Noel Dempsey
Ceist:157 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment the numbers of fish kills by month for each of the years from 1992 to 1995 and to date in 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10145/96]
Written Answers. - Fish Kill Number.
Statistics in respect of fish kills are compiled by the Marine Institute's Fishery Research Centre from reports furnished by the regional fisheries boards and by the local authorities.
According to these records, the number of fish kills from January 1992 to April 1996 was as follows:
Monthly Totals
|
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
|
|
January |
— |
1 |
— |
— |
— |
|
February |
— |
2 |
1 |
— |
1 |
|
March |
1 |
1 |
1 |
— |
1 |
|
April |
— |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
May |
5 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
|
|
June |
18 |
3 |
10 |
20 |
|
|
July |
22 |
18 |
8 |
24 |
|
|
August |
1 |
1 |
6 |
19 |
|
|
September |
2 |
3 |
— |
11 |
|
|
October |
— |
1 |
2 |
2 |
|
|
November |
2 |
— |
— |
1 |
|
|
December |
2 |
— |
— |
1 |
The increased incidence of fish kills recorded in 1995, which occurred despite intensive efforts at prevention undertaken by local authorities at my request, was contributed to by low river flows due to the prolonged spell of dry weather, together with high water temperatures. A fuller anlaysis of the factors responsible in that year 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.