asked the Minister for the Marine if he will make a statement in relation to any investigation which was carried out in relation to the fish kill at Ringaskiddy, County Cork; and if he will outline the results of same.
Written Answers. - County Cork Fish Kill.
150.
On 24 June 1988, dead mullet were sighted by Navy personnel in an area between Cobh and Haulbowline in Cork harbour. Subsequently samples of the fish were collected by county council pollution officers lower down the harbour.
These samples were examined by the South-Western Regional Fisheries Board and all were found to be net marked to some extent with no other physical abnormalities apparent.
Based on the information available i.e. that only mullet were affected, that the dead fish were originally observed concentrated in a small area, and that net marks were found on the fish, I have been informed that the fish most probably died as a result of netting and were dumped in the lower harbour area.