Youngsters in Wakefield had the chance to go fishing, and see how fish are bred at a local fish farm to learn about both sides of the fishing industry, thanks to the Environment Agency.
Children from St Nicholas Primary School in Gipton, Leeds, went fishing at Birkwood Fisheries near Wakefield on Monday, May 21. Environment Agency fisheries officers were on hand to teach them the basics and learn more about coarse fish and their local habitat.
They then visited the ABLE Project in Wakefield, where they saw how various species of fish are reared in an innovative, sustainable way at an inland fish farm.
Pete Turner, fisheries officer at the Environment Agency said: “Fishing is a great activity for people of all ages, and this day is an opportunity for children to have a go, and learn more about how fish are farmed. It would be great if some the children went away form this and wanted to take up Britain’s most popular sport.”
The ABLE project is a partnership with Yorkshire Water and Wakefield District Primary Care Trust to regenerate a 34 acre former landfill site at Caldervale Waste Water Treatment Works, Wakefield.
The project raises various species of fish in six tanks, and water for the tanks is warmed by biofuels produced on site.
Graham Wiles, who leads the ABLE Project said: “This is an ideal opportunity for the children to see how fish are being grown in an environmentally sensitive way, whilst also having fun planting trees as their legacy for the future.”
The ABLE Project was set up in 2002 as a research and development project to create Siberian sturgeon and caviar from waste materials.
Cardboard collected from local businesses was shredded for animal bedding, this bedding was then composted and broken down with worms.
The excess worms were then fed to the sturgeon, and when they reach an appropriate size they are harvested and sold as food – the long-term aim is to produce caviar.
As well as the sturgeon, other species being reared include ornamental koi, mirror and common carp, and tilapia and catfish are just being introduced.
