Firms blame dredging for fish kills

Fish farmers in south Donegal claim that dumping of dredge spoil from the €50 million harbour development at Killybegs may be the cause of the continuing fish deaths in two bays.

Over 850,000 fish reared by three fish farms in Inver Bay and McSwyne's Bay have now died since the deaths were first reported in late July. The problem spread to McSwyne's Bay several weeks ago, according to Mr Richie Flynn, of the Irish Salmon Growers' Association (ISGA).

Some 130 jobs are now threatened by the losses at the three farms, the largest being Ocean Farm Ltd, which has no insurance to cover the fish kill. The two smaller farms are insured, but the cause must be established if the farms are to have any future in the bays, according to Mr Flynn.

The ISGA is due to meet local deputies, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan, and the Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher, this morning over the situation. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources says it is awaiting a report on the fish kill from the Marine Institute, and that all possible causes are being examined.

Immediately after the fish kill was confirmed, the Department issued a statement in which it denied that dredging of the harbour was the cause.

The ISGA had originally maintained that trawling for prawns was the culprit, when mud or silt was disturbed and released hydrogen-sulphide.

However, the association has since identified the sea site where upwards of 200,000 tonnes of dredge spoil from Killybegs harbour was disposed of last year,about five miles west of the fish farms. The development is being carried out by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.