AQO 2402/17-22 Oral question to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on the recent fish kill at the Three Mile Water River, Newtownabbey.
Asked by John Blair MLA on 6 September 2021
- Answered
- Oral
- After due date
- Tabled
- 6 September 2021
- Answer due by
- 14 September 2021
- Answered
- 15 September 20219 days after tabling
- Priority question
- No
Answer
On 26 August 2021, NIEA received a report of water pollution affecting the Three Mile Water River. Water Quality Inspectors were deployed to the area to confirm the report and assess the environmental impact.
Following investigation a major fish kill was confirmed. The total number of mortalities recorded were 134 trout covering all age classes and a large number of eels, flounder and sticklebacks.
This follows on from a previous water pollution incident impacting the river on 31 May 2021, which also caused a serious impact on the fishery and significant concern in the local area. NIEA are following a definite line of enquiry regarding this latest incident and are investigating if there is a link to the previous incident that occurred in May.
Given this a live and ongoing investigation all aspects of the case are considered ‘sub judice’ and as such I am unable to provide more specific details regarding the pollution source at this stage.