Probe after 'freaky' wipeout of hundreds of fish in iconic loch next to Linlithgow Palace

A probe is under way after a devastating and “freaky” fish wipeout in an iconic loch next to Linlithgow Palace.

Hundreds of fish suddenly washed up dead in Linlithgow Loch, West Lothian, earlier this week in what’s believed to be a toxic pollution incident. Shocking images taken on Monday afternoon and yesterday morning show large numbers of dead fish - chiefly thought to be roach - floating near the surface of the water.

They were first spotted close to three outflow pipes coming from a nearby housing estate, locals told the Record. Scottish Water has already been out investigating the incident and officers for eco watchdog SEPA also attended.

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The picturesque loch, dominated by landmark Linlithgow Palace - birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots - is renowned for trout fishing and is a haven for wildlife. Tom Lambert, of the local Linlithgow Loch Fishery group, told the Record: “Someone walking around the loch on Monday afternoon had noticed that where the pipes came out, there were a lot of dead fish and the water was quite frothy.

“I would say a good hundred or so young roach have been killed. It must be something very toxic to kill them all.”

Another local angler, who didn’t wish to be named, said he believed “thousands” of fish could have been wiped out in the incident. He told the Record: “It’s unbelievable. Thousands of dead fish is just freaky. It’s a devastating loss of life.

“This loch is in a royal burgh. It should be treated with more respect than it’s getting. It’s one of the most scenic places in Scotland.

“The roaches are a rich food supply for birds - we’ve got cormorants here, for example. I can’t overemphasise that this is a bl**dy disaster.

"What else is happening to the insect life, if the fish are dying off? Is it causing any harm to the plant life? It’s scary.”

Hailed as a jewel in West Lothian’s crown, Linlithgow Loch is a site of special scientific interest (SSSI) which gives it legal eco protections. But it’s been plagued by longstanding issues with pollution, including from agricultural run-off and road drainage from the nearby M9.

Levels of nutrients like phosphorus, chloride and nitrogen have often been too high in the freshwater loch, leading to a recurring problem with blue algae. But Lambert said this week’s incident has been different and “shocking”.

He said: “To see that number of fish dead, even the chap from Scottish Water said he’d never seen anything like it.” Scottish Green Lothian MSP Lorna Slater, who is part of a campaign to clean up the loch, said: “This situation is deeply concerning.

"This fish die-off event will be very distressing for local people but won’t come as a surprise. High levels of pollution in Linlithgow Loch have been a subject of worry for years, and progress to identify the sources of the pollution and put in place measures to clean up the loch have been frustratingly slow.

She added: “It seems the sad loss of nature because of this contamination event will be one of the worst for some years. Locals have raised concerns about pollution making their pets ill, creating a foul smell and, similar to this case, killing local wildlife."

A spokeswoman for SEPA said: "We received reports of a number of dead fish found in Linlithgow Loch on 11 November and officers attended the site the following day. We continue to work with partners as we investigate potential causes for the incident." A Scottish Water spokesman said: “We have found no issues with any of our infrastructure in the area but will assist SEPA in any investigation that is carried out.”

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