has been established, and the group has completed its role.”
The investigation now moves into the next phase under the lead of IFI, working closely with relevant agencies.
Meanwhile, Cavan County Council’s Tourism Officer Joanne Hayes also expressed her dismay at the incident.
“The loss of fish stocks not only damages the county’s ecosystem but also undermines our reputation as a quality angling destination. This incident highlights the importance of protecting Cavan’s natural resources, which are central to the county’s tourism offering and rural economy,” she said.
CONCERN
Meanwhile, Uisce Éireann has said it remains “committed to protecting the environment and supporting the ongoing investigation process”.
“We will continue to engage fully with the EPA and IFI and implement any recommendations arising from their investigations.”