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https://environmentagency.blog.gov.uk/2016/07/07/what-do-we-mean-by-fish-in-distress/

What do we mean by “Fish in distress”?

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Fisheries and biodiversity

I’ve been a Fisheries Officer in the Cumbria and Lancashire for 18 years and I’m well aware that summer can be a very busy time for me and my colleagues. We may have to respond to many fish-related incidents during the week, as well as our day to day work to protect and improve fisheries.

We refer to these incidents as ‘fish in distress’, which may come across as a funny term to some, but during summer when temperatures rise, fish disease is more prevalent and both water and dissolved oxygen tend to be less available - some fish certainly do become distressed!

To top it all off, even when it does eventually rain, (and often in the summer this can be torrential rain following a dry period) this may not provide much relief. Did you know when atmospheric pressure drops, the ability of water to hold dissolved oxygen reduces? That combined with potential pollution as sewage storm overflows are inundated, accumulated dirty run-off from roads and decaying algae can all really take their toll on some fish.

What can you do?

Reporting these incidents to our hotline is so important and we have many anglers and other members of the public to thank for this. If you do see any dead fish in the water, fish that look like they’re gasping at the surface or fish that are exhibiting what you think is unusual behaviour or even if their skin has a strange appearance, then please ring on 0800 80 70 60. You can do this anonymously. We will help where we can. It’s important you do this sooner than later as we can help prevent problems from escalating. Our first priority is to prevent the situation getting worse.

What does the Environment Agency do?

My colleagues and I can use a range of options to save fish where possible. These include mechanical and chemical aeration which helps to re-oxygenate the water, diverting fresh water into a polluted reach, monitoring probes so we can detect improvements and even if it is absolutely necessary, we may consider removing fish from stricken waters in order to relocate them and enable them to thrive elsewhere. If fish are lost through pollution and restocking is the best way to restore a fishery or kick-start recovery, we will place an order with our fish farm at Calverton. But we would rather it didn’t come to this… If the incident has been caused by pollution or another environmental offence and an offender can be identified, we will follow this up with enforcement action and may prosecute.

Red Algae Bloom 02 (2)

I remember one particular incident at a fishery in Skelmersdale in July 2015. It was an unusual one and differed from the usual call of ‘fish in distress’. An algae bloom had resulted in 95% coverage of the water with a thick, red algae layer. The angling club leasing the pond called with concerns over fish welfare as they’d noticed fish jumping and swirling in the algae layer and appeared to be struggling. The thick algae layer was reducing oxygen exchange and causing low dissolved oxygen. As soon as the call came in, aeration equipment and a dissolved oxygen meter were loaded on to our 4x4. Once at the pond, it was clear some fish were very distressed and the dissolved oxygen was lower than it should have been. Aeration equipment was deployed to disperse the algae and aerate the water. This safeguarded the fish population and prevented a fish kill.

Last year, my team responded to many incidents and we saved more than 20,000 fish. Knowing that we have reduced both the impact on the environment and on anglers’ enjoyment of their sport in our area really makes the job worthwhile. However, half of these incidents were at still waters and although we try to help where we can we encourage private fishery owners to be resilient and take their own precautions; it’s better for their fish, for your angling and for their business. You can read more here and even learn how to make your own aeration equipment if you’re a fishery owner.

For more information on the work we do to protect and improve fish and fisheries please go to GOV.UK to see our Annual Fisheries Report. Here you can see a breakdown of what we’ve been doing with rod licence money in Cumbria and Lancashire and all our other areas.

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28 comments

  1. Comment by D Clayton posted on

    Hello I'm not sure if I am contacting the right dept, last week my wife saw 2 dead Crayfish floating on the surface of the canal local to me in Whittington Nr Lichfield staffs close to the bridge number 78.
    my wife could not say what variety they were.

    Reply
    • Replies to D Clayton>

      Comment by kathrynbooth posted on

      Good morning

      If you see any crayfish (alive or dead) you can report the sighting to the local biodiversity team please call us on 03708 506506. I have however sent an email to the team on your behalf.

      Kind regards

      Margaret

      Reply
  2. Comment by Smith posted on

    If the welfare of fish so important to you then why aren't you helping the fish in Liverpool's parks ?

    Reply
  3. Comment by Smith posted on

    If the health of the fish so important to you why are you not helping the fish in Liverpool parks ?

    Reply
  4. Comment by Stephen Betts posted on

    Fished Clearwater fishery just off m6 in Cumbria last week to arrive to 6 dead fish and another at end of day. No discernable worry was shown by staff. Will not be going there any time soon. Needed aeration badly.

    Reply
  5. Comment by Mark H-B posted on

    Janemoor Pond (SO43 7HH) in the New Forest currently has 1000's of fish in distress, Pond has reduced in size by half and is now only 12" deep and with the amount of livestock drinking out of it I would give it 2 weeks at most before it has completely dried up. you can walk in it and your legs are surrounded by fish gasping for air.

    Reply
    • Replies to Mark H-B>

      Comment by kathrynbooth posted on

      Hello - Thank you for the information - I have passed the details to our national incident team to log. Eileen

      Reply
  6. Comment by Peter Green posted on

    4/5 week ago I visited the river Weaver navigation at Sutton Weaver the river was covered in raw sewage I travelled back to Acton Bridge and the river was covered in raw sewage there was people ant both venues who said they were going to report this to the E A. United Utilities had discharge the raw sewage have you taken any action against them. there are 2 rowing clubs in this area if any of the rowers were to go into the water they are at risk of very dangerous diseases. Action is needed from you if you caught me fishing without a licence you would soon take action and have me in court now you should follow correct pollution laws from the E.U. and get them in court.

    Reply
    • Replies to Peter Green>

      Comment by kathrynbooth posted on

      All reports of sewage polluting watercourses are investigated by Environment Officers and the appropriate action taken. For feedback on the incident you mentioned on the River Weaver, please e-mail an information request to us: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

      Reply
  7. Comment by Michael Brown posted on

    When walking in Bushy Park over the past few days, I have seen many fish in distress in the park, suffering from lack of oxygen in the water. It is the stretch behind Petavel Road in Teddington where the perimeter footpath passes by an expanse of water (not far from the rugby pitch and cricket pitch. I think the fish urgently need the water to be re-oxygenated. I will try to let the Bushy Park management team know too.

    Reply
    • Replies to Michael Brown>

      Comment by kathrynbooth posted on

      Hello Michael

      We take reports of dead fish/fish in distress. Please call our incident team on 0800 80 70 60. They will need to take further information from you to put a report together. We will then be able to allocate this to a local environment officer to investigate further.

      Regards Amy

      Reply
  8. Comment by Robert Graham Shrigley posted on

    Three Sisters Recreation Area I have just reported, incident No1667113
    small stream coming into the main lake at the north end adjacent to the play area, many dead fish, yesterday only a couple dead, today all dead may be a couple of hundred. The stream enters the lake via a small culvert through which the fish have been chased by Goosander ducks. Oxygen depletion has been suggested but to me that seems wrong as the water is cold and running, I would expect that in hot weather, plus the fact that all the fish are dead. I also saw a Kingfisher on the stream which is another worry.

    Reply
  9. Comment by Freddie Roe posted on

    We have a pond with coy carp and we have lost nine small fish this week. The large carp are okay and we have been here for twenty years without a problem. What could be the problem? The water board are coming next week to do a test .
    F.R.

    Reply
    • Replies to Freddie Roe>

      Comment by eileenroffe posted on

      If you email our enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk - the team will pass it to the local fisheries officer. Please put as much information as possible: daytime telephone number, fisheries address and postcode, what is wrong and type of fish.... not exhaustive. Thank you in advance - Eileen

      Reply
  10. Comment by Freddie posted on

    I have spoken to and had advice from one of your colleagues thank you
    F.R.

    Reply
  11. Comment by JCSE posted on

    Hundreds of fish 10-35lbs in Baylis pools Telford/Shifnal just off jct 4 of the m54. Also witnessed pikes alongside them and thousands of fry. I wouldn't expect them to make the end of tomorrow with how bad they were struggling

    Reply
    • Replies to JCSE>

      Comment by eileenroffe posted on

      Please call our national incident team on: 0800 807060 - they will ask for the location and once a few more questions are answered they will log it - Thank you in advance - Eileen

      Reply
  12. Comment by Harry posted on

    Eden Brooke fishery on the match lake fish are in distress and there have been many death's. Owner has been made aware but is blaming the angler!! Oxted Eden Brooke fishery match lake.

    Reply
    • Replies to Harry>

      Comment by eileenroffe posted on

      Please call our national incident team on: 0800 807060 - they will ask for the location and ask a few more questions - Thank you in advance - Eileen

      Reply
  13. Comment by T&R posted on

    Hi hopefully you can assist We've been fishing the Horns Dam at Goosnargh, the lake is 4 acres in total area. The lake has a green algae bloom - possibly around 10%, it is aerated for half an hour at best daily. I have caught some carp that have quite significant black spots on, some of which have come up with large lumps under them. The lake seems to be quite significant silted up with the middle approximately only about a foot deep in places. The fish taken out range from approx 10 to 18lb but there seems to be no sign of any smaller carp. Any advice you can give would be great.

    Reply
    • Replies to T&R>

      Comment by eileenroffe posted on

      Please call our national incident team on: 0800 807060 - they will ask for the location and once a few more questions are answered they will log it - Thank you in advance - Eileen

      Reply
  14. Comment by John P posted on

    Hi,
    Please check out Brookland’s Pond on Seafront in Worthing, West Sussex. Hundreds of Fish & Birds dying. Some good sized Carp too. What a Shame. Might be the hot weather or possibly Southern Water who have a site which controls the water flow into this pond.

    Reply
    • Replies to John P>

      Comment by eileenroffe posted on

      Please call our national incident team on 0800 80 70 60 - the advisor will ask some more questions - Thank you in advance - ^Eileen

      Reply
  15. Comment by John P posted on

    Don't seem to be worried about the fish & birds dying. Have asked me to phone a number ( agg).

    Reply
  16. Comment by Jonathan posted on

    Hi in brentford behind Boston Manor Park at the lock on the canal there are a bunch of dead fish floating on the surface and it only happen over night

    Reply
    • Replies to Jonathan>

      Comment by eileenroffe posted on

      Hello, please call our incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60, the team need a bit more information. Thank you in advance. ^Eileen

      Reply
  17. Comment by anki wikman posted on

    Hi there. As a cruising boater on the grand union, a fair few of us are becoming aware that it is up to us to keep an eye on the fish in the canals and rivers as the climate collapse drives temperatures up. We don't know how to identify a problem though and when to report to you? Is there a helpful guide/images anywhere? I am currently seeing lots of small fish near the surface and slightly larger fish hanging vertically further down. I've been told this is ok and wait until I see all size fish gasping at the surface - is that correct?

    Reply
    • Replies to anki wikman>

      Comment by eileenroffe posted on

      Good morning, you can report fish struggling to our national incident line 24-hour service on 0800 80 70 60. Thank you in advance. ^Eileen

      Reply

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