More than 20,000
young fish will be released into a Somerset
river next week in a major re-stocking exercise
The fish, including
chub, dace, roach and bream, will help replace
stocks lost in 2008 when abnormal weather
conditions caused a deterioration in water
quality on the River Yeo and River Parrett.
The Agency’s Fisheries,
Recreation and Biodiversity team are due
to take delivery of the fish on Tuesday
(November 3) between 12.00 – 1.00. Measuring
4 – 5 inches in length, the year-old fish
are being transported to Somerset from the
Agency’s hatchery and fish rearing centre
at Calverton near Nottingham.
Now is an ideal time
for re-stocking with cooler water temperatures.
The fish will be released into the River
Parrett at Langport. As they grow they will
disperse with some re-populating the nearby
River Yeo.
The fish deaths in May
2008 co-incided with high rainfall and warmer
than average weather that resulted in a
drop in dissolved oxygen levels in the River
Yeo. The Agency received several calls from
concerned members of the public after dead
fish were seen floating in the river at
Langport.
In addition to re-stocking,
the Agency recently installed five monitoring
stations on the Rivers Yeo, Cary and Parrett
to give early warning of any water quality
problems. The stations automatically monitor
dissolved oxygen levels, a factor that can
change following ‘algal blooms’ or pollution
and cause sudden fish deaths.
Data from each site
is sent by telemetry to the Agency’s office
at Bridgwater where scientists can immediately
respond to any sudden changes in water quality.
The equipment has been installed as part
of a £45,000 pilot project. If successful,
the Agency plans to install more river monitoring
stations to create a network of sites across
the Somerset Levels.
‘The loss of fish last
year was unfortunate, but the Yeo and Parrett
are productive rivers capable of supporting
healthy fish populations. This latest re-stocking
will boost numbers and help speed up the
recovery process,’ said Iain Turner for
the Environment Agency.
This latest event follows
a similar re-stocking of 30,000 young fish
at the same location last year.
For further information
including directions to the release site
call the Agency’s regional press office
on 01392 442008.
Conservation Award for
the River Mel Restoration Group
The River Mel Restoration Group has recently
won a prestigious award for excellence in
the management of Wild Trout habitat, from
the Wild Trout Trust and Orvis for their
improvements to the River Mel in Cambridgeshire.
Wild Trout need clean,
oxygenated gravel in which to reproduce
and thrive. The habitat and trout population
of the spring-fed chalk stream, a tributary
of the River Cam, had been declining over
the years due to a number of factors including
the build up of silt.
The Restoration Group
received the Wild Trout Trust Conservation
Award 2009, sponsored by Orvis, for improvements
to the habitat for trout and the plants
and animals of the River Mel with assistance
from the Environment Agency. This small
group of volunteers also identified and
repaired damaged sections of the river.
The Environment Agency provided advice and
material to help the group.
Ian Hirst, Environment
Agency fisheries, recreation and biodiversity
team leader said: “The Restoration Group
deserved the award for their efforts. Water
quality and flows have improved in the River
Mel as a result of their work. Not only
has the habitat improved for trout, a whole
host of other fish, insects birds and mammals
that live in and beside the river have benefited
too. We are pleased to have been a part
of this project.”
Steve Hawkins, Chairman
of the River Mel Restoration Group said:
“I am delighted that the Group has won this
award in recognition of the work and dedication
of all our volunteers. We are grateful for
the wide ranging support and collaboration
provided by the Environment Agency, as well
as the support of our other funding partners.
We hope that the value of the river and
its environment to both wildlife and our
local communities will continue to feature
as an important consideration by all planning
authorities when undertaking their deliberations.”
