Return of the crucian
Plans for 2017
MORE venues than ever before have been stocked with crucians.
A ground-breaking project to help conserve ‘true strain’ crucians and create more venues for anglers to target them now has a record number of waters.
Initiatives created by the Angling Trust-backed National Crucian Conservation Project (NCCP) and the Association of Crucian Anglers have seen many new stillwaters added to the growing database of waters holding ‘true’ crucians.
Heading up the efforts by the NCCP is the Angling Trust’s National Campaigns Coordinator Martin Salter, who said: “In less than three years we have achieved a significant turnaround in the fortunes of crucians and some of their threatened habitat.
“Clubs and fishery owners
are in regular contact, seeking advice on how to create their own bespoke crucian waters managed in accordance with the very best practice. The guys at the EA have been fantastic, with more than 150,000 true crucians stocked out across the country.”
“Following a growing demand for more traditional fisheries, the NCCP aims to reverse the decline in crucian habitat and promote designated and accredited ‘true crucian’ waters.
“Crucians now have a far more secure future thanks to the endeavours of all involved in the NCCP Project, including the team at the EA’s Calverton Fish Farm,” Martin continued.
One project, which began life following the launch of the NCCP project back in 2014, is Mill Lodge Farm in Norfolk. The one-acre ‘tench and crucian only water’ is owned by Gary Boyce, who wants his fishery to rival Surrey’s Marsh Farm Fishery by producing record-breaking crucians .
The fishery, in Great Ryburgh, opens to anglers next month.
“I have been working hard with fisheries specialist Andrew Ellis to maximise my stock and get them into the best condition and the biggest possible size for the future,” said Gary.
“I have been more of a carp angler during the 45 years I have been fishing, but crucians are such a fantastic species and when I heard about the NCCP I just wanted to get involved – there just aren’t enough waters across the UK where you can catch true versions of the species.”
Another project which is supporting the NCCP is Yaddlethorpe Ponds in Lincolnshire. Run by Scunthorpe Amalgamated Anglers, the fishery has set aside and stocked pure crucians into its waters.
Vice-chairman of the group,
Andy Bettiss, said: “We wanted to support the national project and offer kids and adults a chance to fish more traditionally.
“With the help of the Environment Agency and Calverton Fish Farm, who lab checked and bred some of our original stock, we have set aside two of the eight ponds on the complex for pure-bred crucians and tench.”