Anglers urged not to fish in Cork river until cause of death of 40,000 fish is confirmed

Cork County Council has urged anglers to avoid fishing on the River Blackwater while tests continue into mass fish deaths

While Inland Fisheries Ireland has put the fish kill in the affected stretch at between 8,000 and 10,000 fish, fishery operators and anglers in the area have conducted an exercise which indicated up to 46,000 fish have died since August 12. Picture: Facebook/Conor Arnold

Anglers are being urged not to fish on a stretch of the River Blackwater until tests rule out the possibility that more than 40,000 fish could have died from infection.

Cork County Council has made the appeal to anglers as results are awaited from the Marine Institute following tests last Friday on trout from the affected waters between Roskeen in Lombardstown and Killavullen.

While Inland Fisheries Ireland has put the fish kill in the affected stretch at between 8,000 and 10,000 fish, fishery operators and anglers in the area have conducted an exercise which indicated up to 46,000 fish have died since August 12.

A statement from Cork County Council on Tuesday said there was currently no official estimated figure for the number of fish killed.

It said investigations to date “have determined no evidence of water pollution”.

The statement added: “It is thought a fungal infection may be responsible; however, it is important to stress that the exact cause is unknown at this stage. Water quality assessments and investigations are ongoing. The Marine Institute sampled affected trout last week, and their report is expected in the coming weeks.” 

It is understood results on the tests will not be available for up to three weeks.

The Environmental Protection Agency said preliminary sample tests undertaken by the agency indicated no link between the fish kill and discharges from EPA-licensed sites in the area.

In the meantime, Cork County Council said Inland Fisheries Ireland is asking anglers not to fish in the affected area.

And the statement said anglers were being asked “to wash, clean and dry all equipment to minimise the risk of spreading any possible infection”.

The fishing body has also asked that people do not remove dead fish from the water.

Angling sources say dead fish are still being seen in the river this week.

Senior management from Inland Fisheries Ireland are due to meet angler representatives in Cork on Friday.