20/06/2012

Thousands Of Fish Killed In Toxic Spill

5,000 litres of toxic chemicals leaked into a river near Peterborough at the weekend killing thousands of fish.

The Environment Agency has linked the spillage of pesticides in the River Nene at Orton Southgate with the deaths of the fish and said thousands more could die.

It has also led to the closure of a seafood fishery in King's Lynn on the advice of the Food Standards Agency.

A number of measures are being taken to try and limit the damage, including; landed stocks being tested for possible contamination and boats not being allowed to fish on Wednesday.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: "Although the pollution is very toxic to the environment around Peterborough, the agency has been managing water flows between Orton Mere and the Dog in a Doublet Sluice to help dilute it.

"This has lowered the risk to people in contact with the water, although they are still advised to from stay away from it as a precaution.

"Anglers are being advised to stop fishing the stretch for a few days to give remaining fish a chance to recover."

The agency has alerted organisations and agencies which use the river or extract its waters.

(H)


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