Vol. 518 No. 6
108 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the total number of fish kills reported to his Department in 1999 and 2000; the steps being taken to deal with the issues of river and lake pollution identified in the recent report entitled Ireland's Environment - a Millennium Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12935/00]
Thirty nine fish kills were reported to my Department in 1999. Five fish kills have been reported to date in 2000. The comparable figures for 1997 and 1998 are 42 and 39, respectively. The state of fish stocks is a key barometer of water quality in our rivers and lakes. Fish kills are among the most dramatic and damaging impacts of pollution, usually arising from unauthorised or accidental discharges of high strength wastes.
I welcome the recently published report of the Environmental Protection Agency on Ireland's environment. The report includes a comprehensive overview of the water quality status of river and lake systems as well as an assessment of fish stocks and outlines the remedial and management strategies under way to tackle eutrophication and pollution threats. The report acknowledges the critical role of the central and regional fisheries boards working with all relevant agencies and sectoral interests in pollution prevention, reduction and detection, as well as enforcing water pollution legislation and prosecuting offenders. In terms of fish kill levels, while improvements have been achieved, particularly in relation to tackling pollution problems in the agricultural sector, there is no room for complacency as is outlined by the fish kill incidents of recent days.
Our conservation and development objectives for inland fisheries crucially depend on water quality of rivers and lakes. The fisheries boards, angling clubs and organisations have a major role to play in water quality and pollution prevention strategies at national and catchment level, working with the relevant State agencies, local authorities and the sectors. The new structures membership and overall framework for the boards positions them very well to drive the inland fisheries agenda on water quality. I have asked my Department and the central and regional fisheries boards to give particular priority to water quality initiatives, including raising the profile of the Inland Fisheries Environmental Forum on Water Quality, and supporting the catchment management approach. I have also asked my Department to develop a structured liaison on water quality issues at senior official level with the Department of the Environment and Local Government and the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development as well as the EPA.
The national development plan provides for investment of over £2 billion in water and waste water strategies up to 2006. I will be working with my colleague the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to ensure that water quality programme and strategies for river and lake catchments fully reflect the fisheries perspective. For our part, the Department, the fisheries boards and all inland fisheries interests will work together closely to address water quality as the major priority for the resource.
