Michael Hastings
Well-known member
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
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