EA Press Release 29-Jun-2011

Hundreds of fish are being removed from a Lincolnshire river as the drought continues despite recent spells of rainfall.

The Environment Agency will be relocating the fish from the Upper River Slea, which is currently experiencing low water levels as a result of the drought.

Fish will be removed from a stretch of river between Cogglesford Mill downstream to Bone Mill Bridge, near to the A17 bypass. An area of the Upper Slea close to the South Kyme is also being closely monitored so action can be taken immediately if dissolved oxygen levels drop.

As well as protecting fish in the Upper Slea, the Environment Agency is also currently working to maintain water levels through the town of Sleaford itself via its Slea Augmentation Scheme – which was switched on 20 May. Cogglesford Mill is at the end of the length of river that benefits from the Slea river support scheme.

Reuben Page, Fisheries, Recreation and Biodiversity Technical Officer, said: “Water levels on this stretch of the River Slea are very low at the moment and although the fish are not currently in distress, we are acting now to prevent potential problems. The river has dried up downstream of Cogglesford Mill during previous drought periods so taking this action now is a sensible precaution.

“It’s important we intervene as early as possible to minimise the impact of low water levels and low dissolved oxygen levels and we are continuing to urge anyone who sees fish that may be in distress to contact us.”

Species of fish that will be removed from the river include chub, dace, roach, pike, perch and trout.

They will be caught by electro-fishing, a technique that temporarily stuns fish and allows them to be netted and transferred to a transport tank. Once water levels in the Slea return to normal, Environment Agency officers will restock as necessary.

The fish are being relocated from the River Slea today.

Anyone who sees fish they believe may be in distress as a result of low water levels or pollution,  should contact the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.