Keith Arthur’s
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THIS has been a very difficult early summer for carp, with quite a few places suffering fish losses.
Even The Glebe has been affected, a fishery I would put up as a model of bio-security. Owner Roy Marlow takes every precaution with his precious fish, so when he tells me he has suffered fish kills I know how much it hurts him.
However, if anyone ever wondered why they have to pay for an Environment Agency rod licence to fish in ‘private waters’, a complaint I have heard and read many, many times, Roy’s story may make them see why.
On discovering 40 or so dead carp, all apparently spawn-bound, Roy called the EA. A fishery officer who was on route to Yorkshire turned around and got back to The Glebe. He took water samples and made arrangements for samples of fish to be sent to the EA fish laboratory for testing.
As the samples were being gathered a courier arrived to deliver them, and then a CEFAS inspector arrived and did his work. Roy’s worst fears were confirmed and KHV was diagnosed. So, how was it transferred to the Glebe?
Well, it could be that terns, herons, kingfishers and cormorants can transmit the disease in their droppings, even on their plumage or legs.
But Roy is in agreement with me that stink bags are a menace if not used correctly. The idea is to keep the wet and smell on nets away from the car. Once home the nets must be removed and dried in fresh air. Water-borne diseases and organisms can’t live in the dry and will be killed.