River glyde

fish kill

June 2026

In early June the River Glyde in County Louth suffered a devastating fish kill that killed more than 20,000 fish. This included minnows, sticklebacks, salmon, eels, brown trout, roach and pike. According to Inland Fisheries Ireland, the pollution responsible for the incident originated from an agricultural discharge.

This video is part of a wider documentary project currently in production by Sea Pea Films on the threatened extinction of wild salmon in Ireland and river pollution.

Protect irish rivers

Ireland's waterways are under increasing pressure from agricultural run off, waste water, forestry and industrial pollution. Agriculture alone is responsible for the vast majority of nitrogen pollution in Irish waters, yet policy decisions continue to prioritise intensive farming over environmental protection. In 2025 the Irish Government successfully sought to extend the EU nitrates derogation for a further three years, allowing higher levels of agricultural pollution to persist.

The consequences are already visible. Between January 2023 and July 2024, dozens of fish kill incidents were recorded across Irish rivers, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of fish, including salmon, trout, and eel.

In August 2025 the Blackwater River in County Cork suffered a catastrophic event, with an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 fish killed. The worst fish kill in Irish history. For salmon populations already in steep decline events like this are devastating.

In 2024 Uisce Éireann was fined a mere €10,000 after two pollution incidents that killed around 2,000 fish in the Ballymacraven River. Is this the value that the Irish governmental authorities puts on the death and devastation of nature?

The response from state environmental bodies has often been slow and inadequate, with delays in investigation and a lack of accountability.

We are all sick of reading about fish kills on the news

Take Action Now

Email your local TD and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Timmy Dooley.

Template below

Email Template

Find your local TD:

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/members/

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

timmy.dooley@oireachtas.ie

  • Dear Minister Dooley,


    I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the recent fish kill on the Glyde River and the continuing problem of river pollution across Ireland.


    Ireland's waterways are under increasing pressure from agricultural run off, wastewater, forestry and industrial pollution. Agriculture alone is responsible for the vast majority of nitrogen pollution in Irish waters, yet policy decisions continue to prioritise intensive farming over environmental protection. In 2025 the Irish Government successfully sought to extend the EU nitrates derogation for a further three years, allowing higher levels of agricultural pollution to persist.


    While investigations are essential, they must also be followed by meaningful consequences for those responsible. The current penalties for causing fish kills and polluting rivers do not provide an effective deterrent. Fines that amount to only a small fraction of the environmental damage caused fail to reflect the seriousness of these offences. 


    The deaths of more than 20,000 fish represent a devastating loss of wildlife and a serious failure to protect one of Ireland's natural resources. Incidents like this damage biodiversity, harm local communities, and undermine public confidence in our environmental protections.


    I urge you to support stronger legislation that includes:

    • Substantially higher fines for those responsible for river pollution and fish kills.

    • Stronger sentencing powers, including custodial sentences where pollution is deliberate or causes significant environmental damage.

    • Any individual or company found guilty of polluting a waterway should be held financially responsible for the full restoration and rehabilitation of the affected waterbody. All fines issued should be ring-fenced and reinvested directly into water quality improvement and river restoration projects.

    • Increased resources for monitoring, inspections and enforcement.

    • Faster investigations and prosecutions.

    • Review and strengthen the legislation governing the storage and spreading of slurry and other fertilisers.


    Every fish kill is a reminder that our rivers are in crisis. They deserve far greater protection and urgent action is needed to safeguard them. The Glyde River fish kill should be a catalyst for stronger environmental laws and more effective enforcement. 


    I would appreciate your response outlining what actions you intend to take.


    Yours sincerely,

    (Name) 


Support the film

Hatching salmon filmed on 16mm, February 2026.

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