The Environment Agency is putting thousands of fish back into the River Slea after a pollution incident decimated its fish stocks.
In 2003 hundreds of litres of pesticides were washed into the River Slea when haulage contractor Michael Raynor and local contractor Gordon Bristow were cleaning out pesticide drums on behalf of Gareth Toogood, of Marque Technology Ltd.
The two men let the contaminated water run off into a drain, which led into the River Slea. Some 15 miles of river downstream of Sleaford were contaminated, and although the Environment Agency was quick to try and contain the incident, around 100,000 fish were killed and all other aquatic life was wiped out.
In 2005 the Environment Agency took Raynor, Bristow and Toogood to court over the incident, and the trio was ordered to pay £33,000 towards the cost of re-stocking the river and £62,000 towards Environment Agency legal costs.
On Wednesday fisheries officers from the Environment Agency will be donning their waders and releasing 2,000 rudd, 1,000 roach, 2,000 bream and 1,000 dace at various points along the River Slea. These 6,000 fish have a combined value of £6,000 – paid for by the proceeds of the prosecution.
This is the third year that such re-stocking has taken place. Wednesday’s 6,000 fish will bring the total number of fish put back into the river to 24,000. It is hoped that the fish will now start to recolonise naturally but if a survey finds that is not the case, then more fish will be stocked again next year.
Chris Reeds, Ecological Appraisal Team Leader said:
‘By restocking the river we are hoping to give it a new lease of life, and restore the fishing here to its former glory. The pollution in 2003 was absolutely devastating for the river, and in fact was the most serious water pollution incident ever seen in Lincolnshire.
‘The River Slea once boasted a very lively fish population and in time we hope the fish stocks in the river will thrive again.’
