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European Commission publishes independent review of Blackwater Fish Kill response

The Blackwater fish kill review published by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) examines how State agencies responded to the major fish kill on the Munster Blackwater in August 2025. The event, Ireland’s largest recorded fish kill, resulted in an estimated 42,000 fish deaths.

Download a copy of the European Commission Report: The 2025 major fish kill on the Munster Blackwater, Ireland. Organisational responses and key recommendations

Overview of Incident

In August 2025 a major fish kill occurred on the River Blackwater. It caused extensive salmon and trout mortalities and prompted a multi‑agency investigation led by Inland Fisheries Ireland. Investigators concluded that a short‑lived pollution event most likely caused the incident. However, the exact source could not be identified.

A summary report of what happened, the investigation, and the findings is available in the Summary Report of the Investigation into Fish Mortalities in the Munster Blackwater, published by Inland Fisheries Ireland in September 2026.

Main Findings

The Blackwater fish kill review evaluates how agencies responded and sets out recommendations to strengthen future preparedness.

The report highlights several key areas:

Continuous monitoring: It recommends installing continuous monitoring stations on major Irish rivers to support faster detection of pollution events.
A shared response protocol: Agencies should develop and test a single multi‑agency procedure for major fish kills. This protocol should include comprehensive sampling of the river as well as discharging facilities in the catchment.
Clear communication: Agencies should share information more quickly and explain uncertainties and investigative steps in real time.
Research and prevention: Research should determine high risk areas for fish kills for preventative action and to determine the economic cost of the fish kill.
Catchment restoration: The report calls for stronger restoration efforts to meet Water Framework Directive objectives and to improve resilience in the Blackwater catchment.

Download a copy of the European Commission Report: The 2025 major fish kill on the Munster Blackwater, Ireland. Organisational responses and key recommendations

Learn more:

Environmental Protection Agency news release. EPA Welcomes Findings of Joint Research Centre Review into Blackwater Fish Kill Response | Environmental Protection Agency

Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment press release. Minister Dooley welcomes publication of independent report on the Blackwater fish kill

Catchments.ie post, September 26, 2025: Summary Report Published on Fish Mortalities in the Blackwater – Catchments.ie – Catchments.ie

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EPA Catchments Unit

Administrator

The EPA Catchments Unit is based in Dublin, and the team is involved with catchment science, chemistry, ecology, hydromorphology, modelling, Geographic Information Systems and planning. We work with the wider EPA, all of our local authorities, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and other public bodies and Departments to ensure we have the best available data and information about our catchments.

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