Cork anglers fear up to 46,000 fish have died in what they describe as a catastrophic fish kill along a 30-kilometer stretch of the River Blackwater between Lombardstown and Killavullen, though state agencies estimate significantly lower numbers.
Inland Fisheries Ireland confirmed it is investigating the large-scale fish mortality event, estimating between 8,000 and 10,000 wild fish deaths based on official observations and local stakeholder data. However, angling clubs dispute these figures, claiming the actual toll is much higher and affects all river species including trout, salmon parr, stickleback, dace, adult trout, salmon, and freshwater eels.
Dan Dennehy, secretary of Kanturk and District Trout Anglers, described the incident as “devastating” and potentially one of the biggest fish kills ever recorded in Ireland. “Salmon, eels, trout — thousands and thousands of them. We don’t know the extent of it or what is causing it,” he said, accusing IFI of “playing down” the casualty numbers.
Both IFI and the Environmental Protection Agency have ruled out pollution or harmful discharge as the cause. The Marine Institute conducted diagnostic sampling of affected fish on August 14th, with results expected within 20 days.
Ministers Timmy Dooley and Michael Moynihan visited the site to meet with local anglers from Mallow, Lombardstown, and Killavullen in what was described as a “constructive meeting.”
Sean Long, Director of IFI’s South-Western River Basin District, noted that “disease outbreaks can occur in wild fish populations and are influenced by numerous factors including environmental change.” The Marine Institute’s Fish Health Unit has advised that removing dead fish from the water is unnecessary.
Multiple angling organizations, including Mallow Trout Anglers and Salmon Watch Ireland, have expressed horror at the scale of the kill, with the Alliance of Game Angling Federations describing it as a “wipeout of the river.”
IFI continues monitoring the watercourse while consulting with Uisce Éireann, the EPA, Cork County Council, and the Marine Institute.