Donegal County Council, Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Environment Protection Agency are urging farmers to ensure that slurry does not enter waterways at this busy time of the year.
It follows an incident in the east of the county which has resulted in a significant fish kill.
In a statement today, Donegal County Council says it responded to a complaint from a member of the public in the St. Johnston area late yesterday afternoon reporting the presence of what appeared to be cattle slurry in a stream known as the St. Johnston Burn, as it passed through the village.
Council staff and Fisheries Officers carried out an extensive investigation in the catchment and were successful in tracing the source of the polluting matter to a farm.
The Lough’s Agency Fisheries Officers confirmed that a significant quantity of dead juvenile fish have been found in the lower section of the Burn.
Donegal County Council says the incident highlights the importance for farmers and contractors to take extreme care to avoid the discharge of slurry and contaminated water into water-courses, during what is a very busy time for them, and to immediately report any accidental discharges to the Council or Inland Fisheries Ireland.
The importance of early and effective intervention by the farmer / contractor and state agencies can help to reduce the impact of such discharges on the fish population and the environment in general.
