Figures released to the Green Party reveal the the renowned angling spot has been polluted 292 times, with Water Service responsible for 48 of the incidents.

Local anglers believe the number of pollution incidents could actually be a lot higher.
Brian Wilson, Stormont's sole Green Party MLA, said that he had obtained information from the Department of Environment over how many times waste had been dumped in the Sixmilewater River in Antrim.

The response showed that industrial waste had been poured into the waterway and its feeder streams 107 times since 2003.

A total of 12 of the incidents occurred after the Water Service became NI Water in April last year, resulting in the loss of Crown immunity.

There were 22 incidents of "transport" pollution in the same period and 26 counts of domestic dumping.

Green Party members branded the situation "outrageous" and said they were demanding tougher fines be imposed on polluters.

Green Party South Antrim representative Peter Whitcroft said: "If the Sixmilewater River has been polluted 292 times in five years then surely the deterrents are simply not working.

"The Environmental and Heritage Service may be bringing pollution cases to court but clearly it is having little impact on actually preventing pollution.

"The number of pollution incidents in the river actually went up in 2006/07 when compared to 2004/05. This is simply not good enough."

The EHS's pollution scale claims only three of the incidents fell into the high risk category, with 46 at a "medium" level.

Speaking on Radio Ulster's Talkback programme on Thursday, the EHS's Mark Livingstone said "all credit" was given to Sixmilewater River manager Alan Kirkpatrick for reporting the all the pollution incidents.

He said the EHS as a body had the role of monitoring water quality and took the relevant action when it was required.

Speaking after the programme, Mr Whitcroft added: "The Sixmilewater is home to indigenous brown trout, unique species of Lough Neagh dollahan, Atlantic salmon, kingfishers, dippers and otters – if anyone threatens that then they should pay – the polluter should pay.

"If pollution is caused by a public body or an industrial source, fines are so small and the percentage of prosecutions so few, that there is no real deterrent. Fines need to be increased 100 times - then the pollution will stop."

Alan added: "I have reported 28 pollution incidents this year already, in the Sixmilewater and its tributaries and if you take that number over an entire year that amounts to around 300 incidents per year.