Fish stocking criteria

[beachball]

I was just wondering what criteria is used when fisheries want to stock none resident species ,such as wels or grass carp etc.
is it proximity to other water courses such as drains or is it proximity to main rivers and the chance of flooding?
cheers Malc.

[Deleted]

I've heard that non-native species cannot be stocked in fisheries which come under flood plains malc so that they cannot then escape into rivers in the event of a flood.

Jon

[envagencyyorkshire]

Hi Malc

Each application to stock a non-native species is looked at on it’s own merits. To keep a non-native species you must first get a licence from CEFAS (Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science). CEFAS will consult with us before issuing this consent and we will visit the fishery to make sure that there is screening in place to prevent escape and that the water is fully enclosed i.e. has no open inlets or outlets. We would also check whether the water to be stocked is within a flood plain and if it is then the application would be turned down.

We are aware that there are some fisheries in our area which are keeping non-native species without a consent. We are currently trying to visit as many of these fisheries to get them to either get a licence to keep the fish or to remove them when obtaining a licence isn’t a possibility.

There’s more information here www.efishbusiness.co.uk/formsandguides/ILFALeaflet.pdf

Frances Dine – Fisheries Officer