INVESTIGATIONS are
continuing in the cause a significant fish kill in a
tributory of the Crana river in Buncrana.
The incident happened on New Year's Eve in the
Owenboy river when around 40 dead salmon and brown
trout were discovered by a local angler.
Officials from the Northern Regional Fisheries Board
said there were no outward signs of pollution but
samples were taken away for analysis.
Inishowen Sinn Féin Councillor, Pádraig MacLochlainn
said the cause of the kill needed to be established
as soon as possible. He said he had been in touch
with the fisheries board and was satisfied that
every effort was being made to identify the cause
and prevent further contamination.
“We know that our salmon stock is a precious
resource - a fact that has led to the removal of
salmon net licences across the board in recent
years.
"The Crana Angling Club play a crucial role in
protecting the amenity that is the Crana river and
its salmon and brown trout stocks but they need
support and rigorous back up and enforcement from
the Northern Regional Fisheries Board," he said. The
Buncrana-based councillor said the incident was of
"profound concern".
"It is of the utmost importance that the cause of
the pollution is immediately identified and every
possible precaution taken to ensure any further
pollution," he added. He appealed to anyone with
information to come forward.
"Whether the cause of pollution was intended or not,
it is imperative that all measures are taken to
address it. I would also appeal to all agricultural,
industrial, or commercial interests with land
adjoining these tributaries and rivers to take every
effort to avoid any further pollution into the
future." |
