Boost for Tiverton Canal

More than 4,000 tench and bream were released into the Tiverton Canal this week to help replace fish lost following a spectacular bank collapse near Halberton in November 2012.

Thousands of fish including pike, perch, bream, tench, roach and eels were washed out of the canal after a section of bank gave way following torrential rain. Water from the canal flooded surrounding fields creating a temporary lake.

Environment Agency officers assisted by members of the Tiverton Angling Club launched an emergency rescue and successfully returned more than 400 fish to the canal, but many of the fish trapped in the lake did not survive.

The Agency was keen to rescue as many of the larger fish as possible as they are an important part of the canal’s breeding stock.

An initial batch of roach, rudd, tench and bream were released into the canal earlier this year as part of a re-stocking programme. The fish were supplied by the Environment Agency’s national fish hatchery at Calverton in Northamptonshire. The hatchery was set up with the sole purpose of replacing fish lost through pollution and other unforeseen incidents.

The latest batch of 4,000 young fish were released into the Tiverton Canal at Sampford Peverell on Tuesday (Dec 10).

"We really appreciate all the help we’ve received from the Environment Agency both at the time of the bank collapse and the re-stocking that has taken place since. Some additional fish were lost last summer due to excessive algal growth in the canal during the hot weather, so this latest batch of fish is especially welcome," said local angler and head bailiff for the Tiverton Angling Club, Ian Nadin.

"The bank collapse resulted in the loss of a significant number of fish from the canal. Some were injured and died within days of being washed into the lake. The re-stocking is important because it will speed up the recovery of the fish population," said Nick Maye for the Environment Agency.

Devon County Council, which owns the canal, installed two temporary dams to prevent further loss of water and to allow repairs to be carried out to the damaged section of bank. The work is due to be completed in February 2014.