Fish kill under investigation

INLAND Fisheries Ireland officers are investigating a small fish kill on the Cree River in West Clare but so far there is no evidence to indicate the cause of the kill.

Spokesperson Ken O’Neill admitted to The Clare Champion that officers “are keeping an eye on the place” and are satisfied that it “seems to have been a once-off incident”.
The river rises north of Doonbeg and enters the Shannon Estuary near the village of Cree. It is a well-recognised salmon and trout angling river, although fishing on the river is currently prohibited.
“We have been active in that area for a number of reasons and anything on the lines of pollution we haven’t come across. We are monitoring the situation. Pollution tends to reoccur and can be easily tracked. If it is an issue, we will find it,” he emphasised.
Mr O’Neill said their investigations are ongoing but a strong flood in the river the day of the reported salmon kill had washed away whatever evidence there may have been as to the source of the kill.
“We were on routine patrol on the river the night before the report of the fish kill and we didn’t see any dead fish in the water or anything like that.
“The location of the reported fish kill was down near the end of the river system, near Cree village. The volume of floodwater would have flushed out the river so where the source of the kill came from, we don’t really know.
“There is nothing fairly evident at the moment to indicate a source of pollution. There are no other signs, no dead fish along the reed margins and pollution tends to reoccur.
“We will keep the area under observation and if anyone sees any pollution as it is happening they should contact us. Pollution does affect the habitat of the fish and fish stock and it’s something we take very seriously. They can contact us on 061 300328,” he explained.