EA to release 10,000 baby salmon

This follows on from the release, this time last year, of the first young salmon in a hundred years to swim in the Churnet. Some of last year’s babies have moved downstream but our evidence suggests that they are still there and feeding. Next year, they will begin their long journey across the North Atlantic, where they will mature.

Like last year’s fish, the young being released on Wednesday were born at the Environment Agency’s Kielder Hatchery this spring. Now between 3 and 10cm long, they will spend the next winter or two in the River Churnet before heading out into the Atlantic.

The lucky few, perhaps no more than 100 fish from each year’s re-stocking, will survive to return to the Churnet as adults and breed. For every 1000 salmon eggs in the wild, only hundreds will hatch, and maybe 1% will survive to return to their home river. It will take ten years of re-stocking to successfully re-establish salmon in the Churnet.

In the past, the Churnet was traditionally a salmon river, but populations of the fish declined as a result of industrial pollution in the 19th century, when it became possibly the worst polluted river in Europe. Recent improvements in water quality have now made it possible to return the fish to one of its natural home rivers.

Water quality in the river is vital to the survival of these young fish, and to re-establishing salmon in the river. We urge people to help them thrive by taking care to ensure that the river does not become polluted.

Pollution happens when substances such as oil and chemicals, or organic matter such as agricultural waste or milk, enter the river through surface water drains, which are designed to collect only rainwater. Sometimes, washing machines, showers or toilets can also be connected inadvertently to the surface water system, leading to pollution incidents. Environment management officers regularly sample the river to ensure that water quality remains good. We may prosecute anyone who illegally discharges waste into a watercourse.

Local people, especially those who use the river for recreation, can help by reporting any pollution to us immediately on our free 24hr Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

Fisheries Officer, Mick Buxton, says: “For many years, this historic salmon river was little more than an open sewer. Now it is a beautiful river once more, and it is wonderful to see the salmon back again, bringing new life to the Churnet.

“There is so much against these lovely fish in their struggle for survival. They have many obstacles to overcome, including pollution and predators. Releasing another 10,000 salmon into the River Churnet this year, and more in future years, will help to improve the odds of some returning to breed and become established here. People can help secure their future by making sure the river stays clean and reporting any instances of pollution to us immediately.”

David Hunter, Secretary of the Trent Rivers Trust says: “I am extremely pleased with the progress that’s been made. We have now got salmon breeding in the system in increasing numbers each year and the project has exceeded our best expectations. Since 1998, we have stocked over 1,250,000 young salmon into the Dove and Churnet and the numbers are increasing at a fast rate.”