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Appeal to farmers to avoid water
pollution
14.06.18
INLAND Fisheries
Ireland has issued an appeal to farmers in Donegal to remain
vigilant during the summer months when harvesting
silage and spreading slurry to avoid water pollution
and the loss of nutrients into rivers, lakes and
other watercourses.
The appeal comes on the back of last week’s major
fish kill in Claremorris, where over 1,000 wild
brown trout, and other species, died as a result of
a suspected agricultural silage leak.
Silage operations will be ongoing all summer and
silage effluent has the potential to cause
devastating pollution in streams and rivers. Such
effluent is a significant polluting substance,
starving fish and invertebrate life of oxygen,
resulting in potentially massive fish kills if it
enters a watercourse. With some rivers low during
summertime with little dilution capacity, the effect
of a small leak can cause huge damage. |
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Inland Fisheries Officers assess the
death toll last week at Claremorris where over 1,000
wild brown trout and other species died as a result
of a suspected agricultural silage leak. |
Inland Fisheries
Ireland is advising Donegal farmers to follow its simple six
point plan to ensure good farmyard management and
reduce their risk of polluting:
1. Use round bales as the most environmentally
friendly way to store silage
2. If a silage pit is being used, ensure it is
properly sealed to prevent leakage from under the
slab
3. Carry out slurry spreading in dry weather and
never when heavy rain is forecast
4. Never spread slurry close to a watercourse, be
aware of the slope of land to the watercourse
5. Do not clean tanks beside any watercourse, stream
or a river
6. Do not allow any effluent or washings to enter
any rainwater gully.
Dr Greg Forde, Head of Operations at Inland
Fisheries Ireland, said: “Warm summer weather can
magnify the impact of even the smallest leak of
silage effluent, with potentially devastating
consequences for the environment. Inland Fisheries
Ireland is grateful to the farming community for
their continued consideration and vigilance. Good
farmyard management can help to prevent accidental
runs of polluting substances and protect the local
environment. This will have a significant and
lasting positive impact on valuable wild fish
populations in an area.”
Inland Fisheries Ireland has a confidential hotline
number to enable members of the general public to
report incidents of water pollution, fish kills and
illegal fishing – 1890 347424. For more information
on Inland Fisheries Ireland, visit
www.fisheriesireland.ie . |
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