Water users are being urged to take precautions due to an outbreak of Crayfish Plague on the Lorrha River.
Numbers of dead freshwater crayfish were reported on the river in Lorrha village earlier this month and DNA analysis has now confirmed that the cause of death was Crayfish Plague.
This is the fourth confirmed outbreak of crayfish plague in Ireland since 2015. Among the earlier outbreaks was one which affected the River Suir downstream of Clonmel.
The situation is being investigated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Inland Fisheries Ireland, the Marine Institute and Tipperary County Council.
There is no indication at this stage of how the disease reached the Lorrha River. Samples are being tested to determine which strain has caused the outbreak of the disease.
All the agencies involved in managing and protecting the rivers in Ireland have expressed concern that another outbreak has been detected and are reiterating their advice and guidance to all users of the river to implement routine cleaning and drying of their equipment once they leave the river and before using it again.
People are also asked to alert the authorities of any mass mortality of crayfish or sightings of unusual crayfish that might be non-native species.
