Urgent Update: Blackwater Fish Kill Affects 30,000 Fish, Communities

URGENT UPDATE: A catastrophic fish kill in the River Blackwater has left local communities reeling, with 30,000 salmon and brown trout dead. The incident, described as Ireland’s worst-ever fish kill, occurred in early August 2025 and is set to be addressed by Tom Ryan, director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), during an Oireachtas committee meeting today.

Ryan will emphasize that the kill has had an “unjust and negative impact” on both the local fish stocks and the communities that rely on them. He is expected to reveal that the recovery of these fish populations could take up to 10 years, raising alarms among residents and anglers alike.

The incident has sparked outrage, as an inter-agency investigation failed to identify the cause of the kill. Initial findings indicate no chronic water quality issues or systemic diseases among the dead fish. Instead, authorities suspect a waterborne agent entered the river shortly before the mortality event. Ryan will state, “The extensive fish mortalities that occurred on the Blackwater are serious harm to local fish stocks and have had an unjust and negative impact on the local communities.”

During the investigation, the EPA deployed three teams to inspect 31 facilities within the Blackwater catchment, including industrial sites and wastewater treatment plants. Despite these efforts, no causal link between the deaths and any facility was established, including the controversial North Cork Creameries, which has a history of compliance failures with its discharge license.

Barry Fox, deputy CEO of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), will also address the committee, describing the sight of thousands of dead fish as “both unacceptable and deeply alarming.” He will characterize the kill as a “catastrophic environmental incident” that prompted one of the largest investigations in IFI history, ultimately without a definitive conclusion.

Fox will argue that penalties for such environmental crimes are insufficient, stating, “We strongly contend that these penalties are not proportionate to the severity of environmental crimes, which cause significant harm to fisheries, their habitats, and the economic communities that depend on our rivers.”

This developing story highlights the urgent need for accountability and effective environmental protection measures. As the investigation continues, local communities await answers and solutions to restore the health of the River Blackwater and its vital fish populations.

Stay tuned for more updates on this critical environmental issue.