Angling Trust East of England Fisheries Forum (Cambridge) Chris Middleton & Kye Jerrom Fisheries, Biodiversity & Geomorphology East Anglia Area 17 November 2016
This presentation is a snap shot of where your rod licence money has been spent so far during 2016 in East Anglia (Great Ouse catchment), topics covered include: Fisheries monitoring programme 2016 ARIS underwater sonar fish investigation River Nar habitat enhancement Stony Stratford bypass channel Fisheries Improvement Programme (FIP) Great Ouse barbel PhD project outcomes Fisheries incident response 2016 Annual Fisheries Report 2015/16 East Anglia Fisheries Report 2015/16
The 2016 surveys recorded some excellent specimen fish on the upper river Great Ouse between Brackley and Newport Pagnell and on the river Ivel between Henlow and Tempsford. The Middle reaches of the river Great Ouse between Brampton and Earith recorded significant numbers of juvenile roach and dace. Perch Ivel at Biggleswade Common Barbel (13lb 8oz) Ivel at Girtford Common Carp (11lb 2oz) Ivel at Girtford
Chub Ivel at Tempsford Chub Great Ouse at Cosgrove Barbel Great Ouse at Cosgrove Roach Great Ouse at Buckingham
Barbel Great Ouse at Cosgrove Brown trout Great Ouse at Water Stratford Pike (22lb) Cam at Upware Brown trout Nar at Narford Hall
ARIS setup, collecting real time data An investigation into the distribution of fish populations on the River Delph at Welney in Norfolk during a period of localised low dissolved oxygen. To view the underwater sonar footage copy and paste the link below to the Environment Agency YouTube channel: ARIS (Adaptive Resolution Imaging Sonar) camera https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx5nn24ukym
Historic channel modification and maintenance has resulted in an over widen, heavily embanked, trapezoidal channel, lacking habitat and morphological and flow diversity. Working with the local angling club, the river at Narborough was narrowed using 100m of brushwood bundles and pre-established coir rolls. Pre enhancement photo Post enhancement photo Post enhancement photo
Downstream at Pentney the right flood bank was pulled back to allow for the creation of a marginal berm providing habitat for fish and wildlife, whilst also increasing flood storage capacity. At the same time 100 tonnes of gravel was applied to the river creating riffles/spawning habitat for rheophilic fish species. Post enhancement photo, winter 2015/16 Post enhancement photo, summer 2016 Post enhancement photo, spring 2016
A new bypass channel was excavated around Stoney sluice, a known barrier to fish migration, providing access to upstream spawning habitat, offchannel river refuge during periods of high flows as well as providing new habitat for fish to utilise, particularly juveniles. Pre works aerial image Post works photo, summer 2016 Post works photo, summer 2016
Case Study: Cambridge Fish Preservation and Angling Society (CFPAS) were successful in securing rod licence income for a habitat restoration project funded through the Fisheries Improvement Programme. The project at Andersons Lake near Longstanton in Cambridgeshire has now created a venue suitable for providing the clubs angling coaching requirements, and ultimately encouraging more youngsters into the sport. Rod license cash available for investment into projects that create fish and eel passage or improve fisheries habitat. Angling clubs are the lead partner and deliver the projects. Ideally 50% match funding e.g. 5000, ( 2500 from the EA, and 2500 from the partner) or contribution in-kind. Priority to projects that improve opportunities for junior angling. Access to approximately 20k per year. Projects can link to the Angling Improvement Fund (AIF) - projects that improve access or protect fisheries from predators (also EA rod license funded but administered by the Angling Trust) If you have a potential project you would like to put forward, get in touch with the relevant fisheries consultative for your location (UOFCA or LOFFCA), or direct to the FBG fisheries team.
Some of the key points from Tea Basics PhD: Stocking barbel has no impact on other species. Stocked barbel are not surviving to reproduce, but do make up angler captures. No historic river Great Ouse strain barbel all fish genetically originate from the river Kennet Early lifestages provide the most significant bottle necks to the population: Lack of suitable spawning habitat. Sedimentation of spawning riffles, which significantly reduces egg/fry survival.
During 2016, fisheries officers attended 14 incidents across the Great Ouse catchment, this included reports of fish in distress, outbreaks of fish diseases, algal blooms and incidences of poor water quality. KHV mortality Prymnesium parvum mortality Blue-green algal bloom
A nationally produced report available for download from December. The report details the work fisheries teams across the EA and our partners have carried out, spending 21 million of fishing licence income to protect fisheries and enhance angling. The national report is supplemented by 16 area specific reports providing local information on work carried out to protect and improve fisheries. Some of the topics covered include: What we do Monitoring Voluntary bailiff scheme Fish passage Fisheries Improvement Programme Habitat restoration Fisheries incidents Copies of these reports can be downloaded from the GOV.UK or Angling Trust websites.
East Anglia Fisheries Report 2015/16 Incidents relating to fisheries may include illegal fishing, fish disease, illegal fish introductions, damage to fish habitat, disturbance of spawning fish and fish kills from pollutions and non-pollution causes. Please remember to report anything suspicious or sightings of dead or distressed fish immediately to the incident number 0800 80 70 60 (it s on your rod licence).
Thanks for listening!