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PRESS
STATEMENTS 2003
PRELIMINARY
REPORT DERRYBRIEN PEAT LANDSLIDE
Date:
14th November 2003
Contact:
Eamon Cusack, Chief Executive Officer
Phone:
061 300238 & 087-2425 017
The
Shannon Regional Fisheries Board members considered the Boards
Preliminary Report on the events surrounding the Peat landslide at
Derrybrien, Co. Galway at their recent meeting, and expressed their
grave concern.
The
Shannon Regional Fisheries Board is concerned that this is the
third peat landslide to occur in the Region over the last 18
months. These 3 incidents occurred in areas where active
development was taking place. The similarities between these 3
incidents should be examined. All have impacted seriously on fish
and their habitat.
Although
it is difficult to estimate accurately the effect of the episode
without a comprehensive study, what is certain is that a large
number of fish were killed. Based on work in similar waters we
estimate that over 100,000 fish could have been in the affected
waters and the results of our survey in early November confirm that
over 50% of these fish died. The dead fish included Trout, Perch,
Gudgeon, Stone Loach and Brook Lamprey, which are a special
protected species under EU law. Spawning gravels have been heavily
silted which means that trout will be unable to spawn effectively.
Water quality is also degraded. The affected tributary will remain
heavily silted for some time to come and during heavy rain large
volumes are still coming down the Owendalulleegh River.
The
preliminary report outlines the sequence of events surrounding the
landslide. Initial results of fish surveys and water quality
sampling are presented. Recommendations are also outlined as to a
future monitoring strategy that must be undertaken. The damage
resulting from the events of recent weeks will take many years to
recover provided no further such events occur. The cost of the
damage assessment, monitoring and habitat renewal will be
significant in Fisheries Board terms and external funding will be
required.
The
Shannon Regional Fisheries Board has met with Galway County Council
and the ESB subsidiary Hibernian Wind Power Limited to review the
situation. A further meeting will take place to continue the review
and assess the actions taken to halt the peat slide and remove some
of the Peat from the tributary stream.
The
Board is continuing its investigations into the incident and should
information become available identifying a responsible party, the
Board will consider issuing legal proceedings, including the
recovery of costs associated with the damage caused to the fishery.
The
Board views this incident as the most serious which has affected the
Region in recent years and will work with the Local Authority, State
agencies and the local community to ensure that the fish and their
environment are restored.
ENDS
DERRYBRIEN PEAT LANDSLIDE
IN CO GALWAY
Date:
30th October 2003,
Contact:
Eamon Cusack, Chief Executive Officer
Phone:
061 300238 & 087-2425 017
The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board has expressed
its deep concern at the events unfolding at Derrybrien North area of
County Galway. There is now a real possibility that the peat
landslide, which has flowed down the mountain will enter the main
Owendalulleegh River, a tributary of Lough Cutra and into the Lake
itself.
While we appreciate that people have not been
injured or houses damaged, a major environmental disaster is
imminent unless immediate action is taken. The consequences to the
Fisheries environment are extremely grave.
The Board appreciates the work of Galway County
Council’s staff in seeking to stop the moving peat silt, however
we have written to the Local Authority seeking immediate action and
requesting that the County’s Emergency Plan should be initiated so
that more resources can be applied to clearing a potential Peat silt
flood plain and enable the silt to settle out.
We have also requested that the ESB subsidiary,
Hibernian Wind Power Ltd should make available what ever resources
it can to halt the silt.
The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board has moved some
fish from the tributary stream at Derrybrien. The Board will seek
to move more fish from the main river Owendalulleegh River over the
coming days. The Board will not be able to do this if rain
continues, therefore, a major fish kill could result.
At this time the Board are particularly concerned
about the damage to the aquatic environment that has been caused and
the disaster that is waiting to happen. Peat silt from the slip has
already inundated the gorge of the Derrybrien tributary stream. Our
main concern now is that vast amounts of peat silt will be allowed
wash into the Owendalulleegh River, a tributary of Lough Cutra and
into the Lake itself.
The
Owendalulleegh River holds good stocks of wild brown trout and is an
important spawning river for Lough Cutra. This is the time of the
year when the trout will be moving upstream to spawn and a discharge
of such large volumes of peat silt will almost certainly have
long-term effects on future generations of trout.
The
discharge will also have major long-term effects on the environment,
these include:-
-
Actually killing fish by
clogging up gills and or making it impossible for the fish to
feed.
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Clogging up spawning gravels
such that spawning will not be possible.
-
The smothering of fish eggs
contained in spawning gravels/redds.
-
Smothering of fish food or
otherwise altering the habitat for important fish food, which will
no longer be able to reside in silted areas.
-
Reducing primary productivity
in the river and there by affecting the quantities of fish food
been produced.
-
Initially reducing plant life
in the river, but deposition of silt especially in gravels will
also promote the development of extra rooted plant productivity.
This will give rise to the waterways being clogged. This reduces
the swim area for fish and their ability to feed and thrive
reducing stock density. In addition there will also be a greater
tendency for river drainage to occur which will have an extremely
destructive impact on the river and in particular its biology, the
character of the river, the overall ability of the river to
maintain its integrity as the fishery and an important spawning
water for Lough Cutra.
-
U.V. radiation on silt
deposits, which will be contained in the shallow waters of the
river and also in Lough Cutra, will cause the release of
organically bound and bio available orthophosphate to the waters.
This will increase the amount of eutrophication in the water.
Eutrophication effects are well documented and could have
consequences in the case of Lough Cutra. In particular it may
increase the costs of water treatment.
This
is the second major peat landslide in the Region in recent times. A
much smaller peat landslide on the Annacarriga River killed 40,000
salmon and trout. This spill has the potential to cause a fishkill
of much greater magnitude and could leave the river virtually
fishless for some time to come.
The
Board is at present investigating this disaster and will take legal
proceedings if appropriate, to preserve the fish habitat and ensure
that remedial action is undertaken to restore Owendalulleegh River.
END
FIRST
'ACCESS TO ALL' WILD ANGLING VENUE OPENS TODAY MAY 30TH ON THE RIVER
SUCK AT DONAMON CO ROSCOMMON
Date: 30th
May 2003
The
Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and
Natural Resources Mr John Browne, T.D., today opens the first Irish
“Access to All” facility on a wild angling venue, at the
River Suck, Donamon, Co Roscommon.
This
section of the River Suck at Donamon, has been specially developed
at a cost of €300,000, to cater for anglers with a variety of
disabilities, by The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board, in
conjunction with the Irish Wheelchair Association and the local
angling club – The Athleague and Fuerty Coarse Angling Association.
Mr Eamon
Cusack, Chief Executive Officer stated “that this is a unique
day for our Board with the opening of the first ever “Access to All”
Wild Angling Facility in Ireland and we believe anywhere in
Europe. The River Suck is one of Ireland’s great natural angling
locations and has a good stock of Bream, Roach, Tench ,Trout and of
course each year it produces the countries largest number of
specimen Pike.”
The venue is capable of hosting major access for
all angling competitions and yet is ideal for the recreational
angler. In choosing Donamon, the Board was conscious of the
excellent facilities available at Cuisle, the Irish Wheelchair
Associations Holiday Centre adjacent to the site. The
development, which consists of purpose built ramping and angling
platforms with individual road and car parking, can facilitate a
thirty one person angling event and is located adjacent to the Irish
Wheelchair Association Cuisle Holiday Centre, Donamon, Co Roscommon.
Mr Cusack stated
“that
there are a variety of vibrant tourist groups located in the Suck
Valley area of Co Roscommon and we know that this development will
also be used by them in growing rural tourism in the county.”
Photo: Aerial view
of the Donamon facility
END
For
further information please contact:
Eamon
Cusack , The Shannon Regional Fisheries Board
061
300238
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