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Fish death mystery breakthrough

Dan Thompson
31/ 7/2008

THE investigation into how more than 15,000 fish were killed in a pollution incident on the Rochdale Canal has had a major breakthrough.

The Environment Agency has now identified the chemical found in the water and is following a number of leads to find the culprit.

A spokesman for the agency was unable to reveal the chemical in case it jeopardises the investigation.

"We are keeping an open mind as to the specific location of where the pollution happened and are appealing for anyone who saw anything of a suspicious nature along the canal to contact our incident hotline," the spokesman added.

Roach, perch and pike were found dead in the canal between locks 64 and 83 - which encompasses Middleton Junction – on Saturday 19 July.

Initially it was estimated that 4,000 fish had been killed, but that figure rose to more than 15,000 in 24 hours.

It is thought that all the fish died on Saturday but that more bodies were discovered as they floated to the surface along a one-and-a-half-mile stretch of the canal. 

Fisheries staff, with representatives from British Waterways, have been clearing the fish from the scene.

Fisheries Officer Graham Harrison said: "We would like to thank those people who have called in so far with information about this incident. We urge anyone with further information to call us on our incident hotline number 0800 80 70 60."