Fish kill, Crawfordsburn River

On Thursday morning dead trout were reported in the river and the river was a brown whiskey colour with foam on the surface. There were dead fish along the entire length of the river from the shore to above the viaduct. These dead fish ranged from fry up to fish half a pound in weigh. The stretch of river from the shore to the waterfall and beyond appears to be totally wiped out. The appropriate authorities were informed and the source of the problem investigated. Crows and a Herron were feeding on the fish while I was walking the banks.

ADSEA fry have been used in recent years to support the natural stock in the river following a previous polluction incident. It looks likely that these fish have now all died.

'FRY-DAY' with the Blackhead Angling Club as they release sea trout fry

On 'FRY-DAY' 28th May 2010 volunteers from the Blackhead Angling Club released 3000 local sea trout fry into the upper stretches of the Quoile.
Club members very generously gave up their free time to support the ADSEA project and seed out fry into their river. Photos by George Meharg.

Sea trout fry released in Enler River, Comber

Michelle McIlveen MLA and Councillor gets out of the Comber constituency office and into her local river to seed out sea trout fry.


ADSEA fry about to be released into their new home, the Enler River, Comber.
Michelle McIlveen MLA assists Enler Angling Club members David Pyper and Jim Worthington, and an angler's 2 children release sea trout fry into a tributary of the Enler River in Comber.

Simultaneously 50 other volunteers from 5 angling clubs were seeding out the fry into 4 other rivers. A great turnout for a weekday!

The children accompanied by their angler father were able to attend due to a school closure day for teacher training.
They were able to get some lessons on the sea trout life cycle and the importance of these small streams, as freshwater education for young people is a key element of the ADSEA project.

Sea Trout Fry Release - DCAL Minister Nelson McCausland assists with release of sea trout fry

Erne and Melvin Enhancement Association staff show the DCAL Minister Nelson McCausland local sea trout fry which were raised in their Enniskillen hatchery and are about to be released into local Co.Down rivers by angling club volunteers.

On Friday 28th May 2010, Nelson McCausland DCAL Minister and Michelle McIlveen MLA and local councillor assisted Philip Johnston, Chairman ADSEA in association with local angling clubs in the release of 10,000 native sea trout fry into local rivers.