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Fish Are Killed By Chemical in River

Posted on: Monday, 8 August 2005, 06:00 CDT

An investigation has been launched after thousands of fish were wiped out by a mystery pollutant - for the second time in a year. More than 20,000 fish, mostly young salmon and trout, were found dead in the River Ebbw, in the Crumlin area this week.

Environment Agency officers were alerted on Monday about a mystery chemical being discharged into the river from a drainage culvert.

The pollutant is believed to be some form of detergent which left other wildlife and invertebrates unharmed.

By the time it had reached Cwmcarn it had lost its power to kill, but had already affected four miles of the river.

John Gregory, the agency's environment manager is appealing for information and help in tracing the pollution source.

He said: 'It's heartbreaking to see so many fish killed for the second time in a year. We had a similar pollution last August, but were unable to find the source, even with the help of the local authority in searching the drainage system.'

The culvert drains surface water from a huge area above Crumlin and it is thought that there could be a mis-connection allowing waste, which should go to the foul sewer, into the surface water system and straight into the river.

'We know that this stuff is pretty powerful and it's likely that it's being disposed of innocently, but with a devastating effect on the river,' added Mr Gregory.

Targeted pollution prevention work carried out in the area since 5,000 fish were killed in incidents in October 2003 and August 2004, had not highlighted any significant problems.

John Otter, secretary of the 170-member Islwyn and District Angling Association, which stretches along part of the River Ebbw, said: 'It's a catastrophe, the stocks have been building up over the years.

It's unbelievable in such a short time for this to happen and incidents like this just knock it back years, you can't just re- stock salmon.': Mystery pollution is 'a blow for anglers':Ron Cousins, the Echo's fishing correspondent, reports on the effect the pollution could have. THE pollution is a serious blow to anglers in the area. Re-stocking is a very, very expensive business. When you are talking about 20,000 fish you are talking about a huge amount of money and you have several years' life cycles there, fish of different sizes.

It is a serious financial blow to any club on the river. These clubs are not very wealthy.

Hopefully, once tracked down, those responsible for the pollution would compensate the anglers for the loss of fish.

It is also a blow to the young angler because a lot start fishing there, often in the summer holiday. Doorstep fishing is wiped out for them for a few years unless something is done pretty quickly.

Source: South Wales Echo

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