MORE than 1,000 fish have been killed in a river pollution incident near Narberth.

Wales Farmer:
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is investigating an incident following reports received on Thursday, August 2, of pollution in an unnamed tributary of the Afon Marlais. 
Officers have attended and confirmed that slurry was entering the watercourse, with at least two miles of the river affected, with an estimate of more than 1,000 fish killed.

Wales Farmer:
The source of the pollution was a leak from a slurry lagoon at a local farm.
Slurry is a strong pollutant removing oxygen from the water, killing fish and other river life such as water insects.
Following advice from NRW officers, the farmer started emptying the lagoon yesterday and is being tankered away by contractors.
Work is continuing to empty the lagoon entirely and it is anticipated that there will be no further pollution from this source.
NRW officers have confirmed that no more slurry is entering the river and it is beginning to run clearer.
Andrea Winterton, Operations Manager for NRW, said: “It is concerning that slurry pollution incidents from farms continue to affect the natural environment in Wales, especially our rivers.
“Our officers will be monitoring the situation and will further assess the impact on the fish, river life and the wider environment. We will of course also be taking appropriate enforcement action.
“We’re aware people have been collecting dead fish in nets - we advise people not to eat them.
“We are keen to continue to work with the farming industry to improve working practices on farms to prevent incidents like this from happening.
“We are currently recruiting eight new posts to help prevent pollution across Wales.
“Prevention is much better than cure, but some incidents still happen. And if they do, the best thing any farmer or contractor can do is contact us immediately by calling 03000 65 3000 so we can work with them to minimise the damage.”
Dead fish being washed up as a result has alarmed MP Simon Hart, who lives nearby.

Wales Farmer:
The River Gwynddo which runs through Llanmill, near Narberth, has been turned into a murky green torrent and dozens of dead fish have washed up.
“When the fish die the river dies with them,” said Mr Hart who is a keen fisherman. “It has been running brown for about 18 hours and it will take an age for the sensitive biodiversity to recover.”
The river runs close to Mr Hart’s home in Llanmill and is a tributary of the River Marlais that runs through Lampeter Vale. It recently attracted hundreds of birdwatchers from all over the UK who travelled to visit a rare green heron that visited the stream.
Mr Hart has been lobbying the Welsh Assembly Government to make Natural Resources Wales enforce more strongly the rules regarding river pollution.