 Fisherman Harry Ford with dead fish found in the River Tame as it flows through Two Gates towards Tamworth | Hundreds of dead fish have been seen floating in rivers in the Tamworth area, as oxygen levels in local rivers plunged. The bodies of roach, perch, chub, dace, pike, barbel and gudgeon were found floating in the rivers Tame, Anker and Cole as officers worked tirelessly to reoxygenate the water. |
Experts say that the crisis was caused by the weekend’s storms after the prolonged dry period.
A spokesman said: “This is a result of surface water run-off from the weekend thunderstorms following the very dry weather, causing oxygen levels to drop. Our officers are currently aerating the river to increase oxygen levels.”
But some local anglers were concerned that the reoxygenation had come too late.
Harry Ford, aged 79, of Reliant Angling Club, who has been fishing on the River Tame since the early 1970s, told the Herald on Tuesday: “I’ve never seen it so bad. It’s a total wipeout – it’s a dead river. Yesterday morning I counted about a hundred dead fish – today, there were several hundred. I couldn’t see any moving, or even any distressed – they are all dead. We had a pollution a few years ago, but nothing like this.”
Residents in Coleshill reported similar issues in the River Cole and in Mancetter, the river Anker was also affected.
The Environment Agency issued the following advice for anglers: “During prolonged warm, dry weather, avoid targeting larger, more sensitive fish like large chub, barbel and pike. Handle fish with wet hands and avoid using keepnets. "If you do use a keepnet, try to place it in deeper water, rather than parallel to the bank. Deeper, colder water will hold more oxygen than shallow marginal water. This is much better for the fish."
They added: “Wherever possible, keep fish in the water while unhooking and release them as soon as they’ve recovered. Try to take any photographs you want with fish in the water and where possible, release them into deeper, faster flowing water, where it is safe to do so. This will help recovery. If fish need help to recover then hold them upright and with their head facing into the current, to allow clear oxygenated water to flow across their gills. You can also hold fish in a landing net in the river current until they show strong signs of movement. This may take several minutes but it is best if the fish is fully recovered before being released.”
A spokesman said: “This is a result of surface water run-off from the weekend thunderstorms following the very dry weather, causing oxygen levels to drop. Our officers are currently aerating the river to increase oxygen levels.”
But some local anglers were concerned that the reoxygenation had come too late.
Harry Ford, aged 79, of Reliant Angling Club, who has been fishing on the River Tame since the early 1970s, told the Herald on Tuesday: “I’ve never seen it so bad. It’s a total wipeout – it’s a dead river. Yesterday morning I counted about a hundred dead fish – today, there were several hundred. I couldn’t see any moving, or even any distressed – they are all dead. We had a pollution a few years ago, but nothing like this.”
Residents in Coleshill reported similar issues in the River Cole and in Mancetter, the river Anker was also affected.
The Environment Agency issued the following advice for anglers: “During prolonged warm, dry weather, avoid targeting larger, more sensitive fish like large chub, barbel and pike. Handle fish with wet hands and avoid using keepnets. "If you do use a keepnet, try to place it in deeper water, rather than parallel to the bank. Deeper, colder water will hold more oxygen than shallow marginal water. This is much better for the fish."
They added: “Wherever possible, keep fish in the water while unhooking and release them as soon as they’ve recovered. Try to take any photographs you want with fish in the water and where possible, release them into deeper, faster flowing water, where it is safe to do so. This will help recovery. If fish need help to recover then hold them upright and with their head facing into the current, to allow clear oxygenated water to flow across their gills. You can also hold fish in a landing net in the river current until they show strong signs of movement. This may take several minutes but it is best if the fish is fully recovered before being released.”
RSS Feed
