Dead fish removed from Walsall Canal

THERE have been around 220lbs of dead fish removed from the Walsall Canal by Walsall Council.

This of course is the result of the cyanide spill that killed so many, Janet Friend reports.

Significant numbers of fish killed

The council state that there have been significant numbers of fish killed, but the impact on the wider ecology is not yet known, adding:

“Chemical testing will continue on a daily basis, and we are monitoring water levels. Although we hope cyanide levels will fall, we are exploring all potential remediation techniques that may be required in the future.”

Temporary dams have been installed on either side of the affected red zone, where high levels of sodium cyanide and zinc cyanide were recorded.

Canal & River Trust is trying to raise £10,000 for the wildlife, as we published, describing the spill as 'extremely distressing' and causing harm to local wildlife.

Now within guidelines

The council maintain the water quality along stretches of the canal, which had been closed in the aftermath of the spill, were within public health guidelines and normal activities could resume, but it has advised the public not to remove or eat fish from the waterways.

The Environment Agency is investigating Anochrome that was responsible for the spill. describing the level of pollution as 'unacceptable'.