Thousands of fish have died from a bacterial disease in the River Lee in Cork in recent weeks. Officers from the South-Western Regional Fisheries Board continued to monitor the water yesterday.
According to officials, the good weather is responsible for increasing the water temperatures and reducing the water flow which resulted in a stress-induced fish disease, which has wiped out the fish.
"What we are seeing is a consequence of the exceptionally warm weather over the last six to eight weeks which has seen an increase in water temperatures to a high of 21 degrees," South-Western Regional Fisheries Board Assistant Manager, Mr Patrick Buck, explained yesterday.
"All types of fish are being affected, but especially the migratory species of salmon and sea trout. They are the most susceptible to bacterial infection of the gills, eyes and fins.
"However, other species such as bream are also becoming infected," Mr Buck said. "Unfortunately the decrease in water flow means that the dilution of any pollutants in the water is also diminished at the moment."
A sample analysis of the dead fish confirmed that stress-induced disease was the cause. Officials from the Fisheries Board remained at the river yesterday to monitor water temperatures and the ESB released extra water into the river from the Inniscarra Dam in a bid to increase the water flow and reduce water temperatures. "The problem we face is that the fish are under such stress at the moment that to remove them from the water would only serve to kill them. The only solution is to have about three good days of rain," a Fisheries Board official said. Meanwhile, swimmers in Cork have been warned to keep out of the River Lee because of a serious health hazard posed by algae bloom which can lead to skin rash and gastroenteritis.