One hundred and eleven fish kills were recorded by my Department in 1989, accounting for the death of in excess of 35,000 fish. Estimates of the cost of restocking are not available.
I am informed that legal proceedings were instituted in 27 cases.
My Department have published a very informative report on fish kills in 1989 and I am arranging to let the Deputy have a copy.
While the 1989 figures show an increase of 61 over 1988 this was largely accounted for by the exceptionally dry weather conditions obtaining during last year which gave rise to very low water levels throughout the summer period. The total number of fish kills was down however on the 122 recorded in 1987. A pleasing feature of the returns was that fish kills due to agricultural causes were well down over the 1987 figures — 26 as against 95.
I would like to take the opportunity to express my appreciation of the efforts of all those who in any way contributed to minimising the number of pollution incidents involving fish kills. In this regard I would like to pay a special tribute to the staff of the various fisheries boards for their unstinting efforts in the fight against pollution.