Source: Angling Trust
The webpage HERE explains the background to the project and includes helpful crucian identification guides as well as advice on establishing and managing a crucian fishery from the award winning crucian expert Peter Rolfe – author of ‘Crock of Gold’. There are also useful links and details of the Norfolk Ponds Conservation Project which is headed up by crucian enthusiast Dr Carl Sayer from University College London.
The National Crucian Conservation Project was officially launched on 28th May 2014 at the Angling Trust Coarse Fish Conference in Reading and is chaired by the Angling Trust’s campaign Chief Martin Salter with secretarial and technical support from Roger Handford, a technical specialist at the Environment Agency. Also represented on the project committee is the Government’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and the Institute for Fisheries Management (IFM).
The primary objectives of the NCCP are to promote the conservation of the species and its habitat and to encourage the development of well-managed crucian fisheries.
The resulting benefits will include: improved understanding and protection of ‘wild’ or ‘pure’ crucian stocks; habitat restoration; creation of ‘community waters’; more angling opportunities; increased resources for young anglers and better sharing of information on lake and pond conservation.
A new addition on the www.crucians.org website, managed by Peter Rolfe, is a list of crucian fisheries across the country; this is a work in progress and the NCCP would welcome any corrections or additions.
Martin Salter said:
“The Angling Trust is delighted to be promoting the conservation of this wonderful species and we are already seeing just how much this project is capturing the imagination of anglers up and down the country. Our ideas and plans are being developed and refined all the time but direction the NCCP is heading could include: establishing a regional network of growing on centres to increase the availability of wild crucian stocks, a ‘pure’ crucian accreditation scheme, courses or events for fishery owners and managers, creating national ‘Crucian Champions’. With the enthusiasm generated I am hoping for a golden future for the crucian carp.”
Chris Turnbull added:
“It is probably no more than a year or so ago that I first took my concerns to the Angling Trust about the rapid disappearance from British waters of one of our loveliest freshwater fish, the crucian carp. At the time I wasn’t sure if the Trust would share my worries but they did and within a very short space of time the National Crucian Conservation Project was launched amongst wellspring of enthusiasm from anglers, fisheries managers and conservationists. This brought together a host of crucian experts and champions to work together at saving our crucians and the progress made in just a few meetings has been fantastic. Now, for the first time in over 20 years I feel that the future of our crucians is being given the attention it deserves.”
Peter Rolfe said:
“Good crucian fishing has always been difficult to find because the fish require certain conditions if they are to do well. Pike, perch and other predators love to eat them; crucian fry don’t like competition from roach and they hybridize with goldfish and carp. However, they breed well when on their own or with just tench. So our advice to angling clubs and fishery owners is to breed your own to stock into your mixed fishery whenever you need. Full details on how to go about this can now be found on the website.
Technical Specialist at the EA and NCCP Secretary Roger Handford said:
“The Environment Agency was delighted to be asked to be involved in a project to improve the status of a unique and often overlooked species. We have previously produced a set of guidelines to help identify crucian carp so that anglers can confirm catches experts at the National Fisheries Laboratory are currently updating this ID guide. As part of our advice to fishery owners we will suggest that they avoid introducing inappropriate fish species, for example common carp and goldfish hybrids into crucian carp waters. We may withhold fish movement permits where particular crucian populations are at risk. The crucians we produce at our Calverton Fish Farm for restocking will support the aims of this project.”
Angling Clubs and Fisheries wishing to get involved with the NCCP should contact NCCP Secretary Roger Handford at roger.handford@environment-agency.gov.uk
