Press release 30/01/14

Farmer pleads guilty to pollution which resulted in fish kill in the Burren River, Co. Carlow

At the sitting of the District Court held at Carlow Court House on Thursday 2nd January 2014, a local farmer pleaded guilty to the discharge of deleterious matter to the River Burren at Cloonetoose on the 10th June 2013. Judge O’Brien awarded costs of €2135 to Inland Fisheries Ireland and ordered that the farmer pay a contribution for habitat works. The incident which related to the release of fungicide to the River during the filling a crop sprayer, resulted in a fish-kill in the Burren River.

Mr. Donnachadh Byrne, Senior Fisheries Environmental Officer with IFI told Judge O’Brien that following receipt of a fish kill report from Carlow County Council on Monday the 10th June 2013, Inland Fisheries Ireland carried out investigations on the River Burren and had established that the fish-kill extended over 4.2 kilometres with an estimate of four to five thousand dead Brown Trout.

Giving details of sampling and analysis undertaken, Mr. Byrne confirmed that samples of dead fish taken from the Burren River when sent for analysis were found to have elevated concentrations of Pyraclostrobin, one of the main active ingredients of the fungicide Lumen, a fungicide used to treat barley or oats, which was being used by the defendant. The court was informed that the spillage of fungicides to the Burren River was accidental and related to a non-return valve which upon later inspection was found to be faulty, these facts were acknowledged by Inland Fisheries Ireland, who also confirmed that the defendant was fully cooperative at all times during the investigation.

The Burren River Fish-kill which extended over 4.2 kilometres, related to a relatively small discharge of pesticide to the Burren River. This incident highlights the extreme toxicity of certain pesticides to the aquatic environment, the potential for very serious damage to the aquatic environment during their handling and use and the need for extra care when using such chemicals.

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Media enquiries:

David McInerney,
Director, Inland Fisheries Ireland- Clonmel, 
Anglesea Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Tel: 052 6180055 Fax: 052 6123971
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie

Notes to the Editor

Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. IFI promotes, supports, facilitates and advises the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. It also develops and advises the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling. www.fisheriesireland.ie