The South Western Regional Fisheries Board has reminded farmers and industrialists about fish kills at a time of low water levels and high temperatures.
The highest incidence of fish kills normally occurs during June, July and August. All liquid wastes are dangerous substances if allowed to flow into watercourses, Ms Patricia O'Connor, environmental officer with the board, said.
She added: "Any individual or company who produces, treats or is charged with handling or disposing of liquid slurry or effluent is responsible for the management and safe disposal of that liquid in a manner which will not allow pollution of waters." The board encourages farmers to adopt codes of good agricultural practices on slurry containment, handling and disposal. Farmers should pay particular attention at this time of year to the condition of silage floors, effluent tanks and channels so that leaking does not occur.
So far no fish kills have been recorded by the board, which oversees most of Kerry and Cork.
Fisheries officers are, however, meeting a commercial salmon farmer about an ongoing problem with sea lice.
