Thanks to a loyal reader who supplied us with this photo of a sample of the fish killed in the Ollatrim River.

Hundreds of fish killed in Ollatrim river

Peter Gleeson

Published: Thu 12 Jul 2018, 9:18 AM

Last updated: Thu 12 Jul 2018, 10:23 AM

OVER 400 fish have been found dead in the Ollatrim River near Nenagh – the fourth incident of its kind on waterways in North Tipperary in just under eight weeks.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) confirmed it was investigating a the kill on the Ollatrim, a tributary of the Nenagh River.
Fisheries Officers attended the site at Ballinahemery Bridge near Ballymackey, just five miles from Nenagh on Monday last evening after receiving a report.
"Over 400 fish were discovered dead at Ballinahemery Bridge with several species affected including brown trout, lamprey eel, stoneloach, minnow as well as small numbers of stickleback and white clawed crayfish," said the IFI in a statement.
It said there were indications that the fish kill occurred on Sunday last.
"The cause of the fish kill seems to have been transient and has now passed through the system," it stated.
The investigation to establish the full extent of the fish mortality and to identify the source of the fish kill was continuing as The Guardian went to press on Tuesday afternoon.
Joe O' Donoghue, PRO of the Ormond Anglers Association, said the river had been "decimated".
One member of the public who phoned this newspaper said there were dead fish all along the river. "It's so sad to see. The herons, ducks and magpies are flying down and having a feast day on dead fish," said the man, who did not wish to give his name.
The latest fish kill follows three other incidents reported in North Tipperary since late May. Over 100 trout and juvenile salmon were killed following an incident at the Mill River in Ballina on May 17th last Just over a fortnight later there was a second fish kill in the Ballintotty River. The Ormond Anglers Association, said the entire trout and salmon parr population on one stretch of that river was wiped out.
This was followed by a fish kill of a minor nature in early June on the upper reaches of the the Nenagh River at Ballycrinode, Ballinaclough.

Inland Fisheries Ireland has a confidential hotline number to enable members of the public to report incidents by telephone 1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24. The phone line is designed to encourage the reporting of incidents of illegal fishing, water pollution and invasive species.