Major fish deaths in a river were not attributed to discharge from a Cork creamery's effluent.
In a shocking turn of events, local angling groups have estimated that over 40,000 fish have perished over the past eight days in the Blackwater River. The deceased fish have been found across a 30km stretch of the river, according to reports.
The tragic loss of fish life has raised concerns about the health of the river, which supports up to 1,000 trout and salmon anglers. The fish kill is expected to have repercussions for years, potentially damaging one of the primary salmon and trout fisheries in Europe.
Investigations into the cause of the fish kill are ongoing. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed that, based on its initial findings, there is no causal link between the fish deaths and discharges from EPA-licensed sites. However, the EPA is conducting a Compliance Investigation into issues at North Cork Creameries related to the quality of effluent discharges into the River Allow, a tributary of the Blackwater.
North Cork Creameries, a farmer-owned co-operative, is taking actions to reduce inputs to its waste water treatment plant and to restore compliance with its licence. The company has also stated that it is not connected to the fish deaths.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) reported that some 8,000 to 10,000 fish have died over an 18km stretch of the Blackwater, which flows downstream from Kanturk town into the Blackwater. The area of concern for the fish deaths is approximately six kilometers downstream from North Cork Creameries' site.
Conor Arnold, Chairman of Killavullen Angling Club, has warned that the fish kill could result in the river taking up to ten years or more to replenish its fish stocks. The site-visit reports by the EPA's staff will be available on its online Licence Enforcement Access Portal.
Meanwhile, Alkermes Ireland Ltd., another company affected by the EPA's investigation, has not been implicated in the fish kill. The EPA has not considered an order to shut down milk-processing operations at the North Cork Creameries site.
North Cork Creameries has taken its own water samples in the river, which confirmed normal water quality and normal fish activity at their location. The preliminary sample results from the EPA indicate no causal link between the fish kill and discharges from EPA-licensed sites.
As the investigation continues, the EPA, North Cork Creameries, and other stakeholders will work together to understand the cause of the fish kill and take steps to prevent such incidents in the future.
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