I
Ian Cloke
Guest
Hundreds of fish saved at Trent Vale
Date published:
7-Jul-2006
Yesterday (Thursday 6 July 2006) the Environment Agency saved approximately 1,000 dying fish at Briget?s Pool, Trent Vale.
We received a report from a worried member of the public about fish in distress at Briget?s Pool, which is controlled by Embrey?s Fishing Club.
Environment Agency fisheries staff attended the pool immediately and tested the oxygen levels in the water. The results of the tests showed that the level of oxygen in the water was dangerously low, meaning that fish could suffocate.
The pool is used to teach children how to fish and is also used frequently by disabled anglers.
Local residents watched as Fisheries staff used specialist equipment to put oxygen back into the water in the pond. The team used hydrogen peroxide to bring oxygen levels in Briget?s Pool back to safe levels for the fish and estimate that 1,000 fish were saved.
Phil Wormald, the Fisheries, Recreation and Biodiversity Team leader involved in yesterdays rescue said; "Fish can easily become distressed at this time of year because of high water temperature and low oxygen levels. Natural death of algae in the water and low pressure during thunderstorms can also strip oxygen from the water, causing fish to suffocate."
"Yesterday we managed to save hundreds of fish by pumping oxygen back into the pond. Lake owners can reduce the risk of summer fish kills by reducing the number of fish in a pool, providing deep water and shading with trees and water lillies."
Notes to editors
Summer fish deaths are a seasonal phenomenon caused by a specific combination of weather conditions. Fish deaths can occur as a result of lack of oxygen:
Hot weather increases water temperature and warm water holds less oxygen than cold
Sudden heavy rain or thunderstorms cause a sudden influx of cold water. This takes algae down to the bottom of the pond where it dies due to lack of light and decomposes, causing a rapid drop in oxygen levels in the water.
However, algae do not need to be present. The same thing can happen when organic matter in the water in stirred up by the heavy rain, stripping oxygen out of the water.
It can happen very quickly, unexpectedly and often at night because all water plants (such as algae) use more oxygen at night.
Dead, dying or distressed fish in public rivers, streams, lakes and ponds should be reported immediately by calling 0800 80 70 60 (free 24 hour service).
What are algal blooms?
A combination of shallow water, warm weather and high nutrient levels can often cause algae (aquatic plants) to rapidly multiply - turning the water a green colour and causing massive fluctuations in oxygen levels. In these conditions fish can become stressed and may eventually suffocate. Normally the build up of nutrients would be flushed out of the system with high winter flows.
Date published:
7-Jul-2006
Yesterday (Thursday 6 July 2006) the Environment Agency saved approximately 1,000 dying fish at Briget?s Pool, Trent Vale.
We received a report from a worried member of the public about fish in distress at Briget?s Pool, which is controlled by Embrey?s Fishing Club.
Environment Agency fisheries staff attended the pool immediately and tested the oxygen levels in the water. The results of the tests showed that the level of oxygen in the water was dangerously low, meaning that fish could suffocate.
The pool is used to teach children how to fish and is also used frequently by disabled anglers.
Local residents watched as Fisheries staff used specialist equipment to put oxygen back into the water in the pond. The team used hydrogen peroxide to bring oxygen levels in Briget?s Pool back to safe levels for the fish and estimate that 1,000 fish were saved.
Phil Wormald, the Fisheries, Recreation and Biodiversity Team leader involved in yesterdays rescue said; "Fish can easily become distressed at this time of year because of high water temperature and low oxygen levels. Natural death of algae in the water and low pressure during thunderstorms can also strip oxygen from the water, causing fish to suffocate."
"Yesterday we managed to save hundreds of fish by pumping oxygen back into the pond. Lake owners can reduce the risk of summer fish kills by reducing the number of fish in a pool, providing deep water and shading with trees and water lillies."
Notes to editors
Summer fish deaths are a seasonal phenomenon caused by a specific combination of weather conditions. Fish deaths can occur as a result of lack of oxygen:
Hot weather increases water temperature and warm water holds less oxygen than cold
Sudden heavy rain or thunderstorms cause a sudden influx of cold water. This takes algae down to the bottom of the pond where it dies due to lack of light and decomposes, causing a rapid drop in oxygen levels in the water.
However, algae do not need to be present. The same thing can happen when organic matter in the water in stirred up by the heavy rain, stripping oxygen out of the water.
It can happen very quickly, unexpectedly and often at night because all water plants (such as algae) use more oxygen at night.
Dead, dying or distressed fish in public rivers, streams, lakes and ponds should be reported immediately by calling 0800 80 70 60 (free 24 hour service).
What are algal blooms?
A combination of shallow water, warm weather and high nutrient levels can often cause algae (aquatic plants) to rapidly multiply - turning the water a green colour and causing massive fluctuations in oxygen levels. In these conditions fish can become stressed and may eventually suffocate. Normally the build up of nutrients would be flushed out of the system with high winter flows.