Kerry County Council is acting to protect the sea trout lake of Lough Currane, one of Europe's most important fisheries, from possible contamination by waste from a nearby mink farm, it has said in a report to a councillor calling for the farm's relocation.
The mink farm owner was co-operating in the measures which are being put in place, the report said.
Independent councillor Michael Healy-Rae said the mink farm at Dromkeare, Waterville, one of six in the country operating under licence from the Department of Agriculture, should be relocated away from the lake's catchment area altogether.
Under EU regulations new mink farms had to have concrete floors in their cages to prevent run-off into the water courses from waste from the animals. Cages built on staging could not prevent run-off and the council should insist on concrete being put underneath the cages to collect the run-off from the animals, he said. "I don't believe a mink farm should be near a lake," the councillor said.
The council has admitted that "retro-fitting" of concrete flooring to mink housing sheds that have been in use "for decades", would be difficult, and said alternative solutions were being sought.
"Discussions are ongoing between Kerry County Council and the operators of the mink farm with a view to identifying a long-term solution to the issue," according to the report from the council's environment department.
The Waterville mink farm has been in operation for about 40 years. Anglers have become increasingly concerned about run-off from mink cages themselves and about waste water and drainage into the water catchment of one of Europe's finest and most famous sea trout, salmon and brown trout lakes.
The Waterville Fisheries Development Group had spent €5,000 in ensuring run-off was tackled, Cllr Healy-Rae claimed, and he wants it reimbursed by the council. He also asked for soil and ground water analysis immediately below the mink farm. This area was planted with willows to bind the phosphorus and the owner needed to be assisted in expanding this as there were problems with the acid soil, he said.
In its report, Kerry County Council said it had undertaken intensive monitoring of the farm with regard to potential impacts on water quality. "Issues identified have been and are being actively pursued," it said. All relevant drains within the mink farm had now been piped.
Manager of Willow Herb Ltd mink farm Stefan Kolen said he was surprised at Mr Healy-Rae's call for relocation. The farm had tackled possible pollution in co-operation with the county council and had plans for the future.
It was fully licensed and in compliance with its licence and the issue of relocation had not come up.