Call for action as pollution kills hundreds of fish in Glenavy River

A member of the Angling club went with a fisheries inspector to try to ascertain the source of the pollution and if possible, the offender.

The source of the pollution was determined to be in an area close to the Gobranna Road, Glenavy.

According to the local angling club, a subsequent rough count found 510 dead fish. The species of fish killed were Brown Trout, not stocked fish but wild trout.

Glenavy Conservation and Angling Club Chair, Anthony McCormack, said: “I feel that this river has suffered enough in the recent and not so recent past. These incidents have a depressing regularity. Every three to five years some form of a pollution incident is witnessed in this river.

“The residents of Glenavy and further afield are only too aware of the amount of conservation work that goes on in this river, they have always told us how much pleasure they take knowing that the river is clean, healthy and that it enriches their live immensely. “The general feeling in the village is that this must stop once and for all.”

Sinn Féin South Antrim MLA, Declan Kearney said he would be writing to the DAERA Minister, Edwin Poots, to ask for an investigation into this latest incident.

“I was very concerned to learn of this serious pollution incident on the Glenavy River resulting in a massive fish kill and untold damage to other aquatic life, as well the overall ecosystem along the river’s course,” said Mr Kearney. “This is not the first time this type of incident has occurred on the Glenavy River. I will be writing to the DAERA Minister directly to ask that this latest act of environmental criminality is made subject to a comprehensive investigation.”