Minister Dooley welcomes publication of independent report on the Blackwater fish kill
- Published on: 13 February 2026
- Last updated on: 13 February 2026
Report by Joint Research Centre finds that State agencies responded quickly and sets out key recommendations
Minister of State of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment Timmy Dooley today welcomed the publication of an independent report carried out by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC), which examined the State's response to the fish kill incident that occurred on the Munster Blackwater in August 2025.
The independent report, commissioned following the largest recorded fish kill incident in Ireland, confirms that State agencies responded quickly and appropriately once the incident was reported. It also identified opportunities where coordination and communication could have been improved, while also acknowledging a 'detection gap' exists, where a short-lived pollution event occurs and dissipates before it is detected, limiting the investigation and enforcement.
Welcoming the report, the Minister said:
"I welcome the publication of this report. I would like to thank the JRC and the authors for the prioritised manner in which this review was carried out.
"A key objective of this review was to ensure that we learned from this incident. The practical, forward-looking recommendations set out in the report provides a clear roadmap for action and improvement.
"Some recommendations can and are being progressed immediately, while others will require more detailed consideration and planning to ensure they are implemented in an effective and evidence-based way."
The Minister said that many of the recommendations made in the report will be progressed in the short term, including those aimed at strengthening how State agencies work together. An Inter-Agency Protocol Group has been established by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to coordinate this work and is expected to be completed before the end of Q1 2026. This single, agreed protocol for all agencies involved will ensure that the relevant expertise, resources and information are brought together quickly and will ensure consistency in how incidents are handled and communicated in the future.
The report also sets out a range of longer-term recommendations. This includes preventative measures such as research to predict high risk locations for fish kills, in conjunction with improving catchment resilience by reducing pressures, improving habitat quality and flows and enhanced approaches to detection such as continuous real-time monitoring on major rivers. These recommendations are complex and will require careful assessment and planning. There are already a number of existing monitoring systems in place, including the catchment monitoring network for the Burrishoole Catchment, and an assessment of those is needed to ensure that new measures will complement and enhance existing systems rather than duplicate or replace them. The department is considering the potential to develop a pilot using the Blackwater catchment, to test, assess and evaluate the implementation of these recommendations in practice before considering a wider rollout. Community involvement would be a core consideration in developing such an approach.
The Minister also welcomed the JRC's engagement with local stakeholders and the important role they played in raising the initial alarm – saying:
"This was a very distressing event for the local community. I particularly value the JRC's engagement with local stakeholders and the objective way their perspectives are reflected in the report. It also highlights the important role that citizen science and public observation play in the protection of our environment."
The report will now be considered in detail by the department and the relevant agencies.
The report is available on the JRC's website.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
- The September 2025 summary report into the Blackwater fish kill incident was published by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) on behalf of an Inter-Agency Group established to coordinate an investigation into the incident.
- The Inter-Agency Group was led by IFI, and comprised the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Cork County Council, the Marine Institute, Uisce Éireann, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Health Service Executive (HSE), the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Local Authority Water Programme (LAWPRO)
- This was one of the most detailed investigations ever undertaken in response to a fish kill incident. It included over 40 inspections, habitat surveys, water and pathology testing and advanced lab analysis. While the exact cause could not be identified, the outcome from the investigation concluded that this was a short-lived event and ruled out all major risks.
- In line with best practice, Minister Dooley committed to capturing lessons learned as part of a comprehensive incident review, to ensure we are better prepared to prevent and respond to future incidents. In October, the Minister wrote to IFI asking them to lead an independent review of the incident on behalf of the Inter-Agency Group.
- The EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) was appointed to carry out an independent, science-based review, the purpose of which was to consider the actions taken during the Blackwater incident, assess their effectiveness and make recommendations on how future prevention and response measures can be improved
- The JRC is the European Commission's science and knowledge centre, which provides independent scientific information to support policy making across the EU. The JRC carries out scientific research and technical analysis, reviews complex or sensitive policy issues and provides independent assessments at the request of the European Commission and EU Member States.