Fish deaths in Broadland. Shame on the BA

Apologies if this has been covered already but...

Since the beginning of April there has been another prymnesium bloom on Hickling Broad, leading to the deaths of thousands of fish including Perch to 5 lbs and Pike to 35 lbs. The death toll would have been much worse if it were not for the action of the Environment agency, who have oxygenated water and netted fish to move them into safer areas.

For those who don't know Prymnesium parva is an algae which blooms in certain conditions, in certain systems. (The River Thurne & broads being slightly saline allow the algae to bloom.) When the algae dies it releases toxins in the water that kill fish.

Historically prymnesium blooms have "coincided" with dredging work carried out by the Broads Authority and once again the BA are dredging in the area. This is in spite of protest by the Norfolk PAC and the Norwich & district pike club who have gathered scientific evidence from around the world which unanimously states "we don't know enough about the causes of prymnesium, do not risk dredging". The Norfolk anglers have been warning the BA not to dredge for 2 years.

The Broads Authority claims all the evidence produced by anglers is "anecdotal" and have gone ahead with the work regardless. Fish are dying and the work continues. In effect the BA is knowingly poisoning the water it is charged with protecting.

Please join the fight to stop this folly by emailing one or more of the following people to express your concern. Thanks for your attention


Rob.Rogers@broads-authority.gov.uk
adrian.clarke@broads-authority.gov.uk
John.Packman@broads-authority.gov.uk
Trudi.Wakelin@broads-authority.gov.uk
Dan.Hoare@broads-authority.gov.uk

Frankly, I am shocked. Shocked at this totally inaccurate account of what has happened and is happening. Thousands of fish have not died and no connection has been shown to the Broads Authority works. The BA has actually stated that there has been no dredging since May last year.

Here is the latest Press report, dated 18 April 2012, regarding the Hickling fish deaths.

Please note the comments from the Environment Agency:

“A press release from Rita Penman, head of media specialists at the Environment Agency, confirmed that Prymnesium had been found in areas where fish had been found dead and in distress but at this stage she said: “We are unable to say whether or not this caused the death of the fish.”

She added: “The factors that cause the algae to multiply and cause an algae bloom are not fully understood. The presence of blooms of P.parvum does not necessarily mean the algae will produce fish deaths.

“The exact environmental conditions favouring toxic blooms are not clear, even though factors such as water temperature and salinity are helpful in predicting future blooms.

“It does appear that the most important factor influencing the toxicity of P.parvum blooms is the relative amount of nitrogen and phosphorous found in the water with toxicity increasing when both these nutrients become limited (and the cells break down).

“At present there is no evidence linking the Broads Authority’s activity in Heigham Sounds to the fish deaths on Hickling Broad. Recent weather conditions and low water levels are also factors which can contribute to an algal bloom.”

Give us some evidence to back up your accusations, Mr Hastings, or withdraw them.

Here is a quote from another interested forum "I went to the BA Navigation Committee meeting on Thursday. It was reported that the EA had observed 150 dead perch in the area of the Pleasure Boat and Whispering Reeds. They netted some 25,000 fish and moved them to Potter Heigham.

Details were provided of PP counts, salinity levels, chlorophyll counts and suspended solids in Heigham Sound while the work to set up the gabions to define the edges of the restored island was being carried out. All were well below the trigger levels established by the EA and NE when they agreed the method statements for the work to be carried out. Those trigger levels are themselves lower than the triggers used by the EA in assessing the magnitude of problems.

Dredging of Heigham Sound will now be carried out next winter with the spoil being deposited inside the gabion baskets.

So, Mr Hastings, what happened to the "deaths of thousands of fish" you reported. Another figment of your rather vivid imagination?

WHERE'S YOUR APOLOGY?

Tell me your real name and I'll answer you.

Actually forget that.
You obviously know that this situation has been ongoing for two years. You know anglers have shown Dan Hoare of BA the evidence that backs what we're saying but BA still hides behind "coincidence". Or as Rob Rogers of BA puts it "you can't prove it". (They couldn't prove OJ killed his wife but everyone knows he done it...)
My friends & I have visited the scene and found the dead fish, we've seen them with our own eyes. No apology from me there.
Anglers have contacted experts around the world who are shocked at the "trigger levels" that the BA are working to, they are meaningless!
BA were warned 2 years ago, they ignored the warnings and this is the result.
This is nothing but a folly to appease sailors with unsuitable craft.

Now, WHAT'S YOUR REAL NAME?

In answer to the nameless person above. The following is quoted from a press release by Chris Bielby of NE

"Based on the available evidence, it is accepted by the Environment Agency, Broads Authority and Natural England that the Prymnesium bloom has created low toxin levels in the Broad, which has prompted the fish to move away and congregate in large numbers in enclosed areas. This results in deteriorating oxygen conditions, putting additional stresses on the fish and leading to the potential for fish deaths. It is clear that the fish removals completed at the beginning of the month were successful, with none of the relocated fish dying subsequently. The EA undertook a specialist ARIS acoustic camera survey on 18th April, which confirmed that significant numbers of fish had dispersed from Catfield Staithe along the length of Catfield dyke, and that only a very limited number of fish were found in the other dykes and Broad margins that were surveyed. Weather conditions on the day were not favourable and only a limited assessment of the open water of Hickling Broad was possible. No dead fish were observed on the bed of dykes and the main broad during the survey, which is very welcome news, and the aerator has now been removed. To date no further dead or distressed fish have been reported to the Environment Agency."


Last week however we had some positive news;
The BA have agreed to suspend dredging until the water temperatures cool, no earlier than November. They are also looking into using suction dredging which is far safer than the antiquated clam bucket. They will also be using the silt curtains that they bought but failed to deploy last time.

This is a minor victory for anglers who have organised and lobbied the BA, who finally seem to be taking the concerns of anglers on board. Much credit to John Currie & co at Norfolk PAC and thanks also to Mark Owen of the Angling Trust for his advice.
Thanks for reading.