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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.

  • 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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