Generations of fish 'wiped out' after pollution incident
The Department of Environment said 5km of the Kilkeel River in the Mournes area was impacted.
A severe fish kill has occurred in the Kilkeel River, located in County Down's Mourne area, according to reports from an angling club. The Department of Environment (Daera) is currently investigating the incident, which took place last week and affected a 5km stretch of the river. The club's spokesperson confirmed that trout, eels, and lamprey were among the dead fish.
Despite no active discharge being found, Daera is following up on a potential source of pollution. The exact number of fish killed remains to be determined. The Kilkeel Angling Club emphasized that several generations of juvenile fish have been lost due to this tragic event. This pollution incident could have severe long-term consequences for the salmon and sea trout populations in the river, potentially impacting the area for many years.
The Kilkeel River holds significant local value as a watercourse and wildlife habitat, with the angling club dedicating considerable time and effort to its protection and improvement. David Crozier, a Kilkeel Angling Club committee member, described the scene of dead fish as heartbreaking and stated it was the worst pollution incident he had witnessed on the river. He also highlighted that it could take years to restore the river to its previous state.
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