Derbyshire, Nottingham and Leicestershire Fisheries Report
January – March 2014
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i
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the Environment Agency.
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Contents'
Derbyshire, Nottingham and Leicestershire Fisheries Report .................................................. i!
January – March 2014 .............................................................................................................. i!
1 ! Key Issues ........................................................................................................................ 2!
2 ! Incident response ............................................................................................................. 5!
Fish in distress ..................................................................................................................... 5!
Reports of dead fish ............................................................................................................. 6!
Pollution incident .................................................................................................................. 7!
3 ! Fisheries Management ..................................................................................................... 8!
Fisheries consents ............................................................................................................... 8!
Fish passage monitoring: ACE and VAKI Fish counter open day ....................................... 9!
Stock assessments ............................................................................................................ 10!
Improvements investigation: River Wreake report ............................................................. 13!
Our service: ‘Your’ Fisheries team’ .................................................................................... 14!
4 ! Project works .................................................................................................................. 15!
Angling participation: Flat stone angling pegs ................................................................... 15!
Project appraisal: River Wreake buffer stripping ............................................................... 16!
Fish passage: Whatstandwell fish pass build .................................................................... 17!
Habitat improvements ........................................................................................................ 18!
5 ! Project programme ......................................................................................................... 19
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1
Key Issues
Lower average water temperatures and less instances of fish disease mean that the period
of January to March can be quieter than the other three quarters of the year with regards to
incident response. This allows the team to undertake more advisory visits, stock
assessments and project work. It has been a busy period for the team with a number of
seine netting surveys undertaken and reports written. This period also saw an increase in
the number of fish movements taking place as clubs look to manage their stocks while water
temperatures are optimal for doing so, before the onset of spring. This is reflected by the
number of fish introduction consents that the team has processed and issued during this
period.
This period also saw the move from the old Environment Agency website to the new gov.uk
website completed. Information that used to be stored on the old website has now been
transferred across to the new website, which can be accessed at www.gov.uk. Be sure to
take a look at the new site and buy your 2014/15 rod licence. The new licences are valid
from the first of April; anyone fishing in inland waters in England and Wales must be in
possession of a valid Environment Agency rod licence. For the fourth year running the cost
of a rod licence has remained the same. This year’s licences feature artwork by wildlife artist
David Miller. In addition to the move a number of pieces of information held on the old site
have been relocated to www.fishinginfo.co.uk. Be sure to check it out.
The Eels Regulations 2009 is still a high priority for the team and implementation continues
to create work. We continue to liaise closely with the relevant parties to ensure that the
legislation is delivered in a consistent manner, with the best possible outcomes for all those
involved.
The team’s project work continues apace, during this period we have delivered both habitat
improvement and angling participation projects. We continue to work hard on our fish
passage programme with a number of ongoing projects in this area. We are now beginning
to gear up towards the start of the next financial year and the beginning of our 2014/15
project programme. Funding for a number of projects for the coming financial year has been
secured, details of which can be found in the Project Programme section of this report.
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This period saw the successful prosecution following the 2012 Fire at the Arcwood recycling
plant in Stanton Dale. Fire water runoff entered the Erewash canal and killed thousands of
fish, effecting over 6km of the water course. The incident saw Environment Agency teams at
full stretch to minimise the impacts. Teams worked round the clock to return dissolved
oxygen in the canal to acceptable levels, the approximate cost to the Agency was around
£200,000. Arcwood Recycling Ltd and its Director Luke Barker pleaded guilty to the charges
brought against them on 20th February at Derby Crown Court. A press release detailing the
charges and sentence can be found on the gov.uk website.
Did you get involved in Take a Friend Fishing week? We offered a FREE one-day rod
licence through a number of magazines, newspapers and through the website
www.takeafriendfishing.co.uk. The first take a friend fishing week has already taken place
between 18th and 27th April 2014, more dates over the summer months are soon to be
confirmed, keep an eye out and take a friend fishing for free. In conjunction with the scheme
a number of fisheries and club member venues throughout the country are also offering a
reduced fee or even a free day ticket / member pass, check out the take a friend fishing
website for more details.
Another date for the diary is the 24th May 2014. This is World Fish Migration Day, which is a
global initiative with various events being held worldwide, to create awareness on the
importance of open rivers and migratory fish. There will be more than 250 events happening
worldwide, look for an event near you. More information can be found at the website,
www.worldfishmigrationday.com
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2
Incident response
Fish%in%distress%
Slacks Pond in Rotherham is an important angling venue run by Sheffield Piscatorial Angling
Club. Following a report of fish in distress the site was attended by one of our Fisheries
Officers. Upon arrival at the site the officer discovered a number of dead fish and others in
distress. Upon testing the water quality, high ammonia and low dissolved oxygen levels were
discovered. Further investigation revealed the source of the pollutant causing these issues
was a burst high pressure sewage pipe in an adjacent field. Acting quickly to ensure that the
situation did not deteriorate, our Fisheries Officer arranged for hydrogen peroxide pumps to
be deployed in order to stabilize the water quality issues.
The water company was contacted and the input stopped. Residual pollution was then
pumped away from the site in a tanker. Aeration pumps were deployed and angling at the
venue was stopped for the two weeks following the incident. A further visit to the site was
made to ensure that the fishery had recovered before it was recommended that angling
should recommence. Only 36 common bream were lost as a result of the incident, a number
which would have been far higher without the quick response of EA fisheries staff.
Hydrogen peroxide pump deployed to raise oxygen
levels
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Reports%of%dead%fish%
Our fisheries officers responded to reports of dead fish at an angling lake in Leicestershire. A
call from the angling club reported a number of dead bream, for which there was no obvious
cause. The Fisheries Officer investigating the incident found 40 dead bream on arrival at the
lake. Our Fisheries Officer took meter readings to establish if water quality issues were
responsible for the demise of the bream. With the readings and samples for water quality
showing no cause for concern and no other obvious cause of the mortality the officer
arranged for a sample of fish to be sent to the Environment Agency National Fish Laboratory
for analysis.
The team arranged and coordinated a seine netting operation at the venue to collect a
representative live sample of fish. These fish were transported to our fish laboratory where a
post mortem investigation was conducted to identify the cause of death. The team is
currently awaiting the results from the post mortem investigation. Once received, a report will
be presented to the angling club showing the findings and our Fisheries Officer will make
recommendations regarding the best course of action.
Common bream carcasses recovered during the site investigation.
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Pollution%incident%
Fisheries officers responded to a call about dead fish in a golf course pond in Leicestershire.
On site our Fisheries Officer discovered 30 dead perch in one of the ponds. Upon taking
water quality readings the officer found there to be elevated levels of ammonia. The source
of which was discovered to be a brook feeding into the ponds. With the help of one of our
Environment Officers, the Fisheries Officer worked quickly to reduce the amount of water
flowing into the ponds, in order to stop the input of the pollutant.
Further investigation revealed the source of the high ammonia levels to be run off from
surrounding fields that had recently been spread with manure. By reducing the levels of
water entering the ponds further loss of fish was prevented. Ammonia levels soon returned
to normal in the pond.
Elevated levels of ammonia are harmful to fish, causing distress and at high enough levels
death. Perch are particularly sensitive to increased levels of ammonia. In a typical mixed
coarse lake perch are typically one of the first species to show signs of distress when water
quality issues arise.
Eight of the dead perch recorded on arrival
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3
Fisheries Management
During the period of January to March the fisheries team undertook 83 consultations,
meetings and site visits. These included incident response work, stock assessment surveys,
fisheries advisory visits and site visits. On top of this the team responded to land drainage
consents, planning applications and information requests. The team processed a total of 174
section 30 and section 28 fish movement consents during the period.
Fisheries%consents%
The following table is a breakdown of all the consents processed by the fisheries team
during the period of January – March 2014.
Month
Section 30’s
Section 28’s
Consented
Refused
Withdrawn
Consented
Refused
Withdrawn
January
36
0
0
20
2
1
February
26
2
3
26
0
0
March
42
0
5
11
0
0
%
%
%
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Fish%passage%monitoring:%ACE%and%VAKI%Fish%counter%open%day%
A number of representatives for the Environment Agency, Aquatic Control Engineering
(ACE), Rivers Trusts, VAKI and various other organisations with involvement in fish passage
and monitoring gathered on the 12th February. The purpose of the day was to raise
awareness of the technology available for monitoring utilisation of fish passes. A number of
presentations were given throughout the day. It provided an excellent opportunity to discuss
the work we do regarding the post construction monitoring of our fish passes. Both national
and international experts in the field were on hand and a brilliant insight into the various
techniques and options available was gained by all in attendance.
Our Fisheries Technical Specialist took the opportunity to highlight some of the fish passage
work we have undertaken in the River Trent catchment. A very well received talk and
presentation was delivered, explaining the work we do to facilitate fish passage in the River
Trent. In recent years the Environment Agency has undertaken and delivered a large
amount of work to allow greater free migration of fish through the Trent catchment. Our work
has allowed greater access to suitable spawning habitat for a variety of species, which will
intern help to increase the number of juvenile fish in the Trent catchment. This works
towards securing and improving the future of fishing on the Trent and its tributaries.
Our Fisheries Technical Specialist delivers his
presentation to the attentive audience.
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Stock%assessments%
The period between January and March tends to be the busiest for the team in terms of
undertaking seine netting stock assessment surveys. This year has been no different, with
the team braving the cold temperatures and inclement weather to undertake five separate
nettings during the three month period.
Seine nettings for stock assessment are a very useful tool for informing fisheries
management decisions, the results of the surveys can be used to produce a lot of useful
data. Examples of the type of information that these netting surveys can produce include:
•
Age and growth – Scale samples taken from fish can be used to discover the age of
the fish in question. When coupled with length data taken from the specimen this can
be used to look at the growth rate of the fish. Information we hold about expected
growth rates can be used to compare the growth performance in the fishery and see
if it is better or worse than expected.
•
Species composition and abundance – Netting surveys can inform us of the species
composition of a lake. Showing what species are present and also in what numbers.
This information is useful when looking at the reasons for poor angling performance.
•
Stocking density – it is possible to calculate the stocking density of a lake following a
well executed netting survey. Once the stocking density is known it is then possible
to make an informed decision as to whether there is a need to reduce the number of
fish in the lake, or perhaps to supplement the existing stock by introducing more fish.
If done correctly many useful datasets can be produced from a netting survey. This then
allows informed decisions to take place regarding the future management plans of the
fishery. Our Fisheries Officers can produce reports and provide recommendations to angling
clubs. This work is all part of the service we can provide to fisheries owners and fishing
clubs.
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The following is list of stock assessments carried out by the fisheries team during the period
of January to March 2014:
•
Bestwood pond 1, Nottingham – Following reports of poor fishing over a long period
the team undertook a seine netting survey to assess the stock.
A population
assessment report was produced and the local fishery officer presented this to the
club and also attended a committee meeting to discuss future management
strategies. Following the recommendations suggested works have begun at the
complex. Pre works match data will be compared to future match catch data to
assess the impact the improvements have.
•
Watermead, Leicestershire – The team undertook a ‘look and see’ stock assessment
at Watermead to assess the levels of fish held in the lake. The information gathered
will help to support a Sport England funding bid to develop the lake as an angling
participation venue.
•
Stanton, Nottinghamshire – Reports of poor fishing saw members of the fisheries
team brave snow and freezing conditions to attempt a stock assessment. The lake
turned out to be un-net able due to underwater snags. Following this, the fisheries
officer from the area suggested that the club could hire a private consultant to electric
fish the lake. A management plan has been drawn up for the water and its
implementation is underway.
•
Leicestershire – A private fishing club requested help understanding why they were
not catching many fish and were concerned that fish had been stolen. A previous
electric fishing survey of the lake by a private consultancy had not turned up many
fish. Our team decided to undertake a seine netting to assess the situation. The team
managed to net a large number of bream and carp from the venue, thus alleviating
the clubs concerns that fish had been stolen. It seems that the fish were just proving
tricky to catch. Anglers at the venue have returned to their fishing with renewed
vigour, safe in the knowledge that the fish are definitely there to be caught.
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•
Grange pond, Nottinghamshire – Reports of poor catch returns saw the team head to
this venue. The club were concerned that fish had been lost during floods and there
may also be a pike problem. Following the assessment the local Fisheries Officer is
in the process of producing a report, this will be presented to the club at a committee
meeting in the near future. The Fisheries Officer will then help the club draw up a 5
year management plan to improve angling on the venue
A specimen pike being returned to the lake after having
%
its data collected by the team
%
%
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Improvements%investigation:%River%Wreake%report%
Following reports of poor fishing and recruitment of juvenile fish in the River Wreake,
Leicestershire the Environment Agency initiated an in depth investigation into the causes of
the perceived issues. The report, compiled by our Fisheries Officers and Analysis and
Reporting staff looked at a wide range of data from the River Wreake catchment. Historical
survey data from fish, macrophyte and invertebrate surveys was analysed alongside water
quality data. By looking at the range of data available officers were able to make informed
decisions about future management strategies to improve fish populations in the river.
The report is being used to determine future improvements and catchment decisions,
examples of which include:
•
Undertaking more surveys to continue to inform recommendations. This will include
collecting a wider variety of data such as fry surveys to give an even better picture of
the state of the water course.
•
Taking an in depth look at the effects that predation is having on the fish populations.
Subsequently we will be advising on the best courses of action to take to combat any
predation issues.
This report will also be a useful tool to inform future funding bids, allowing us to undertake
and instigate projects to improve the future of angling on the river.
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Our%service:%‘Your’%Fisheries%team’%
Keep an eye out for our leaflet entitled ‘Your’ Environment Agency Fisheries Team. The
leaflet has been produced to inform fisheries owners, angling clubs and the general public of
what types of work we do and how we can help our customers. The local fisheries team
provide a wide range of services to the angling community including:
•
Fisheries management services – site visits, stock assessment surveys and advice
on all aspects of fisheries management.
•
Bio security – prevention and control of invasive species, advice on best practice bio
security and disease investigations.
•
Incident response – fish rescues, distressed fish response, mortality investigations
and prevention, mitigation and recovery advice.
•
Enforcement – Illegal fishing, rod licence checks, fish movements.
A little taster of our leaflet. Keep
your eyes peeled and pick up a
copy.
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4
Project works
Angling%participation:%Flat%stone%angling%pegs%
In February the Environment Agency delivered a project to install a number of flat stone
angling pegs on the River Trent. The Nottingham Piscatorial Society stretch of the river at
Fiskerton and Rolleston received 15 pegs. While a different stretch run by the White Swan
Angling Club at Torksey also received 15 pegs.
The pegs were constructed using large block of stone to make a long lasting, sturdy angling
platform. Their design and construction means that the pegs will remain useable during
fluctuations in river levels. The provision of these pegs will allow greater access for angling
at all times of the year, giving anglers far easier access to some of the country’s best river
fishing. The project comes as part of the Environment Agencies ongoing programme to
provide the public with greater access to angling and promote the sport.
Top: Our officer inspects the
progress.
Below: A completed peg.
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Project%appraisal:%River%Wreake%buffer%stripping%
A project to create buffer strips along the banks of the River Wreake and one of its feeder
streams has produced some excellent results. A few years ago the Environment Agency
undertook a project to create buffer strips along sections of the River Wreake and a brook
entering the river in Leicestershire. Recently a post project appraisal was undertaken which
showed the project to be a huge success.
Buffer strips create a range of benefits for the receiving water course, these include the
creation of slack water areas in high flows, reduce the amounts of sediment entering the
river and create habitat for flora and fauna. By stopping sediment entering the water course
siltation further down the catchment will be reduced, this allows for better water quality and
will keep gravels cleaner creating spawning and feeding areas, thus benefitting fish
populations. The habitat created provides excellent shelter for fish, creating nursery areas in
which juvenile fish can grow and feed. Buffer stripping is especially effective during high
flows in which the increased vegetation creates slacker water areas where fish can shelter,
preventing them from being washed downstream.
The buffer strips were seen to be doing their intended job well. The above listed benefits
should see an improvement in the fish populations of the river in future years.
A buffer strip on a tributary of the R. Wreake working well and
reducing sediment input during a period of high rainfall
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Fish%passage:%Whatstandwell%fish%pass%build%
Work is underway to construct a fish pass at Whatstandwell gauging weir on the River
Derwent. The work is part of a wider three year programme to address fish passage issues
at Environment Agency gauging weirs. The weir at Whatstandwell was identified as a priority
site under the programme. It was deemed to pose a barrier to fish migration, limiting the
distribution of both resident coarse and salmoind fish populations.
The fish pass solution identified as most appropriate for the site is a technical fish pass build.
A multi species, larinier baffled fish pass is being constructed in a cut channel on the right
hand bank of the river. Once completed the pass will open up access and allow the
migration of a wide variety of fish species. It is anticipated that this will have positive effect
on fish populations throughout the reach. The build is now well underway and progressing
nicely.
The contractors hard at work constructing the fish pass.
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Habitat%improvements%
Work started on a habitat improvement project at Toton Washlands in Nottinghamshire. The
project, which aims to provide wetland Biodiversity Action Plan habitat, will have a number of
benefits for both terrestrial and aquatic species at the site. Initial work to open out the
channel has taken place, with works on the habitat improvements planned to begin in
September.
A number of improvements are scheduled to take place including in channel works to create
variety in the flow of water through the site. The aim is to create riffle and pool type habitats,
the development of which will have positive effects on fish populations. The works will create
cleaner gravels which can be utilised by fish species for both spawning and feeding. Deeper
pool areas provide resting and holding areas, along with safe zones from predation. The
works should see a definite improvement in the fish populations with increased recruitment
securing the future for fish inhabiting these sections of the lower River Erewash.
The area cleared in preparation for habitat improvements. Notice
the uniform nature of the channel, something which the
improvements will look to rectify.
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5
Project programme
The past few months have been a busy time for the team in terms of project work. The end
of March brings to a close the 2013/2014 project programme with the 2014/2015 programme
beginning at the start of April. The period since January has seen a considerable amount of
time and resources put into project work, with post project assessments and appraisals
being undertaken. End of project closure reports have been completed and two projects
delivered. The team is now looking towards April to begin next years projects, with funding in
place we look to continue to provide best value for money for the public and the
environment. The coming year will see us continue to work across organisations to provide
the best possible outcomes.
Table 2: Funded projects 2013/14
Project Name
Project Phase
Watercourse
Project Status
Hallcroft fish pass
Construction
River Idle
Funding withdrawn
Amber weirs fish passes
Outline designs
River Amber
Complete
Fiskerton angling pegs
Design
and
River Trent
Complete
and
River Trent
Complete
Delivery
River Soar
Complete
Construction
Fairham Brook
Ongoing
River Soar fry refuges
Design
River Soar
Complete
River
Detailed design
River Soar
Funding withdrawn
construction
Torksey angling pegs
Design
construction
Pennywort
invasive
species project
Fairham
brook habitat
enhancement
soar
fish
pass
project
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Table 3: Additional projects initiated through partnership opportunities
Project Name
Project Phase
Toton habitat creation
Option
Watercourse
appraisal River Erewash
Project Status
Ongoing
and design
River
Eau
habitat
enhancement
Design
and
River Eau
Completed
construction
Table 3: CAPEX fish pass programme
Project Name
Duffield
gauging
Project Phase
weir
Construction
fish pass
Watercourse
River
Project Status
Completed
Ecclesbourne
Church Wilne gauging
Design
River Derwent
Ongoing
Construction
River Derwent
Ongoing
Design
River Maun
Ongoing
Option appraisal
River Meden
Ongoing
Construction
River Torne
Ongoing
River Amber
Complete
River Greet
Ongoing
weir fish pass
Whatstandwell
gauging
weir fish pass
Whitewater
Bridge
gauging weir fish pass
Market Warsop gauging
weir fish pass
Auckley
gauging
weir
fish pass
Wingfield gauging weir Construction
fish pass
Southwell gauging weir
Option appraisal
fish pass
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