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A recent pollution event in Moray has led to the death of a large number of fish and other wildlife, including eels and birds. The contamination is believed to involve caustic soda, which is suspected to have entered the Knockando Burn—a stream that feeds into the River Spey—within the past few days.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) is currently investigating the situation. The affected area stretches over more than two kilometers along the burn. Anglers who frequently fish in the area have reported that the salmon population has been devastated by the spill, with recovery expected to take several years.
Duncan Ferguson, director of the Spey Fishery Board, described the incident as one of the worst pollution cases he has witnessed throughout his 36 years of work on the river. He remarked, “It’s a tragic event. It’s a really bad outcome and it didn’t have to happen.” Ferguson also noted that the salmon could need up to five years to bounce back following the spill, which he suspects is linked to industrial activity. This incident coincides with the height of the fly fishing season on the Spey.
A Sepa spokesperson confirmed the ongoing investigation, stating that the agency is working to determine both the source and the full extent of the environmental impact. This event follows another recent pollution episode in the area, where white paint was dumped into the Burn of Carron, another tributary of the Spey. That incident caused several salmon deaths and turned the water milky white with a strong turpentine odor. Investigations traced that spill back to a layby on the A95 road. At the time, Peter Graham, chairman of the Spey Fishery Board, commented on the damage, saying, “This is heart-breaking after all the hard work by our staff that has gone into trying to rejuvenate the river, only to see it damaged in this way by what appears to be fly-tipping.
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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