Tragic pollution on River Llynfi wastes angling club’s restoration work

Fish Legal is advising the Gwent Angling Society following a major pollution that hit the River Llynfi in mid-Wales on 1 August 2020.  Days after the last touches were carried out to a remediation project that saw the river put on the road to recovery after a devastating pollution in 2016, yet another wave of pollution has wiped out fish and river life for at least 5 kilometres of this Wye tributary.

The cause of the latest incident has not yet been confirmed by Natural Resources Wales who are investigating. 

Mark Roberts, Secretary of Gwent Angling society said: “After the pollution four years ago, we estimated that it would take ten years for the river to recover. By the time that process now starts all over again, it will have taken fourteen years. Like all angling clubs and their unpaid volunteers, we shall persevere with our work and hope that enough evidence will be discovered so that those guilty are prosecuted, and fined so heavily that at last penalties will fit the crime, and also act as an example to deter others across Wales who disregard their responsibilities to protect our environment and fragile fish stocks.”

Geoff Hardy, solicitor for Fish Legal stated: “This is a story of tragedy and heartbreak to our members. After painstaking work and huge sacrifices Gwent Angling Society had just finished putting the river on the road to recovery after the last terrible event, only to be yet again confronted with shoals of fish literally having the life sucked out of them. We hope that Natural Resources Wales carry out a full investigation notwithstanding any Covid-19 restrictions they are working under, and once the perpetrator is confirmed they will face proper justice. Fish Legal will support and advise our members during this process and after it.”