Thousands of fish rescued as heatwave hits habitats

Environmental officers and firefighters have been called in to save fish from rising water temperatures

THOUSANDS of fish have been saved from suffocation as the heatwave raises water temperatures across the UK.

As the Met Office warned that this week could produce the hottest day of the year, it emerged that there have been 26 fish rescues since the start of June. The hottest summer since 1976 has led to low flows in rivers and to still-water fisheries heating up.

Ponds, fish farms and rivers are at risk of lowered oxygen levels and the Environment Agency (EA) has been kept busy with reports of fish in distress.

The EA’S fishery team is trained to transfer fish to safer waters or to use aeration equipment and hydrogen peroxide to restore depleted oxygen levels.

Since last weekend, a large number of perch, pike and roach have perished in the heat in the River Mole, a tributary of the Thames. Officers were yesterday still at the site checking water quality.

Anna Burns, environment manager at the EA, said: “Our officers worked around the clock to prevent wide-scale fish deaths. It is distressing that a large number of fish perished, but our swift emergency response has ensured that many more will now be saved.”

Small fish farms are also at risk. Quinton’s Orchard Fish Farm, in Staffordshire, reported water temperatures of 82F (28C) compared with a normal maximum of 72F (22C). There are fears the 50,000 carp at the fish farm may have to be moved to stock ponds.

Michael Stevenson, of the Berkshire Trout Farm, which has over a million trout in its ponds, said: “Trout don’t like hot water because they’re a coldwater species. If it carries on like this, there’s going to be a lot of trout farms worried.”

The fire service has also been called in to assist with low water levels. The Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service pumped 20,000 litres of water from the River Severn into the Dingle, the water feature and centrepiece of The Quarry, a recreational park of 29 acres, when water levels dropped by 75cm.

The Dingle is home to fish including carp, golden orfe, goldfish and rudd, which were all at risk of suffocating.

Malcolm Stevenson, of Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I am happy to say all the fish survived. In less than an hour, the fish were literally jumping. It was amazing to see. When we got there the pool was drained away and half of it was mud. The bottom of it was drying out and the fish had been forced into a corner, so we got there just in time, really.”

The RSPCA has advised owners of residential fish ponds to top up the water levels and make sure their fish have access to shaded areas.

The Met Office say temperatures could rise to 93F (34C) – the highest this year – in some parts of the country by Wednesday. The highest temperatures are expected in London, Essex, Kent, East Anglia and Lincolnshire.