Stream rewilding project gathers pace
A STREAM in Charvil has been restocked with more than 1,200 fish as part of plans to gain a better understanding of natural spawning patterns.
The Environment Agency has introduced the fish into St Patrick’s stream in Charvil, a tributary of the River Thames that flows into the River Loddon.
The barbel, roach, dace and chub came from the EA’s Calverton fish farm near Nottingham.
Every year, the farm produces thousands of coarse fish that are released in rivers around the country in locations that have been affected by pollution.
Each of the 300 barbels released in Charvil were marked with blue dye above the right pelvic fin.
Over the past few years, several batches of marked barbel have been released into the Loddon catchment at different locations with different dye markings.
This has included a similar batch of fish on the River Blackwater at Yateley.
Martin Moore, chairman of the Loddon Fisheries and Conservation Consultative, said: “These introduction of marked barbel are part of an initiative to assess the benefit of fish farm introductions, whille at the same time gaining
a better understanding of the success of natural spawning in the River Loddon.
“The ultimate aim is to provide better angling for everyone.”
Steve Dunbar, chairman of the Twyford and District Fishing Club, added: “This fish restocking complements several hundred barbel already stocked this year, and restocking is an important part of our longer-term plan for rewilding and conservation.
“We have a thriving and active club community who are passionate to see our underwater ecosystem returned to its former glory.”
He added that with the information reported by anglers, the hope is to build a better idea about the barbel population in the Loddon catchment, how far they migrate and growth rates.
Twyford and District Fishing Club and the Loddon Fisheries and Conservation Consultative are keen that anglers report any captures with photos, weight and length, along with the location of capture of any of the blue-marked barbel.
■ Report any marked barbel information at www.lfcc.org.uk/ report-a-barbel.
■ For more information contact adrian.bicknell@environmentagency.gov.uk.