asked the Minister for Fisheries and Forestry in view of the serious situation which now threatens the nations fish stocks if he will make a statement on press reports that no national records are being kept of the number of fish being killed by pollution in Irish rivers and lakes.
Written Answers. - River and Lake Pollution.
528.
Overall responsibility for the control of water pollution rests with the Minister for the Environment. At the same time, under the Fisheries Acts 1959 to 1980 I have responsibility for the conservation of our fish stocks. I am very concerned about the pollution of our waters and the regional fisheries boards under the aegis of my Department are to the forefront in combating water pollution, including taking legal action against offenders. The regional fisheries boards keep records of fish kills reported to and investigated by them and are required to furnish monthly returns to my Department. While official records of incidents of water pollution are kept by various bodies concerned I have, however, directed that my Department consult with the Department of the Environment so as to arrange for the keeping of records of fish kills on a centralised national basis. Such records, while important, will not of themselves solve this difficult problem of water pollution. The full co-operation of everybody concerned is urgently required.