Three Government Ministers are to draw up an anti-pollution strategy to tackle degradation of waterways by agricultural effluent.
The commitment was made by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Fahey, in Galway yesterday when he released an environmental study of Mayo's River Robe. He made it on behalf of his Cabinet colleagues, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, and the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey.
The study shows that 68 per cent of the River Robe is polluted. The river now has an uncertain future as a salmonid fishery, mainly due to animal slurry.
Rising west of Ballyhaunis, the Robe was once an important salmonid river which contributed significantly to the brown trout population of Lough Mask. However, it runs through a significant grassland area which has the most intensive sheep farming in the county. Due to the decline in the quality of trout angling, the Western Regional Fisheries Board (WRFB) is reluctant to direct visiting anglers to it any more.
The three-year study undertaken by the WRFB notes that only 40 per cent of the land in the catchment is suitable for safe application of slurry, though no such restrictions are in place. It estimates that 180 million gallons of slurry are generated in the catchment annually.
If the phosphorus load from sheep is accounted for, the volume of phosphorus generated is estimated at 834 tonnes, equivalent to the impact on the area of a human population of just over a million. The study recommends full implementation of nutrient management planning, underpinned by local by-laws to ensure consistency of approach. Under the 1999 Local Government Act, local authorities have the power to adopt by-laws which could restrict slurry-spreading in certain areas, but these powers have not been exercised.
Mr Tony Waldron, spokesman for the Carra/Mask Angling Federation, which was instrumental in having the study carried out, said he was not surprised at the findings. He said it was not the fault of the farming community and laid the blame on successive governments which had encouraged increased productivity in agriculture. The Connacht anglers have lodged four complaints with the European Commission on the water quality in Lough Conn, Carra/Mask, Lough Corrib and Lough Gill.
Commenting on the findings, Mr Fahey expressed serious concern and admitted he had been among the politicians calling for an intensification of agricultural production before the full impact on the environment was known.
"We can all be blamed that we got it wrong," Mr Fahey said. However, the Minister also expressed confidence in the farming community's commitment to improve the situation.
He said that he had reached agreement with his Cabinet colleagues, Mr Walsh and Mr Dempsey, on putting together a comprehensive strategy to deal with pollution, with an emphasis on education and co-operation. Sewage treatment and the impact of septic tanks would also be addressed as part of this, he said.
The Minister committed £20,000 to the WRFB to initiate a nutrient management plan in the Galway/Mayo area and said he hoped it would result in angling clubs, farming organisations and the WRFB working together to take immediate action.
Mr Michael Kennedy, chief executive of the WRFB, said he was heartened by the Minister's response. He paid tribute to the officials and organisations involved in the publication of the study.
Mr Tony Waldron, of the Carra/ Mask Angling Federation, said the Minister's response was a "start", though "not enough". He welcomed the fact that the Department of Agriculture was going to be involved.
