The Environment Agency’s breeding programme is funded from the purchase of fishing licences so, as well as contributing to the environmental benefits, anglers buying a fishing licence this month in readiness for the start of the new year on 1 April will be improving the sport for future generations.
Over the past 15 years, the production of fish has increased and most river catchments in England and Wales have now been stocked with fish bred at Calverton. Nine different types of coarse fish are now raised there, including roach, chub, dace, barbel, tench, rudd, crucian carp, grayling and bream. The majority of the four million fish have been released in the last five-six years. In the past year alone (since 1 April 2003), over 360,000 fish have been stocked in rivers across the country.
The fish are released into the wild at 11/2 to 21/2 years old as part of a planned programme to replace fish killed in pollution incidents, and to create new fisheries, so that fish populations will increase long term.
Alan Henshaw, Environment Agency Team Leader at Calverton, says: “This is an important milestone for Calverton Fish Farm. The four million fish we have released into English and Welsh rivers demonstrate the Environment Agency’s commitment to restoring damaged fisheries and creating new ones. They also represent the important investment made by anglers in the future of their sport every time they buy a fishing licence.”
FISHINGmagic Notes
Calverton Fish Farm, operated by the Environment Agency, is a major source of river coarse fish in the UK. It is one of only two Environment Agency coarse fish farms, the other being in Leyland, Lancashire. Calverton was established during the late 1930s, producing mainly trout until 1986 when it was converted into a dedicated river coarse fish production unit. Since then, over 4 million fish from Calverton have been released into waters the length and breadth of England and Wales.
Calverton covers 4 hectares and has 35 aerated mature ponds ranging in size from 100m2 to 5000m2. It is fed by fresh water from a borehole, which has a fairly constant temperature of 9.5 to 10.50C throughout the year. Fish grow very quickly due to the warm clean water, abundant food, and high oxygen levels. The site also has a research unit and a warm water hatchery that is used to produce eggs and larvae in the spring.
The eggs are obtained from selected adult fish, taken from carefully chosen rivers when they are ready to breed. Once the eggs have been harvested, the fish are returned to the river 2 or 3 days later. Surplus fish larvae are reared for 2 to 3 weeks before being stocked back into the same stretch of river to ensure that the impact of Calverton’s breeding programme on natural fish populations is minimal.
The remaining fish are raised for 11/2 to 21/2 years and when they are the right age and size they are released into the wild, where they will reach maturity between 2 and 4 years of age. They are graded and counted using computerised equipment, greatly reducing handling stress and damage, and enabling the counting and grading of up to 40,000 fish an hour.
The fish are delivered to their new homes using a purpose built 6×6 Land Rover mounted with 300 litre oxygenated tanks that allow the fish to be released with the minimum of netting and handling.
Fishing licences
The Environment Agency regulates fishing for salmon, sea trout, freshwater fish and eels by a system of licensing. Anglers aged 12 and over must have a rod fishing licence by law. Fishing licences have to be renewed on 1 April each year. In 2002/3 rod licences of all types generated approximately £ 15 million, used to benefit fish stocks, fishing and fisheries and therefore all rod licence holders. People fishing without a licence are cheating other anglers and could be fined up to £ 2,500.
In 2001 the EA inspected about 150,000 fishing licences in England and Wales. About 4% of inspected anglers failed to produce a valid licence and 62% of failed checks resulted in successful prosecution.
Licences can be bought from any of 17,000 Post Offices in England and Wales, via the EA website www.environment-agency.gov.uk/fish (at an additional charge of 25p) or from the Telesales Service on 0870 1662 662.
Anglers can now purchase their annual rod fishing licence by Direct Debit for next season starting on April 1st 2004. More than 86,000 anglers currently opt for this method of payment and need never worry again about forgetting to renew their rod licence and risk the consequences of being caught without one. Licenses bought by Direct Debit will be sent automatically each year in time for the new season.
How much does it cost? (Prices as of 1 April 2004).
Coarse and Trout Full £ 23.00
Junior concessionary £ 5.00
Other concessionary £ 11.50
8 day £ 8.00
1 day £ 3.00
Salmon and Sea Trout Full £ 62.00
Concession £ 31.00
8 day £ 19.50
1 day £ 6.50
