Vol. 468 No. 2
98 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for the Environment the number of fish kills reported in each of the years from 1992 to date in 1996; and his views on whether the current penalties are adequate to deal with the problem of pollution of our rivers and lakes. [14788/96]
Statistics in respect of fish kills are compiled by the Marine Institute's Fishery Research Centre from reports furnished by regional fisheries boards and local authorities.
According to these statistics, the number of fish kills in each of the years since 1992, and to date in 1996, was as follows: 1992, 51; 1993, 33; 1994, 32; 1995, 84; 1996, 29 (to 3 July).
The increased incidence of fish kills recorded in 1995 was influenced by low river flows due to the prolonged spell of dry weather, together with high temperatures. Although the number of incidents was high in that year, major fish kills in the rivers were relatively few. A further analysis of the 1994 and 1995 fish kills and the factors responsible is set out in the Marine Institute's report on Fish Kills in 1994 and 1995, a copy of which is available in the Oireachtas Library.
