Environment Agency Fisheries Report A Summary of the 2013

PPhoto: A typical Nene barbel from the Castor backwater

● 11 sites were fished using electric fishing gear between 12/03/2013 and 25/10/2013.

● Results reported here are using fish greater than 99mm (>99mm) in length as quantitative population estimates are not reliable for fish below 99mm.

● Sixteen species were identified during the survey and 2442 fish were captured.

● The estimated average density (number of fish in a given area) has risen from 6.9 fish / 100m² in 2010 to 11.14 fish / 100m² in 2013, an increase of over 61%.

● The estimated average standing crop (weight of fish in a given area), dropped from 1241 gm/100m² in 2010 to 848 gm / 100m² in 2013, a decrease of 31%.

11 10

9 Sites surveyed in 2013 8 Number Location 1 U/S Long Buckby 7 2 D/S Long Buckby 1 3 Everdon 4 Dodford 2 5 6 4 5 Main Channel 3 6 U/S Lock 7 U/S Ditchford Lock 8 Back Channel 9 Yarwell Mill Back Channel 10 Castor Back Channel 11 Stanground Back Channel

Species density all site (no.fish / 100m2) 0.0034 0.0048 0.03 0.0048

0.33 Barbel 0.91 Bleak 0.02 0.38 Brown / sea trout 3.55 Chub C.bream Dace Eels Gudgeon Perch 3.39 Pike Roach 0.19 0.48 Ro x C.bream hybrid Ruffe 1.80 Tench

0.04

Species standing crop for all sites (gm/100m2) 0.18 0.06 3.03 1.95 0.22 Barbel Bleak Brown trout 172.98 183.74 Chub Common bream Dace European eels 100.53 Gudgeon Perch 166.22 Pike Roach 26.29 Ro C. bream hybrid 23.58 Ruffe 15.97 153.28 1.64 Tench

Common species at a glance

Roach Chub Dace Pike Perch Trout Size in mm no. Largest no. largest no. largest no. largest no. largest no. largest U/S Long ------10 378 Buckby D/S Long ------1 135 2 225 Buckby Everdon ------1 101 Dodford 1 180 51 273 Cogenhoe 2 430 U/S Earls 47 108 1 207 - - - - 184 174 - - Barton Lock U/S 99 236 2 314 - - 2 227 12 215 - - Ditchford Lock Yarwell Mill 306 256 13 532 76 180 7 615 38 218 - - Back Channel Wadenhoe 5 192 13 484 27 197 10 672 21 258 - - Back Channel Castor 188 219 40 354 425 216 7 476 17 235 - - Back Channel Stanground 220 125 - - - - 3 407 98 96 -- Back Channel

Conclusions

Dace are dominant by numbers, with roach sub-dominant. Although the estimated mean density of fish from all sites has risen by over 60% since 2010, the mean standing crop has dropped by 30%. This means that that the average size of fish has grown smaller, although the number of fish in the river is thought to have increased. The survey site at Dodford had an extremely high number of relatively large trout present and due to the average size of fish at other sites being smaller, this has the effect of making the brown trout dominant by weight. Although not recorded by this survey the barbel fishery at Castor is performing very well, with very large fish up to 15lb being recorded. Only one barbel was caught during this survey and that was at Yarwell. However barbel have been observed spawning in the Castor back channel, but it is thought that due to their specific habitat requirements and the reclusive nature of juvenile barbel, it is extremely difficult to capture them when surveying. The river below Orton is recovering well from the pollution of a few years ago, with an increasing number of fish being caught from the tidal section below the Dog in a Doublet Sluice.

Next Steps

The Environment Agency will continue working in partnership with The River Nene Regional Park to develop river habitat improvement schemes. A selection of projects has been put forward for funding and it is hoped that these bids will be successful in 2014-15. Priorities include improved spawning sites and the development of high flow fish refuge areas. The Environment Agency is also working hard to improve fish and eel passage throughout the catchment.

Next Survey

Summer 2015

Before you go fishing don’t forget  You must have a valid Environment Agency rod licence and permission from the fishery owner.  You must comply with the fisheries byelaws.  The coarse fish close season (15th March to 15th June inclusive) applies to all rivers, streams and drains in and Wales but not most stillwaters. Stillwater fishery owners can still have their own close season and rules, so please check with them before setting out

Report illegal fishing If you see any fishing, netting or trapping you think may be illegal, please do not tackle it yourself. Call us immediately on 0800 80 70 60 and tell us:

 Exactly where the alleged offence is taking place  What is happening  How many people are involved and their descriptions  The registration numbers of any vehicles involved If you prefer to remain report an environmental crime anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or https://crimestoppers-uk.org/give-information/give-information-online/