AIE Request: IFI (Fish kill, Coats Bridge, Aughrim, Wicklow

AIE-024-064-IFI

https://www.epa.ie/our-services/compliance–enforcement/whats-happening/incidents-at-epa-regulated-sites/notifications-of-recent-incidents/fish-kill-aughrim-river-co-wicklow

On 29 July 2024 at 13:35 the Agency was notified by Inland Fisheries Ireland that they were investigating a significant fish kill in the Aughrim river on the evening of Saturday 27 July.

On 30 July 2024, the operator of an EPA-licensed facility upstream of the location of the fish kill notified the EPA of a visit to their site by IFI and subsequently notified the EPA that an uncontrolled spillage of a chemical biocide occurred at the site on Saturday 27 July 2024. An EPA inspector carried out an inspection on 30 July 2024 to investigate possible links to the fish kill. The investigation continues and 7 site inspections have taken place to date. The licensee has taken initial steps to prevent future spillage and the potential release of chemical.

Chemical analysis of river water samples taken by the EPA is underway. Site visit and monitoring reports will be made available on LEAP online in due course. Liaison continues with IFI.

Fish Kill Data (IFI Dataset)

Fish Kill Data is being nationally compiled and going through the QA process now by the research department at IFI

Data will then be uploaded on IFI website as an interactive GIS map. However, it won’t be ready until Q1 2022

Note: requested 2020 / 2021 data in advance of the full file being released in GIS format (11/11/2021)

These are fish kills (2019-2020) that IFI are aware of. IFI research department is compiling GIS data on all fish kills, and will forward when complete.

Related Media Coverage:

https://www.rte.ie/news/leinster/2019/0624/1057275-silage-fish/

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40349645.html

https://www.thejournal.ie/fish-killed-in-cork-river-4789869-Aug2019/

https://www.independent.ie/news/environment/probe-into-serious-fish-kill-as-hundreds-of-salmon-and-trout-wiped-out-on-glore-river-in-kiltimagh-40819983.html

https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-40342916.html

https://www.offalyexpress.ie/news/home/627444/fish-kill-on-offaly-river-prompts-ifi-to-request-voluntary-turbine-shutdown.html

https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/news/notices/fish-kill-confirmed-on-river-ilen-in-skibbereen-west-cork-media-statement

Note: you can report pollution or poaching 24 hours a day top IFI on phone 1890 34 74 24