Deadly crayfish plague detected in Cork river for first time

The so-called crayfish plague was first recorded in Cavan in 2015, before spreading to other rivers and decimating the species. It has now been detected in the Blackwater River in Cork, the NPWS confirmed. Picture: Gavin Browne

A deadly disease with a 100% kill rate among crayfish has been detected in Cork for the first time, with authorities now scrambling to contain the outbreak.

If the crayfish plague continues to spread, there is a high probability the white-clawed crayfish will become extinct from most rivers in Ireland, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) warned.