Hundreds of fish killed by farm slurry in Tralee

An investigation is under way in Tralee, Co Kerry, after hundreds of brown trout and other fish were killed by farm slurry in a river which runs through the town’s main shopping park.

A long stretch of the waterway was impacted and dead fish were found throughout the system, Inland Fisheries Ireland said.

The kill is one of several in recent weeks in the south-western river basin district, a district which covers much of Munster, Inland Fisheries Ireland said, and it is warning farmers and others to ensure effluent is properly stored.

The Tralee fish kill involved brown trout, stone loach, and stickleback.

It occurred on the Clashlehane River, a tributary of the River Lee after which Tralee takes its name.

Some 4km of the Clahslehane river which runs through the Manor West Retail Park were affected.

Pollution in the river was spotted on December 8.

“On investigation by Inland Fisheries Ireland, the pollutant was identified as agricultural slurry and the impacts were such that over 4km of waterway was affected with dead fish noted throughout the system,” it said.

The source of this pollutant has “not been positively identified” and an Inland Fisheries Ireland investigation is continuing, it said.

Kerry County Council is also involved in the investigation.

The council said its environmental department is carrying out tests.

The fish kill is one of several in the south-western river basin district over the past two to three weeks, said Inland Fisheries Ireland.