THE NATION’S AGENCY for protecting Ireland’s freshwater fish is investigating a major fish kill incident in the Glenagannon River at Inishowen in County Donegal.

Inland Fisheries Ireland was tipped off by a member of the public via its 24-hour confidential hotline number last Friday.

It has now confirmed that over 2,250 juvenile brown trout and Atlantic salmon were killed. The fish kill covered approximately four kilometres of the river and comprised several year classes of fish.

Inland Fisheries Ireland said it is following a definite line of inquiry to determine the cause, which may result in legal proceedings being initiated. 

The Director of the North- Western River Basin District with Inland Fisheries Ireland, Milton Matthews, said: “We would like to thank the member of the public who alerted us promptly to this serious incident through our 24-hour confidential hotline last Friday.

“This enabled our environmental team in Letterkenny to instigate our investigations without delay. This can be critical in identifying and confirming the underlying cause of fish kill incidents such as this one on the Glenagannon River.” 

To report fish kills or water pollution, members of the public are encouraged to call Inland Fisheries Ireland’s hotline on 0818 34 74 24, which is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week.