NI Conservatives’ environment spokesman, Brian McBride, has highlighted the issue of a possible fish kill at Portavoe Reservoir, between Donaghadee and Bangor.
“Local fishermen have contacted me to report a high instance of dead fish and a problem with lice in stocks of rainbow trout at the reservoir”, Brian explained. “I have contacted the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL), which is responsible for running the facility, as well as the Department of the Environment and I appealed to them to get to the bottom of what is happening at Portavoe. They have undertaken to send experts out to look at any problems with the water.”
“I’ve visited the reservoir regularly myself and it’s quite clear that many of the trout are in visible distress, because of the infestation problem. It could be that lice are to blame for the dead fish, which are appearing at the side of the waterway, and that’s something which DCAL will need to establish quickly. We also need to establish how the lice came be in Portavoe in the first place. High water temperatures can cause this problem, but the reservoir has recently been re-stocked with fish and it is possible that the parasites were introduced in this way.”
“What is absolutely clear is that the authorities need to take decisive action, for the benefit of fish and anglers. There are already concerns about the future of Portavoe Reservoir, because the owners, Northern Ireland Water (NIW) are currently trying to sell the facility. It is an important resource for fly fishermen in North Down and it is also used by kayakers, dog-walkers and others in the community as well. We must ensure that it is not being allowed to be run down.”
“DCAL has a responsibility to decide on the best course of action, to protect important areas for angling and ensure that fish do not suffer unnecessarily. NIW has a responsibility to ensure that Portavoe Reservoir remains available for anglers, walkers, sportspeople and visitors to North Down. I’ll be reminding these agencies of their responsibilities and following up to establish that their response to the issues with lice and dead fish is adequate.”