It is apparent, and widely reported, that in some regions of the country we are facing a drought crisis this year comparable to that of 1976. Whilst the North and Wales look to have escaped the effects for anglers in the rest of the country will be severe unless exceptional rain falls in the next few months.
Anglers can be prepared in advance for action to help our fisheries and the Angling Trust have prepared a short list below:
1. Assess your stocking plans now: stocking may have to be decreased to take into account low river flows and low water levels in still waters. It is better to do this now rather than wait until after May.
2. Over stocked waters may result in fish deaths in low water conditions and de-oxygenated waters due to temperatures. Assess your present stock levels; do you need to thin out your existing stocks?
3. Whilst fish death from acute de-oxygenation is easily seen, please take into account that low oxygen levels will cause stress and increased susceptibility to disease. A close watch should be kept on the fish stocks and these factors should be considered when stocking.
4. Consider purchasing aerators to help in crisis situations.
5. If you already have aerators make sure they are in working order and you have a plan to quickly deploy them if they are stored off-site.
6. If in any doubt as to what action you should take consult with your local Environment Agency Fisheries team.
7. On rivers watch out for large number of fish congregating above or below weirs and impoundments. Low flows will mean they cannot move over these obstacles and may become trapped. Report these incidents to your local Environment Agency Fisheries teams and record where these are on your river as these will become a priority for removal in future.
8. The Environment Agency is developing a “Drought and Disease” factsheet that will be available soon
For more information contact the Angling Trust’s Freshwater Environmental Campaigns Manager Mark Owen: mark.owen@anglingtrust.net
