The Minister for the Environment, Food and Agriculture says he is shocked at the events which led to the deaths of thousands of trout.

But he has allayed fears of a potential shortage for the island’s reservoirs.

Geoffrey Boot MHK said: ’This is a shocking and concerning incident and I urge anyone with relevant information to assist the Police in their investigations.

’For several years, Troutlodge has been supplying the island’s reservoirs with rainbow trout of exceptional quality as part of the agreement covering the company’s lease of the government-owned fish farm at Cornaa, Maughold.

’Fortunately the majority of the trout destined for the reservoirs are held at Cornaa and I can reassure anglers that the incident at Glen Wyllin is not expected to have any impact on reservoir stocking.’

This week’s Examiner detailed how more than 4,000 fish and potentially 15,000,000 fish eggs at Glen Wyllin trout farm died because the compressor which regulates oxygen in the water was deliberately switched off.

Production manager Tim Knighton said he didn’t believe anyone set out to deliberately kill the fish, but suggested noise complaints received about the compressor doing TT could have played a part.

It is believed the deaths have cost the trout farm, which stocks the island’s reservoirs and sells the eggs to more than 50 countries, more than £200,000 from which it could take years to recover.

The incident is being investigated by Peel police. Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Hewitt on 842208.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via the encrypted website https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information.