Francesca Glyn-Jones -
4-May-2007 - Environment Agency staff have
unveiled a project of improvements planned
for the River Don over the next five years.
The plans include installing a fish pass
at Sprotbrough weir, further stocking of
barbel, and working with Yorkshire Water
to improve sewage treatment systems at Blackburn
Meadows and Aldwarke.
Staff have put together the plans following
last year’s pollution in the river which
killd thousands of fish at Mexborough.
Environment manager for the Don, John Housham
said: "The water quality in the Don
is generally at a high standard and it can
support a wide range of wildlife. By boosting
the river’s fish population it will attract
different species of wildlife to the riverside
and help the Don’s natural recovery."
The Environment Agency has already secured
£32,000 for the project, and £13,000
of this has already been allocated to angling
clubs for restocking. It hopes to secure
the rest of the funding from partners and
lottery grants.
Staff will carry out some of the restocking
this year, however the fish pass will cost
more than £100,000 and is a long-term
project. John says the work is important
to help fish move up and down the river
system.
"We have done a lot of work to improve
the river’s wildlife habitats but the fish
are isolated in parts of the river because
there is this major barrier at Sprotbrough.
We want to change this by installing a fish
pass to allow the fish to move freely.
"The River Don is a valuable conservation
and recreational area, and we are doing
all we can to help preserve this."
Around 25,000 roach, dace, chub and bream
have already been stocked in the river since
the pollution incident last July.
Fish were killed when a lengthy period
of dry weather followed by intense rainfall
caused sewage to get into the river near
Rotherham.
The Environment Agency had to deploy equipment
to pump hydrogen peroxide into the river
to increase the oxygen levels so the aquatic
wildlife could survive.
+ More
Anglers caught while catching fish illegally
find themselves reeled in by the Environment
Agency
Dave Ferguson - 3-May-2007 - Nine men caught
by Environment Agency officers fishing without
a licence were ordered to pay a total of
£1,700 yesterday at Aldershot Magistrates'
Court.
The court heard that the separate incidents
all took place between 5 August 2006 and
22 November 2006 at fisheries in Aldershot
and Yateley.
Environment Agency regional fisheries specialist
Matt Carter said: "Anyone over the
age of 12 who fishes for freshwater fish
in rivers and lakes needs to have a valid
Environment Agency rod license. Licenses
are relatively inexpensive and easily bought
at post offices, over the telephone or from
the Environment Agency's website. All the
money raised from licences is put straight
back into improving the environment for
wildlife and anglers.
"We are delighted the court has taken
this action. Illegal anglers should realise
that our officers are on the riverbank and
if anyone is caught flouting the law they
will be caught and punished."
The Environment Agency's Fisheries Administration
Support Team (FAST) licenses anglers across
England, Wales and the Border Esk, and it
is their dedicated prosecution team that
takes action against anyone caught fishing
without a licence.
The following cases were heard:
1. Daniel Anderson-Ford, 31, of Elmtree,
Teddington, Middlesex, was fined £110
and ordered to pay £70 costs for fishing
without a rod licence on 5 August 2006.
2. Laurie Russell, 24, of Nine Elms Close,
Uxbridge, Middlesex, was fined £75
and ordered to pay £70 costs for fishing
without a licence on 20 August 2006.
3. Danny Salczynski, 19, of Frimley Road,
Ash Vale, Aldershot, Hampshire, was fined
£110 and ordered to pay £70
costs for fishing without a rod licence
on 30 August 2006.
4. Martin Bell, 63, of Earls Road, Liphook,
Hampshire, was fined £135 and ordered
to pay £70 costs for fishing without
a rod licence on 1 September 2006.
5. David Watling, 63, of Lamorna Grove,
Stanmore, Middlesex, was fined £200
and ordered to pay £70 costs for fishing
without a rod licence on 1 September 2006.
6. Christopher Felton, 25, Standon Homestead,
Standon Lane, Ockley, was fined £80
and ordered to pay £70 costs for fishing
without a rod licence on 19 October 2006.
7. Alan Johnson, 32, of Brinkley, Burritt,
Kingston, Surrey, was fined £110 and
ordered to pay £70 costs for fishing
without a rod licence on 19 November 2006.
8. Colin Solly, 43, of Granville Avenue,
Feltham, Middlesex, was fined £150
and ordered to pay £70 costs for fishing
without a rod licence on 19 November 2006.
9. Malcolm Beck, 45, of Lammas Close, Staines,
Middlesex, was fined £100 and ordered
to pay £70 costs for fishing without
a licence on 22 November 2006.
Buying a licence couldn't be easier - there
are around 15,000 Post Offices and other
outlets which sell them direct, and for
a small additional charge they can be purchased
over the phone on 0870 1662662 or from our
web site - www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fish.
