The fish, ranging from 5cm to 20cm long, will include year-old juvenile chub, dace, roach, bream and barbel bred at the Environment Agency’s fish farm at Calverton.
The locations to be stocked include: the upper Ouse at Sharnbrook, Radwell, Gayhurst, Lavendon, Newport Pagnell and St Neots; the River Ivel between Clifton and Tempsford; the upper Thet and the Chub Stream at St Ives.
Environment Agency Fisheries Officer, Kye Jerrom said:
“We’ve been stocking fish for decades but how we do that has changed in recent years. Our first choice is improving the habitat so that the river works as a natural fishery. Fish stocking is then used to supplement that work.
A classic example of this is our investment in protecting the barbel fishery on the River Ouse. Dace and gudgeon populations seem to be making a natural revival and we hope our huge investment in eels is making a difference for this, now protected, species. The stocking plan, alongside other fisheries work, will help to make the Great Ouse an even better fishery, and better for anglers.”
Upper Ouse Fisheries Consultative Association and Milton Keynes Angling Association chairman, Trevor Johnson, said:
“This is a huge shot in the arm for the Ouse – it couldn’t have come at a better time. This is how anglers’ rod licence money should be spent and is the perfect answer to those asking what they get from their rod licence.
Anglers’ observations show dramatically increased predation in recent years, significantly reducing the head of native brood stock, barbel in particular, while too many areas have become incapable of supporting successful spawning and fry recruitment.
The Environment Agency’s habitat and restoration works alone will benefit several species, not just barbel, and it has been enormously encouraging to be able to work with their fisheries staff in such a proactive and constructive way.”
