Hundreds of struggling fish taken to safety from lake

[Slack lines]

NORTH Lincolnshire Council has rescued struggling fish from a dangerous lake, after hundreds washed up dead on its banks.

 

The lake, at the foot of Timberlands in Bottesford by the Lakeside Retail Park road, had lost a lot of water due to warm weather, and contractors were brought in before any more fish perished.

 

They used electrofishing to stun the fish, which involves two electrodes delivering current into the water to stun the fish.

 

Approximately 70 fish were then rescued from the water and transferred to transportation tanks. The fish removed from the lake included bream, carp, roach, rudd, eels, goldfish and pike. Mark Gregory, of Coarse Fishing Services, was responsible for removing the fish from the water.

 

He said: "We have had to recover the fish because of the low oxygen and water levels at the lake.

 

"After we take them to a holding facility in the transportation tanks, and any risk of disease is eliminated, the fish will be relocated to a new lake.

 

"The fish are in desperate need of a more sustainable environment, and this is the best way to ensure their safety.

 

"It is important that we see North Lincolnshire Council respond so positively, because it shows their support for the environment.

 

"The pond certainly needs some exploratory work to begin with, because we still don't know the root of the problem. If the issues with the lake can be solved, then there is no reason for the council to avoid repopulating this water.

 

"The important thing is that we have been able to stop any more fish from perishing in this lake, and we have managed to do so quickly and efficiently."

 

A North Lincolnshire Council spokeswoman said: "The rescued fish were moved under licence to a temporary quarantine holding in Haxey.

 

"We do not yet know the long-term future of the pond, but have been working closely with the Environment Agency and taking their advice."

 

Andrew Taylor, an ecologist from North Lincolnshire Council, said: "No one wants to see the fish die, and loss of water has always been an issue when the weather becomes warmer.

 

"The fish struggle with lower oxygen levels in the water, and the plan is to eliminate any trace of disease, before hopefully relocating them somewhere safe.

 

"We have had a lot of advice from the Environment Agency, who have worked closely with us to help ensure the safety of the fish."

.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk