08/07/2005 - The Environment
Agency is investigating the deaths of around
200 carp in Cheshire rivers over the past
six weeks.
Dead carp were first reported in the River
Weaver but further incidents have since occurred
on the Trent and Mersey Canal and on a smaller
scale at other fisheries in the area.
"Water samples have proved normal so
we’ve already ruled out pollution as a cause,"
said Environment Agency fisheries officer
Paul Blake. "The dead fish themselves
have not, so far, shown any traces of disease
when examined at our laboratories, so we’re
in the process of running some more complex
tests.
"It’s always possible that the carp
have died naturally, as we do tend to see
some fish deaths at this time of year when
fish have recently spawned and the weather
gets warmer. However, because we’ve seen more
dead carp than we would usually expect, we
want to be sure of the cause and will continue
to investigate."
Environment Agency fisheries teams are advising
angling clubs and fishery owners that sites
can stay open to anglers if they have not
yet experienced any problems - but to avoid
stocking waters with carp if possible for
the time being.
The Agency is suggesting that angling clubs
and fisheries limit the use of keepnets and
make sure that, if they are used, they are
dried or disinfected first. This is best practice
even under normal circumstances, but should
a disease prove to be the cause of the recent
carp deaths, it will help to limit the chances
of it spreading.
It is also asking angling clubs to be extra
vigilant that members or non-members do not
move fish from one site to another. Transferring
fish between waters without permission is
not only illegal but can also cause diseases
to spread rapidly.
Fishing clubs, anglers or members of the
public who see dead fish, or any other environmental
incident, can contact the Environment Agency
free of charge at any time on 0800 80 70 60.
