Anglian Fisheries Surveys and Project Update- February 2014

Angling interests have requested an update on our rod licence funded programmes. A summary of the 2013 surveys completed and 2014 planned is provided. Details of fisheries improvements projects and associated work are also listed.

Anglian Fisheries Surveys

Eastern Area- Kelvedon team covering Essex and S. Suffolk 2013 2014

We surveyed 49 main river sites on the The following sites are scheduled: following rivers:- R Stour catchment eel monitoring – 10 sites R Gipping, Mardyke, R Ter, Sandon Brook, including main R Stour, R Brett, R Box, Ramsey River, Chelmer & Blackwater Belchamp Brook and Chad Brook. Navigation/Canal, R Stour, R Chelmer, R R Colne – 16 sites Can and R Wid. R Stour (annual fish surveys) – 10 sites R Pant – 6 sites We surveyed 12 headwater sites R Blackwater – 14 sites Holland Brook (carried over from 2013)– 2 Elver monitoring sites R Wid (carried over from 2013) – 1 site

4 headwater sites

Elver Monitoring (C&B Navigation Essex & R Stour) - 2 national sites

Eastern Area- Norwich team covering Norfolk and N. Suffolk 2013 2014

We surveyed 48 main river sites including R The following sites are scheduled: Tas, R Bure and R Wensum. River Glaven – 7 sites 15 headwater sites (2-3 people, 2-3 sites per R Tas – 2 sites day) R Stiffkey – 6 sites R Bure – 2 sites 6 hydroacoustic validation surveys (4 people, R Waveney – 8 sites 1 per day) R Tud – 2 sites R Wensum – 8 sites Elver monitoring at 3 sites 3 other sites

14 headwater sites (2-3 people, 2-3 sites per day)

Elver monitoring at 3 sites Eastern Area Hydroacoustic surveys

The survey programme is currently on hold due to health and safety/welfare concerns with the boat. However, the aim is to be continuing with the work this autumn with a different boat.

The existing programme (up to 2012) was as follows:-

R Bure, R Waveney and R Yare – surveyed annually. R Ant & R Thurne – surveyed 3 yearly in 2011, 2014 etc

This programme is subject to National and Local review/agreement and is likely to change. Central Area- Brampton Team 2013 2014

Nar – 2 Sites Nar - 2 sites Rhee - 4 Sites Ely Ouse – 3 sites Granta - 6 sites Cut Off Channel – 5 Sites Guilden Brook / Shep / Mel - 3 sites Relief Channel - 3 sites Upper Cam - 5 Sites Gt. Ouse Newport Pagnell to Bedford – 8 Lower Cam – 5 Sites Sites Elstow Brook - 1 Site Old West – 5 Sites St Ives Chub - 1 Site River Snail – 2 Sites Swavesey drain - 1 Site Soham Lode – 2 Sites Kym - 3 Sites Wicken/Reach/Burwell Lode – 6 Sites Ouzel - 7 Sites Counter Drain – 5 Sites Ivel - 5 Sites River Delph – 5 Sites Bourn Brook - 2 Sites River Oughton -1 Site N.Norfolk eels sites – 5 sites. Gt. Ouse Brackley to Newport Pagnell - 10 Elver site monitoring Sites Silver eel migration monitoring Gt. Ouse Brampton to Earith – 5 Sites Hydroacoustic surveys on Ely Ouse and Lower Ouse eel sites - 5 Sites Relief Channel Elver site monitoring Silver eel migration monitoring Investigative surveys planned. Likely to increase. Ely Ouse Hydroacoustic survey Nar -2 sites Heacham -3 sites Investigative surveys on the river: Ingol – 3 sites Nar -3 Sites Gaywood – 1 site Heacham -2 Sites Hopton Brook- 1 site Granta - 1 site Soham Lode - 1 site Hiz – 1 site

Post habitat improvement surveys Ouse Nar

Barbel studies Ivel Upper Ouse- 8

Northern Area- Kettering Team covering Northamptonshire 2013 2014

48 sites on Gwash, Eyebrook, Nene, 55 sites on Welland, Eyebrook, Stonton Welland, Ise, Mortons Leam – plus 23 sites Brook, Langton Brook, Chater, Gwash. for WFD / local needs Additional WFD and local investigations to be added 5 yellow eel monitoring sites on the Nene

Eel rack monitoring on the Nene

Northern Area- Manby Team covering Lincolnshire 2013 2014

37 sites on Witham, Bain, West Fen Drain, 71 sites on Witham, Slea, Billinghay Skerth, Waith Beck, Hobhole, Slea, plus 40 sites for Till, Bain, Fossdyke Canal, additional WFD WFD / local needs and local investigations to be added

One hydroacoustic survey on the Witham

All future programmes are subject to change depending on the available finances, resources and any reprioritisation decisions.

Fisheries Improvement Projects

Eastern Area

A number of eel passes have been planned or completed in 2013/14- Horstead Sluice (Bure), Costessey Mill Weir (Wensum), East Mills (Colne), Judas Gap (Stour), Flatford Mill (Stour) 3x Minsmere Sluices, Dunwich River Tidal Flap, Ellingham Sluice (Waveney)

Hickling Staithe access improvements, includes a 10 year management agreement to maintain boat angling access at a strategically critical Upper Thurne slipway. £2.5k rod licence contribution + funds/in kind from other partners

Horsey Mere viewpoint improvements: angling facilities, access, erosion protection, 10 year management agreement. £2.5k rod licence contribution + funds/in kind from other partners

Rockland to Langley Flood Defence Works incorporated angling access improvements along 3km of tidal River Yare. FCRM funded

Install 3 disabled accessible swims and improved bank access at Buckenham, ongoing construction. £18.3k rod licence funding in collaboration with RSPB and BASG

Continuation of the Broadland Salinity Project: volunteer monitoring was particularly important during winter storm surges.

Broadland Pike Tagging project, published a recent project update to update anglers, Phase 2 planned for 2014.

Partnership with the John Innes Centre to support a pHD studentship researching biochemistry and toxins of Prymnesium parvum. Continue to support international partnership to study the ecology and management of Prymnesium in the Upper Thurne

Barbel stocking and monitoring- 5th year of stocking tagged fish in the River Wensum, combined with surveys at noted spawning and juvenile habitat areas.

2 major River Wensum restoration schemes completed at Sculthorpe Moor and on River Tat tributary. Variety of measures to improve habitat quality included channel narrowing, insertion of woody debris, and redistribution of the gravel bed to create glides and pools. 4km of river enhanced, WFD and SAC/SSSI status improved. FCRM Funded

Supported installation of otter fencing at Alderson Lakes (Gipping Angling Preservation Society), Blaxhall Pit (Woodbridge AC) and Woodrising Fishery.

Design and publication of Angle on the Broads including a free Broadland Pike Catching & Conservation DVD. Distributed 10,000 copies. £13,120 rod licence contribution in partnership with BASG.

BASG website development. Our small rod licence contribution (£1,880) secured £10,000 grant from Broads Sustainable Development Fund and significant volunteer time from BASG/AT

Central Area

Improvements to the River Lark d/s Cavenham Stream, worked closely with the Lark Angling Preservation Society – Total cost around £8k (rod licence funds)

Woody debris installation work in the Upper Ouse, several sites including Sherrington, Water Stratford. Working with partner organisations and training our in-house Operations Delivery staff – Small FCRM/Fisheries cost etc

Gravel jetting and gravel redressing at sites on Ivel, Bedford Ouse and Upper Ouse- Small fisheries cost

1km river restoration on the Little Ouse at Blo’ Norton – Biodiversity/Operations Delivery funded

1.5km River and Floodplain restoration at BTO reserve, Thetford- Biodiversity/Operations Delivery funded

Proposed 1km river restoration on Little Ouse at Rushford – c£15k Forestry commission funded

1.6km River Lark restoration at West Stow Country Park - £15k Defra WFD GiA

Continued funding of barbel research, involves Bournemouth University Post-doctoral student- Total cost around £8k (50% rod licence funds)

Eel pass at Abbey Heath on the Little Ouse – FCRM funded £20k cost

Eel pass at St Ives Staunch on the Great Ouse, installation weather dependant! – FCRM funded £50k cost

Ely Ouse bank and swim preparations for the AT Div 2 champs- Cost covered by FCRM and rod licence funds

Further monitoring on the River Wissey fish pass– Rod licence funds for equipment plus fisheries staff time

Supported installation of otter fencing at Soham By-pass Fishery.

We are working closely with Norfolk Rivers Trust, Greensands Trust and Milton Keynes Parks Trust to influence their work/project programme, and provide technical advice and practical assistance where we can. We will have Upper & Bedford Ouse Catchment Partnerships that can to deliver fisheries outcomes.

Working with a range of clubs and the AT to progress angling participation outcomes- notably Milton Keynes AA, Biggleswade and Hitchin AA, Shefford &District AA, Cambridge Fish Preservation AS, Cottenham School and Manor Farm Fishery

Northern Area

River Witham improvement u/s Great Ponton, fished by GAFFS, some work to be completed this coming spring. Total cost £35k

Progressing fisheries improvements at Barkston on the River Witham in association with GAFFS, some delays due to landowner issues. Cost to date £9k

River Witham improvement at Easton, near to a popular length fished by GAFF. Total cost £40k

Duston mill stream on the River Nene – riparian and river habitat improvements. Total cost £36k

Pennywort Control on the river Nene- FCRM/Waterways funded

Production of eel habitat priority plans for Nene, Welland, Glen, Witham & drains, Steeping, Ancholme. In progress. £4k FCRM funding.

Woody material project d/s Orton Weir on the Nene to protect canoe club bank. Waiting for consent and must be completed before breeding bird season. £2k FCRM money

Revitalise project support. Delivered Rushton loop restoration on the Ise. £6k fisheries and biodiversity funding

Angler access improvements and site maintenance- Wainfleet, Maud Foster, Peterborough and North Bank. £4k FCRM/Fisheries funding

River Welland WFD programme – Harringworth, u/s Ashley improvement works and Stonton Brook. £126k WFD GiA

WFD Fish passes – 3 small ones on Maxey Cut to make passage easier at low flows. Also weir removal at Stonton and Langton Brooks. Snagging issues at Tallington, Duddington and Ashley. Preparatory work at Market Harborough to support Welland Rivers Trust. WFD GiA funded.

Supported installation of otter fencing at Revesby Reservoir Fishery.

Angling Participation Work- Wooton Parish Council pegs, Cleethorpes AC pegs, Fermyn Wood taster session, Burghley country show support, Boston & District AA school competition prizes, ECL events, Flylife training for GAFFS, Rutland Water fly fishing taster event- £5k rod licence plus partner funding

Snipe Dales on Lymn to improve brook through Lincs Wildlife Trust reserve for trout. Fisheries and Biodiversity funded.

Ongoing Fisheries Research

Title Partners Lead Area

Using ADCP technology to develop indicators for fish Cranfield University Central passage assessment DIDSON assessment of fish behaviour at tidal flap fish Central passes Aquatic Control Validation study for Siphon Fish Pass Engineering/Fish Flow Central International/HIFI Investigation into minimising fish entrainment and HIFI mortality at EA Pumping Stations Development of fish passage and guidance technology University of

at obstructions and intakes Southampton Providing robust on-water positioning & 3D environmental mapping for autonomous river Cranfield University, Central/Eastern ecosystem monitoring Developing sensors for Prymnesium and its natural John Innes Institute Eastern product toxin. University of Investigating barbel populations on the Upper Ouse Central Bournemouth Crayfish impacts on fine sediment dynamics in lowland Loughborough University Northern rivers Developing a monitoring tool to identify and quantify the Brighton University Northern impacts of particulate matter in freshwater ecosystems. Understanding the behaviour & movement of eel in relation to physical and hydrodynamic conditions at CEFAS Eastern riverine & tidal structures Quantifying fish response to acoustic bubbles in fresh NERC/University of and saline water: the pathway to effective "Scarefish" Eastern Southampton/CEFAS technology