Investigation into deaths of 850 wild Atlantic salmon in Sligo river

An extensive investigation is continuing into the deaths of around 850 wild Atlantic salmon in Co Sligo.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is conducting a full environmental analysis within the catchment of the Ballisodare River in an effort to investigate whether water quality issues may be contributing to the deaths.

So far, only adult salmon deaths have been recorded and no other fish species appear to be impacted by the reported fish kill.

The IFI is working closely with Ballisodare Fishing Club and other agencies to establish the cause of these deaths, including with the Marine Institute Fish Health Unit, and veterinarians from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine who are assisting in the expert examination of the affected fish.

Visual inspection by experts suggests that the salmon have been infected with Saprolegnia, which visually looks cotton wool-like growths on the skin. This is usually caused by stress. However, the source or reason for this stress has not yet been identified.

“We’re probably picking up 100 dead a fish a day at this point. It’s as if they are poisoned or something,” Gerry Merrick, chair of Ballisodare Fishing Club, told the Western People.

He said the problem was first noted at the beginning of this month and the situation is worsening.

“It’s really serious. Some of the fish are coming in without a mark on them and then dying. A perfectly healthy fish, and within two minutes they are dead,” said Mr Merrick.

“We are heading for 1,000 now the way it is going,” he added.