Save Windermere demands Environment Agency reopens Cunsey Beck fish kill investigation
On 21st June 2022, a Category 1 mass fish kill occurred on Cunsey Beck, a 2-mile tributary connecting Esthwaite Water to the western shore of the south basin of Windermere.
The species killed include rare and protected animals such as Atlantic salmon, European river eels and white clawed crayfish.
Upon concluding their investigation, the Environment Agency (EA) stated that they were ‘unable to identify the source or cause of the incident’. Now, new evidence collected by Save Windermere and BBC Panorama has revealed critical gaps in the investigation.
Save Windermere and WildFish have diligently examined the case since the incident, which resulted in the death of over 1000 fish on this short stretch of river. Through Environmental Information Regulation requests, all documentation related to the investigation, including the Environment Agency’s internal correspondence, was obtained.
The subsequent BBC Panorama investigation (BBC1, 4 Dec 2023, 8pm) into United Utilities and the EA suggests water pollution incident are being downgraded and the evidence supplied to the programme by Save Windermere and WildFish indicates that the Environment Agency failed to determine the cause of the mass fish death due to inadequate information requests, improper river assessments and an overall insufficient investigation, especially in the immediate aftermath of the reported fish deaths. Consequently, the regulator did not adequately scrutinise United Utilities’ assets at the time of the fish kill.
Given that this fish kill occurred within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), affecting rare and protected species, alongside the severity and scale of the incident, Save Windermere urges the Environment Agency to reopen the case and conduct a thorough investigation. This should include assessing evidence from United Utilities infrastructure that was not part of the initial investigation.
Save Windermere calls for the investigation to be reopened with urgency and by Monday 18th December at the latest, considering the revelations exposed in the Panorama documentary.
Save Windermere Founder, Matt Staniek, said:
“Time and time again, the regulator has been shown to be ineffective, and not fit for purpose. The consequence of the regulator’s failure is the collapse of ecosystems and a lack of accountability for polluters. We need justice for the fish that were killed on Cunsey beck. The EA has 2 weeks to reopen this case”.
Panorama “The Water Pollution Cover-Up” is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.
