Fish stocks boost for North East rivers (June 2017)
皇冠体育app Environment Agency has released 7,500 young grayling into rivers to give fish stocks a boost across the region.
Thousands of fish were released into the River Pont at Ponteland and Matfen as well as tributaries of the rivers Wear and Tees.
It鈥檚 part of the Environment Agency鈥檚 ongoing plans to develop and restore rivers in the region.
皇冠体育app fish were reared at the Environment Agency鈥檚 fish farm near Calverton, Nottinghamshire, using funding from rod licence sales.
Fisheries Technical Specialist Phil Rippon was out releasing some of the grayling in the south of the region today. He said:
We鈥檙e pleased we can provide these fish for restocking as part of our commitment to rod licence paying anglers and to help the process of natural recovery in impacted waters.
While it鈥檚 a really important aspect of our work, it鈥檚 one of many things we do together with our partners to develop fisheries, including reducing the effects of pollution, improving habitat and removing barriers to migration.
Rivers have improved dramatically
皇冠体育app Environment Agency releases fish into our waterways annually. Fisheries officers target fish stocking activity in response to impacts on local rivers and using data from national fish surveys to identify where there are problems with poor breeding and survival.
Many of our industrialised rivers have improved dramatically in water quality in the last 30 years and targeted and appropriate restocking has helped the restoration of natural fish stocks and viable fisheries.
Angling is a great way for everyone to keep healthy and enjoy the natural environment. All rod licence income is used to fund work to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries.