Thousands of fish released to revive river ecosystem

2 days ago

Shariqua Ahmed

News image — About 5,000 fish were released along River Nene in Peterborough to boost stocks

Nene Park Trust A person wearing sky blue rubber gloves holding net full of fish over an Oxford blue-coloured bucket. — About 5,000 fish were released along River Nene in Peterborough to boost stocks

A long-term fish conservation project combining restocking with habitat improvement is under way along the River Nene in Peterborough.

It aims to help transform the local ecosystems after thousands of fish were killed due to a combination of pollution incidents and increased predation, including seals entering inland waterways, Nene Park Trust said.

The Environment Agency (EA), working with the Peterborough & District Angling Association (PDAA), released around 5,000 skimmer bream into Gunwade Lake in Ferry Meadows.

The fishing club's chairman, Rob Harris, said restocking was "important", adding that it "must go hand in hand with environmental work and habitat improvement."

Nene Park Trust A man in green chest waders holding a blue bucket, releasing fish into water. — About 10,000 more fish are going to be released in the lake - which connects to the River Nene - in the coming weeks

The new stock has come from Calverton Fish Farm with funding from fishing rod licence money in partnership with the EA, The PDAA and the Nene Park Trust.

The conservation scheme - known as reedbed project - has created a refuge area designed to protect fish from predators and improve survival rates.

It will help with the recovery of fish stocks in the lakes and wider catchment, as well as benefit the wider ecology of the area, the Nene Park Trust said.

More restocking is due to take place over the next few weeks, near Water Newton in Cambridgeshire, with 10,000 fish expected to be released including bream, chub, roach and barbel.

"Stocking has to go hand in hand with habitat improvement. You can't just put fish in and leave them," Harris said.

"We have several ongoing projects to improve habitats, including planting trees around the lakes.

"It is generally a good habitat that we have. But given modern challenges like predatory birds and seals you need to keep improving it."

The club has also put natural materials in the water - such as chestnut fencing - to help fish find sanctuary from predators.

Harris added the organisation was always looking for volunteers to support its work.

In 2024, compounds found in fuel and solvent led to water contamination that killed more than 100,000 fish along the River Nene, although the source of the pollution was not found.

Dead fish were reported along both sides of the riverbank between Orton Backwater and Goldie Backwater by park staff and members of the public.

At the time of the incident, Chris Park of the Nene Park Trust described it as a "sickening sight".