AQO 2402/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 06/09/2021
Answered On Date: 15/09/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
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.

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.