Cork mayor to seek meeting with fisheries minister over reopening of Mallow salmon hatchery

Councillors say reopening the former hatchery and restoring spawning streams could help rebuild fish stocks and support tourism

Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Hayes said that Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) also needs to address the fact that the Blackwater has extensive tributaries that serve as spawning beds. Picture: Larry Cummins

The Mayor of County Cork is to seek a meeting with fisheries minister Timmy Dooley in an effort to persuade him to reopen a salmon and trout hatchery on the River Blackwater in Mallow to help boost game fish stocks devastated by the largest fish kill in Irish history.

Mayor and Fianna Fáil councillor Bernard Moynihan said it was imperative Mr Dooley act to help replenish fish numbers in the river following the pollution in August 2025 which killed an estimated 45,000 fish.

Mr Moynihan said the kill was not just a terrible environmental incident but had also damaged the local economy.

“It’s estimated that every salmon caught in that river is worth €1,000 to the economy. The Blackwater is a huge source of tourism revenue,” he added.

Mr Moynihan made the comments after fellow Fianna Fáil councillor Pat Hayes said a former hatchery near Mallow should be reopened.

Mr Hayes, who is an avid fly fisherman, said while preventing another pollution event must be the first priority, recovery cannot simply mean waiting for nature to take its course.

Calls for hatchery to reopen

“The Blackwater has a remarkable history. In 1998 it was the number one salmon river in Ireland, with a rod catch of 8,063 salmon. It was regarded as one of the finest salmon rivers in Europe and described as the third most productive salmon river behind only two rivers on Russia's Kola Peninsula,” Mr Hayes said.

He said for decades the Mallow hatchery was a vital part of that success. It operated for more than 60 years before closing in the early 2000s and produced around 1.25m salmon fry and approximately 250,000 trout annually for the Blackwater system.

“At a time when this river is fighting for recovery, I believe it is time to seriously consider reopening Mallow as a modern conservation hatchery using Blackwater broodstock (while some are still left) to produce Blackwater fish for the Blackwater. It could also include an education aspect around the flora and fauna in the Blackwater Valley. It could be an education hub for schools and colleges,” Mr Hayes said.

Mr Hayes said that Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) also needs to address the fact that the Blackwater has extensive tributaries that serve as spawning beds, yet many of them are not being properly maintained.

“Across the catchment area there are spawning streams that need to be cleaned and maintained. Spawning gravels have become clogged with silt and need restoration. Riverbanks in some areas have become so heavily overgrown that excessive shading limits light reaching the river. These are practical, hands-on conservation measures that should be happening annually as part of a long-term programme and not only after a major environmental disaster,” Mr Hayes said.