Over the years the Sixmilewater river has been time and time again polluted by firms and companies with a total lack of regard as to what damage they are doing. Three weeks ago the river was once more polluted and a large number of fish killed and the source of the pollutant was traced to Mallusk.

Now on Wednesday 18th June 2008 once more from Mallusk pollutant entered the river. It is reported as a Fish Kill, but this time it was no fish Kill but the wholesale murder of a river.

A lot of people will shrug their shoulders and say "So what it's only fish." Well that's were they are wrong, for this is the biggest mass slaughter of Bream, Roach, Trout, Eels and the Dollaghan, a fish which is a living relic from the Ice Age. The species of Brown Trout that is only found in the Lough and some of the rivers that feed into it, and, as a result, it has developed an unusual lifestyle, behaving more like a salmon than a trout. Most Brown Trout live and spawn in rivers but the Dollaghan treats Lough Neagh as a sea and migrates to local rivers to spawn before coming back to the Lough. It's the only trout in the world that behaves in this way.

All are now gone from the Sixmilewater river for at least a decade if not more this includes all underwater life also the river weed has been destroyed in places and this can only be found in the Sixmilewater river.

Now think about this, your beautiful Kingfisher has now no source of food so it will either starve to death or move to another river. The Dipper bird is another species which relies heavily on the river it to will now disappear as well as the Grey Herron also we must not forget the Otters and water fowl which rely on the fish to eat.

Where does the river flow to? Lough Neagh and that is were your drinking water comes from! Please also remember these dead fish are rotting in the river. Your children play at the waters edge at the Loughsore Park, even have a paddle, try to catch the small fish in their nets, no more they wont. The local fishermen who buy their fishing licences along with the tourists will now not do so, and now Antim has now lost a valuable commodity. People come from far and wide to enjoy the beauty of the river and the wildlife, once again no more, remember these tourists don't just stay at the river they come into the town and spend money, so more money lost.

Take a look at the photograph below and you will see why people love this area, then look at the other photographs and see why they won't be coming back for a long time.

Please note you might find some of these photographs disturbing and I hope they do for these people do not care about us or the environment only about making money.

Kingfisher
Dipper
Grey Herron
Look at the surface of the water, that tells you it is dead, no oxygen, nothing but nothing can survive in it.
This is the state of the full length of the river. Fish dead or flopping about gasping for oxygen.
Now the Gulls are swooping down for a free feast only its poisoned.
Now something other than a gull has half eaten this fish, could it have been your dog? I hope not.
Here the Gulls have been at their work but look to left of the photograph and you can see the poison on the surface.


Otter
Sadly as I predicted the crunch has started already. As and from yesterday 24th June 2008 the Antrim Information Office in High Street and at the Antrim Forum have been ordered not to sell anymore Fishing Licenses.
Len

Thank you for your message. I share your concerns about the condition
of the Sixmile and recent incidents.

After a contact from a local angler, I put a specific question to DOE,
about building settlement ponds below Mallusk Industrial Estate. This
would ensure, at the least, dilution of any pollution and would make it
possible to catch pollutants before they enter the Ballymartin River.
The Permanent Secretary of DOE has told me that they are exploring this
issue at present.

I also raised the issue at Sammy Wilson's first question time as
Minister yesterday. The full report is at:
http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/record/reports2007/080623.htm#12

The exchange was:

"Mr Ford: On behalf of Guardian-reading muesli-eaters, I congratulate
the Minister on his appointment. I am sure that he will be as robust in
protecting the environment as he was in defending grammar schools in his
previous role.

As regards EHS's enforcement activities, I refer the Minister to the two
recent major pollution incidents that took place in the Ballymartin
River and Sixmilewater River. Talking about prosecutions fails to
recognise the fact there have been two huge fish kills. Recently, I
discussed how that might be remedied with some of the Minister's
officials. Will the Minister assure the House that instead of pursuing
prosecutions, he will pursue resources for EHS to ensure that those
types of incidents do not happen again?

The Minister of the Environment: I thank the Member for his question. He
has 'The Guardian' bit; the muesli-eating bit and the beard bit, but I
wonder whether he is wearing his sandals today - I am not too sure;
perhaps we will ascertain that later.

Anyone who saw the vivid pictures of the destruction that was caused on
18 June cannot but be outraged. I am not running away from the matter; I
want to address the Member's question.

However, the first point that I ought to make is that, in all instances,
EHS is not responsible for the pollution in rivers. The people
responsible are those who, in order to avoid costs, deliberately dump
pollutants into rivers. Let us point the finger of blame at those
people.

I accept that the Department is responsible for ensuring that the
careless or callous people responsible for that particular incident are
pursued, and that officers on the ground seek to ensure that everything
that can be done will be done. Officers were at the scene and taking
samples within 50 minutes of the incident being reported. Those samples
are being tested to discover which chemicals or pollutants resulted in
the fish kill. Prime suspects - who, as the Member will know, were found
to be responsible for previous pollution incidents - have already been
visited.

Officers are going along the river banks to identify pipes through which
pollutants may have flowed into the river. Every action is being taken
to identify the perpetrators; it will then be up to the Department to
present a robust case to the courts, which must ensure that the maximum
penalties are imposed.

That is certainly the message that I have given to my officials. I felt
that the courts have been slightly dilatory in this matter, so I have
asked officials to contact the Lord Chief Justice and remind him of the
nature of the problems and devastation that those instances cause. It is
hoped that the magistrates and judges will take the necessary action."

You will see that he did not really answer my point about prevention,
rather than cure. I will write to the Department again.

Regards

David
............
David Ford MLA
Leader of the Alliance Party
tel +44 28 9052 1314
Coot
Moorhen

Leonard,

Thank you for your recent email to Mitchel Mc Laughlin, MLA for South Antrim in relation to the pollution of the Six Mile Water.

I firstly would like to state that Mitchel in his capacity as MLA shares your concern's regarding this incident and is currently pursuing the issue.

The Environmental and Heritage Service along with the Rivers Agency are currently investigating the fish kill and it has been raised at Antrim Council level.

I would also like to inform you that Mitchel has submitted a written question to the Minister for the Environment about the Six Mile Water incident and awaits a response.

The question is as follows;

To ask the Minister for the Environment

"To give a progress report in relation to the EHS investigation into the recent pollution incident at the Six Mile Water that resulted in a massive fish kill and detail what measures he intends to implement to prevent this problem from recurring and will he give an assurance that appropriate sanctions will be imposed on anyone found to be guilty of either deliberate of negligently polluting our rivers."

Once a response has been received to this question I will update you accordingly.

I have also attached a copy of a press statement released by Mitchel on the same issue.

In the meantime if you have any further queries please feel free to contact the constituency office on 02894 473972.

Best Wishes

Is Mise
Roisin Mc Greevy

Sinn Féin
Political Advisor

McLaughlin calls for action on major fish kill

Mitchel McLaughlin MLA (South Antrim) has called on the Environmental and Heritage Services (EHS) to leave no stone unturned in their efforts to identify the source of the pollution of the 6 mile river.

Mitchel McLaughlin said:

"If it is found that the pollution was as a result of negligence then resolute action needs to be taken against those responsible.

"The pollution of our rivers is a far too regular occurence and if need be then deterrent sanctions must be applied to anyone found guilty of negligent or premeditated pollution.

"The pollution of this river has been classified by the EHS as a high severity incident. Constituents who have contacted my Office have described this mass fish kill as a scene of devastation.

"I will be in touch with the Minister to get a full report on this latest incident and will be urging my Party colleagues on the Environment Committee to raise the issue as a matter of urgency.

These two photographs of dead Bream were not taken on the Sixmilewater river but on the shore of Lough Neagh where our drinking water comes from on Sunday 29 June 2008 at 8.47am.