No return for fish removed from Chasewater during Dam repairs
Chasewater. Pic: Manic Preachings
Anglers have been told that the fish removed from Chasewater while the Dam is repaired will not return.
As work continues to drain water from the reservoir, the fish are set to be handed over to British Waterways who will take ownership of them.
But Lichfield District Council say that not enough income is generated from angling licences each year to make mass restocking of Chasewater viable once the water level is returned to normal.
A spokesperson for the Council said:
“Once the water levels and the ecology of the reservoir are back to acceptable levels, we could theoretically consider restocking the pools with new fish, but as we only make less than £500 from angling licenses a year, we won’t have available monies to do this. The lake’s Special Scientific Interest status would also restrict how we could restock the reservoir, and no alien species or trout would be allowed back.
“Therefore, we will be allowing the reservoir to restock with fish life naturally from the streams that feed the reservoir, as part of the refilling operation. Whilst we recognise this may be a disappointing outcome for local anglers, we know it is the most ecologically sound approach.”
The Council said the fish would need to find new homes after admitting it did not have any alternative locations for them.
The spokesperson continued:
“Whilst it sounds simple to suggest that we keep the fish we take out of the reservoir, and then put them back in when the works are completed, unfortunatley this isn’t a practical solution. The Council has no available water bodies to temporarily rehome the fish.”
No decision has yet been made on where the fish from Chasewater will be relocated to.
Work is set to begin on the process of removing them in the next few weeks.
It’s a real shame that Chasewater won’t be restocked. Some of my early childhood memories of Chasewater were of people catching pike after pike on the pier.
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it will be a great loss from the water!! BUT I DO KNOW OF A GREAT SYNDICATE where these large carp could be rehomed looked after and treated with respect by some great andlers!!
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This will be a great disapointment to every angler to find out that the fish will not be returned..I have fished in this lake for the past 40 years catching mainly pike to double figures, and chub and perch up to 4 pounds losing monsters on the way..The works on the dam is alleged to cost between 3.5 to 5 million big ones, surely the cost of storing and returning these fish back to there home wont even cost the paperwork. The grebes and cormorants , northern divers and other wildlife will also be sadly missed…..steve w..
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Hi all, If its ok I would like to direct those of you that are interested in the fish in Chasewater to the Lichfield Council Chasewater Dam blog. It can be found here http://www2.lichfielddc.gov.uk/chasewaterdam/2010/02/24/will-the-fish-be-put-back-into-chasewater/#comments or on the LDC website. Hope thats ok as someone has put a link to here on there
It would take to long to repost everything from there but if you are interested then have a look at some questions that are being asked about the welfare of the wildlife. thanks J
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It’s terrible that they aren’t going to restock it and to say they only make £500 a year on angling is probably true but why dont you improve the facilitys for anglers? I mean there is no safety for fishing on your own, you let yobs ride motorbikes around the lake etc. Back in the 1990’s the fishing was top class. You could catch 1lb roach ten a penny off the pier. Before your float had even settled you had got a bite. Why dont you repair the pier while the water is down and only allow anglers who have brought a day ticket to go on there? Mind you it wont matter now as there wont be any fish to catch. It will never be the same again, a great great shame
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The be all and end all is that it aint fluffy and cuddly so stuff it !!! Its a terrible waste and blindingly obvious that Lichfield District Council could,nt give a monkeys about what happens to the fish in here. The operation to net it will cost around £10,000 and the financial value of the fish removed will far outweigh this cost. The estimated 100,000 small fish that died would cost a fishery owner up to £50,000 to purchase and dont forget that there are still 30 – 40 thousand adult fish still in Chasewater with upto 400 specimen fish. A specimen carp that weighs around 30lb can alone command a fee up to £6000 on the market so when you do the maths it would appear that Lichfield Council are in effect giving your money (the Lichfield taxpayer) away. The money raised if the operation was run by LDC could be used on other areas that require money within Lichfield but it would seem that your council are more intent on giving these fish away and washing their hands of the problem. I’ll tell you one thing though Walsall and Cannock councils must be smiling their heads off right now as their gift to Lichfield Council is now going to cost up to £5 million pounds (which looks like it will have to borrow) and I bet you that in coming years the Lichfield taxpayer will be facing increasing rises in tax to cover the costs !!!!?!!! And what are the plans for the future for Chasewater?? No fish which in turn will lead to less birds ! Still yobs over there on motorbikes and youths in the summer setting fire to areas of the park. I would’nt at all be surprised if there are houses built, by where the track used to be !!, because Chasewater will struggle to find any other sources of income. Unless of course you fancy catching the train past the silt covered landscape and maybe if your lucky you may see some little tearaways on an old moped racing up the side of you !! RIP CHASEWATER x
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I totally agree with paul regarding the fishing on this great lake…If the council made big improvements to the pier and restocked the lake with prime fish and charged accordingly, Put fishing pegs along parts of the shore, I am sure this would make a good angling venue and attract anglers from everywhere… There are a lot of lakes prob not of this size which caters for fishermen and is still a good haven for wildlife..
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