Gareth Cooper, the River Enhancement Officer for the Kells, Connor & Glenwherry Angling Club
Local angling communities are raising alarms over the disturbing rate at which fish are dying due to pollution in local rivers.
According to data obtained through a Freedom of Information request, an average of 10,000 fish per year have been killed over the past five years due to pollution incidents.
The statistics, covering the period from 2019 to 2023, reveal that out of 49 recorded fish kill incidents, only 12 resulted in fines, with a staggering 65% of these cases leading to no prosecutions at all.
Gareth Cooper, the River Enhancement Officer for the Kells, Connor & Glenwherry Angling Club, voiced his deep concerns during a recent statement. "Our rivers are invaluable environmental assets, yet some treat them as mere sewers," Cooper lamented.
He highlighted the dire consequences of these incidents:
“With 10,000 fish being killed on average a year, the fish stocks in our rivers are being consistently depleted. If we remove any significant part, such as fish stocks, from any particular ecosystem, we can see a complete collapse in local wildlife and invertebrates as the entire system is put out of kilter."
Cooper criticised the lack of effective follow-up on pollution incidents by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA). "In the 49 major fish kills over these five years 65% of cases saw no prosecution, five cases received a warning letter and only 12 received fines.”
He pointed out the Department's policy on not allowing restocking by local clubs, focusing instead on habitat recovery. “In many of these cases, our rivers aren’t even getting a chance to recover before the next pollution incident hits them,” he added.
The angling community is now demanding a stronger stance against polluters:
- Increased Fines: Cooper calls for fines that act as real deterrents, with harsher penalties for repeat offenders.
- Public Naming: He suggests that polluters should be named publicly, including those who receive cross-compliance penalties.
- Fixed Penalties and Enforcement Undertakings: Proposing fixed penalty notices for any pollution incident and the use of Enforcement Undertakings, where agreements are made with the Environment Agency in lieu of prosecution.
The call to action from local angling clubs underscores a growing frustration with the current state of river pollution management, urging for immediate and stringent measures to protect and restore these critical natural resources.