Wildlife "destroyed" by River Spey pollution incident
The spill is being investigated by SEPA
A significant number of fish and other wildlife have been killed after a pollution incident into a tributary of the River Spey in Moray.
A chemical, believed to be caustic soda, which is used in detergents and soaps, is understood to have entered the water and “destroyed” a number of species in the Knockando Burn in recent days.
Salmon, eels, and birds are among the wildlife affected.
Fly fishers say the salmon population has been “wiped out” and could take years to recover.
"It's a tragic event"
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency says it is investigating the incident.
Spey Fishery Board Director Duncan Ferguson said the incident was one of the largest he had seen in 36 years of working on the river, with a 2km stretch of the burn affected.
He said: “It’s a tragic event.
“It’s a really bad outcome and it didn’t have to happen.”
Mr Ferguson believes the chemical is industrially linked, and the incident could leave the salmon population recovering for 5 years.
"It didn't have to happen"
It comes at the peak period for fly fishing on the Spey, and just 10 days after another pollution incident at a different tributary, the Burn of Carron.
A spokesman for Sepa said: “Sepa are investigating a potential pollution incident in a tributary of the River Spey and are working to identify the source and impacts.”