Fine Gael TD John Paul O’Shea has called on Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), as the lead State agency, to urgently make progress on implementing the recommendations arising from the independent European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC) review into last year’s devastating Blackwater fish kill and to publish a clear timeframe for delivery. The Blackwater fish kill in August 2025 resulted in the death of up to 42,000 fish.
The JRC review, published in February 2026, made a wide range of recommendations aimed at improving the prevention, detection and investigation of major fish kill incidents. These include enhanced continuous water quality monitoring on major rivers, stronger inter-agency co-ordination, improved public communication, increased citizen science initiatives, and measures to prevent future environ-mental disasters.
Deputy O’Shea said “The Blackwater fish kill was an environmental catastrophe which had a profound impact on local communities, anglers, tourism, businesses and everyone who values this iconic river. While I welcome the publication of the JRC report and the work underway to develop an inter-agency protocol, communities along the Blackwater need to see tangible progress.”
“Inland Fisheries Ireland has been identified as the lead agency for several of the key recommendations, including developing procedures for classifying major fish kills and establishing clear multi-agency operating procedures. It is therefore essential that IFI now sets out a specific implementation timetable for these recommendations.”
Deputy O’Shea said that, while some recommendations may require significant investment and long-term planning, there must be greater transparency around progress.
“Local communities and all those with an interest in the future of the River Blackwater deserve regular updates and clear timelines. We cannot allow these recommendations to remain on paper. Lessons must be learned and acted upon so that we do everything possible to prevent a similar incident occurring again.”
“Prevention must be our primary objective.
“The Blackwater is one of Ireland’s most important natural assets and we must ensure that the necessary resources, monitoring systems and inter-agency structures are put in place without delay.”