Christmas stocking: River Brue and Chard Reservoir get fish number boost
The Environment Agency's annual restocking programme is in full swing ahead of the spawning season
This time of year may usually be associated with the traditional red and white Christmas stockings - but for the Environment Agency, they've been recently more focussed 'stockings' which are rather more fishy.
Across Somerset, thousands of fish have been given new homes just in time for the holiday season, thanks to the annual restocking programme run by the Environment Agency.
Earlier this week, the River Brue - near Glastonbury saw a boost to its numbers, thanks to the programme, with 1,800 more fish now in its waters.
That includes chub, roach, dace and bream in the waterway where fish died over the summer because of the high temperatures and prolonged dry weather, which led to drought conditions across the region.
Over at Chard Reservoir, which is managed by Somerset District Council and the Chard and District Angling Club, 2,000 more tench and roach are now in the stillwater, following a request from the club to help replenish stocks.
Every year, the Environment Agency’s Calverton Fish Farm near Nottingham breeds coarse fish for release into rivers and still waters across England to help boost fish populations.
River levels have returned to normal after the autumn rainfall and flows are plentiful for the new arrivals.
Liam Timothy, Environment Agency Fisheries Officer, said: "Somerset boasts many angling clubs which is evidence there is a healthy amount of fish in the county’s waterways. But occasionally a helping hand is needed to restore the natural balance in the wake of an incident or decline.
“The work of our National Fish Farm is funded by income from licence fees, so in the lead up to Christmas it’s great to see the fish farm continuing to produce strong and healthy fish needed for re-stocking and recovery.”
The Environment Agency's restocking programme happens in the winter because temperatures are low.
What that means for the fish is that they have the best possible rates of survival, because - they say - it minimises any stress on the fish.
It's also done when numbers are low - that could include when a pollution incident depletes stocks.
Replenishing stocks can also happen to create new fisheries and opportunities for anglers to fish.
Christmas is a good time to introduce the fish into rivers, as it enables them to acclimatise to their new surroundings, ahead of their spawning season in the spring.
Fish also play a critical role in sustaining a river’s finely-balanced eco-system, so the wider natural environment will also get a festive boost.
The restocking is part of an annual programme funded by income from rod licence sales.
You need a rod fishing licence to fish for salmon, trout, freshwater fish, smelt or eel with a rod and line in England, and you can find out more here.