Northern Ireland angling: Major fish kill on River Callan due to slurry is condemned by anglers

In a Facebook post on Monday the federation posted a series of photos of dead trout on the river bank and in the water.

"The latest fish kill on the Callan river," it said. "What can we say that hasn't been said before and the powers to be do nothing?"

A supporter responded to the post, calling for "an effective independent regulator with teeth and no ties to the agri industry".

He added: "Fines need to be a real deterrent and not a business expense. Repeat offenders should be put out of business and potentially jailed. The current system is pathetic and completely ineffective - just look at Lough Neagh, where the Callan water ends up."

The BBC reported local anglers as saying it was "probably the worst ever" fish kill.

It reported that hundreds of juvenile salmon have died as a result of a slurry spill at the Corkley River near Keady.

The incident was first reported to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) on Saturday 21 October.

The NIEA reported that the source of the pollution has been located and samples have been collected.

Up to a mile-long stretch of the river is believed to have been affected.

At this time of year, salmon and brown trout are coming into the river system to breed.

Armagh Angling Club described the incident as a blow from which it could take years for the fish stocks to recover.