Environment Agency Press Officer Katherine Corcoran has told FISHINGmagic that the official estimate for fish deaths is still 10,000. When asked about rumours that the deaths are more like 100,000 or more she replied that on the final reckoning there could very well be more, but until that time the figure stands at approximately 10,000.
Pressed by FISHINGmagic, she said that there had been five fish-kills in the last week and the rumours could stem from the total deaths of all five.
The latest development is that samples have been sent to three laboratories but the cause of the pollution is still not known.
The investigation into the cause of the pollution is being concentrated in the Worthenbury area where the pollution is most severe. The EA are talking to farmers and industry in the area in a bid to identify the source.
The pollution passed through the river quickly, the oxygen content of the water returned to normal and the water treatment plants at Chester and Huntingdon have reopened.
