Paul
Gainey - 18-Oct-2006 - The Environment Agency
has launched a full investigation after more than
100 trout were killed in a small tributary of
the West Looe River, near Liskeard.
On Monday morning (October 16,
2006) several members of the public reported the
stream had become discoloured and had a foul smell.
An Environment Agency officer
attended the site and saw that the Connon Stream
near Trevillis Woods was discoloured. Water samples
were taken to identify the suspected pollutant
and an investigation commenced to trace the source
of the pollution.
An examination of the stream
downstream revealed 85 dead trout although the
coloration in the water prevented a full fish
kill assessment.
On Tuesday morning (October
17) officers returned to the site of the pollution
to complete the fish kill assessment. As well
as locating another 25 dead trout in the stream,
a second pollution, downstream of the first pollution
was identified. Further water quality samples
were taken and investigations into the cause of
this event are also underway.
‘We are now in the process of
confirming the sources of both pollution incidents
while trying to reduce the impact on the local
environment,’ said Mark Pilcher, from the Environment
Agency.
‘Environment Agency fisheries
survey data on the Connon Stream confirms that
although it is a small watercourse, it supported
healthy numbers of trout and acted as a nursery
area.
‘A fish kill of over 100 trout
of different ages therefore represents a significant
impact on this small stream and we will now investigate
the causes and whether any legal action will be
taken.’
Samples of the pollutant have
been taken for laboratory analysis and investigations
are continuing into the source of the pollution.
