I
Ian Cloke
Guest
THOUSANDS of fish are due to be released into the River Don shortly to help restore the marine life killed in a freak pollution incident last year.
Around 10,000 fish, including Roach, Bream and Dace from the Environment Agency's Calverton Fish Farm at Nottingham will be released into the water at Kilnhurst, Conisborough and Thrybergh, as well as in Sheffield city centre.
Thousands of fish were killed last July when a period of dry weather led to reduced water levels and a drop in oxygen levels. This was followed by heavy rainfall and caused sewage from storm overflows to enter the river in Rotherham and Sheffield.
Anglers were horrified to discover hundreds of fish carcasses, some two feet long, on the river banks. But anglers this week praised the move to re-stock and said it will give the river a new lease of life.
Mexborough Water baliff, Tommy Campbell, said: "It was a real disaster when all of the fish died last summer there was a drop in the number of anglers fishing in the Don.
"But this re-stocking will be good for the river and I'm sure it will pull more people in to fish there."
The re-stocking was due to take place yesterday but was postponed due to high water levels. But a spokesman for the Environment Agency said they hoped it will go ahead by the end of this month.
The re-stocking will help to improve the river's ecology and water quality. This month's proposed re-stocking follows a previous one in December when 10,000 roach, 2600 dace and 1400 chub were released. Further re-stocks are also planned for March.
The Environment Agency's fisheries team leader Pat O'Brien said: "The pollution in July killed thousands of fish, so we have boosted the Don's natural recovery by stocking it with fish which were destined for other rivers in West and South Yorkshire.
"We have a three-year programme which targets rivers and stillwaters that would benefit most from restocking, but we have changed this programme to stock those rivers in greatest need."
Around 10,000 fish, including Roach, Bream and Dace from the Environment Agency's Calverton Fish Farm at Nottingham will be released into the water at Kilnhurst, Conisborough and Thrybergh, as well as in Sheffield city centre.
Thousands of fish were killed last July when a period of dry weather led to reduced water levels and a drop in oxygen levels. This was followed by heavy rainfall and caused sewage from storm overflows to enter the river in Rotherham and Sheffield.
Anglers were horrified to discover hundreds of fish carcasses, some two feet long, on the river banks. But anglers this week praised the move to re-stock and said it will give the river a new lease of life.
Mexborough Water baliff, Tommy Campbell, said: "It was a real disaster when all of the fish died last summer there was a drop in the number of anglers fishing in the Don.
"But this re-stocking will be good for the river and I'm sure it will pull more people in to fish there."
The re-stocking was due to take place yesterday but was postponed due to high water levels. But a spokesman for the Environment Agency said they hoped it will go ahead by the end of this month.
The re-stocking will help to improve the river's ecology and water quality. This month's proposed re-stocking follows a previous one in December when 10,000 roach, 2600 dace and 1400 chub were released. Further re-stocks are also planned for March.
The Environment Agency's fisheries team leader Pat O'Brien said: "The pollution in July killed thousands of fish, so we have boosted the Don's natural recovery by stocking it with fish which were destined for other rivers in West and South Yorkshire.
"We have a three-year programme which targets rivers and stillwaters that would benefit most from restocking, but we have changed this programme to stock those rivers in greatest need."
