Fish stocks boost for Darlington waters
Thousands of fish stocked in North East rivers.
Fish being stocked in Clow Beck
Fisheries experts have stocked thousands of fish at Darlington as part of the Environment Agency’s ongoing plans to develop and restore watercourses.
The River Tees above Broken Scar saw 1,000 barbel, 2,000 dace and 2,000 chub stocked on Monday 1 February.
A further 3,000 Dace were released into Clow Beck, near Aldbrough St John, and the River Skerne at South Park on Tuesday 2 February.
The Environment Agency releases fish into our waterways annually. Fisheries officers target fish stocking activity using data from national fish surveys to identify where there are problems with poor breeding and survival.
Environment Agency North East Fisheries Officer, Paul Frear, introduced the fish to their new homes this week.
He said:
We’re pleased that we can provide these fish for stocking as part of our commitment to rod licence paying anglers.
Restoration and the creation of new fisheries for all people to enjoy is a very important aspect to our work.
High spring flows and cool summers on the River Tees has impacted on coarse fish survival along with barriers to fish passage, so the Environment Agency stocks fish to help support it.
The Clow Beck was badly polluted last year and thousands of fish were killed. This stocking is part of the restoration and a concerted effort by the Environment Agency is helping to turn this watercourse around.
The fish for stocking all come from the Environment Agency’s fish farm at Calverton, in Nottinghamshire, where between 350,000 and 500,000 fish are produced to stock rivers across the country each year.