Environment Agency fisheries Officers have stocked rivers and lakes in West Thames with over 5000 young fish from Calverton Fish Farm. Barbel, Chub, Dace were transferred to the Thames, Cherwell, Wey, Loddon and Chalvey Ditch and Tench to lakes in Surrey and Berkshire.

The stockings were carried out in collaboration with angling clubs and fishery owners. In some cases the stockings were part of post pollution recovery plans such as the Chalvey Ditch near Slough in others, such as the at Arborfield Mill, part of river restoration scheme. The stocked fish were marked using Alcian Blue, a harmless dye, so they can be monitored for growth and future distribution.

Barbel with blue dye mark

Stockie Barbel ready to be released

EA Fisheries Officer Dominic Martyn and John Drisse of Arborleigh Angling Society gently transfer the Barbel to the river Loddon

EA Fisheries officer Adrian Bicknell transferring Barbel, Chub and Dace ready for the restocking

TAC member Duncan Dimbleby gently releasing hundreds of fish into the once polluted Chalvey Ditch

Adrian Bicknell on the Chalvey Ditch

A once polluted river now returning to health

TAC