Page 47 - Anglian angling on the broads

46 Environment Agency Angle on the Broads Environment Agency Angle on the Broads 47

the boat, where they can be safely Hydroacoustic surveys were Broads fish populations fish behaviour. The spawning looking promising. Good angling
netted and recorded. introduced in 2003 to sample success and growth of young pike is opportunities exist in most Broads
fish densities in large lengths of Broads fish communities tend to be currently being looked at. A series of with fine examples of roach to be
Seine netting and electric fishing Broadland rivers without needing dominated by roach and common artificial spawning beds have been caught at Wroxham Broad. Large
surveys can help to provide the to catch any fish. Mounted on bream. The principal predator of fish constructed and placed into Ormesby numbers of smaller fish are well
following information about the a specially designed boat, the is pike. Perch is also a significant Broad in an attempt to increase the distributed throughout most other
fish population: predator of smaller fish.
equipment emits sound waves at numbers of small pike. If successful, Broads. Large bream can be caught
>> Mean biomass of fish in the river pre-determined frequencies into the Recent surveys of Barton, the technique may be applied to in Barton Broad as well as other
or Broad (mean weight of fish per river. These sound waves bounce Wroxham and Hickling other Broads. Further studies have areas and pike are to be found on
square metre of water); off the swimbladders of fish and are taken place in collaboration with the most Broads. Useful information
reflected back to the survey boat Broads University of East Anglia.
>> Mean density of fish in the river or where they can be analysed. For more detailed information
broad (individual fish per square Fisheries data suggests that Barton Overall fish populations within on fisheries surveys on the Broads Authority
metre of water); The river is surveyed upstream and Broad is in the process of change the Norfolk Broads are variable, Norfolk Broads, contact us on 18 Colgate, Norwich NR3 1BQ
downstream over two nights to following mud pumping. The fish but for angling purposes they are 08708 506 506. Tel: 01603 610734
>> Species of fish present in the ensure a good representation of river community appears to be responding
population; habitats is obtained. This technique well to the various efforts in cleaning Broads Authority River Control

>> Growth rates; enables long stretches of river (up up the Broad, although it may take Seeing with sound (navigation problems and advice)
Tel: 01692 678459
to 40km) to be surveyed in a short several more years to confirm this.
>> Age structure and year class period of time. Once the data has www.broads-authority.gov.uk
strengths; been processed, it can be displayed Wroxham Broad continues to hold We are currently assessing new survey equipment, which enables fisheries Broads Authority
significant numbers of specimen
>> Evidence of poor health, disease as a map, showing fish density and roach and maintains a high biomass staff to ‘see with sound’. Known as DIDSON (Dual-frequency IDentification Information Centres:
or non-native species. distribution along the river. classification. The scarcity of smaller SONar). The device uses up to 96 beams of sound to produce high- Beccles (The Quay)
bream is of concern but larger resolution near-video quality images of the underwater world, even in Tel: 01502 713196
specimens are present. cloudy water or darkness.
Hickling Broad presents the most Fisheries Technical Specialist Stephen Lane said, “We are very excited Potter Heigham (Bridge Road)
Tel: 01692 670779
challenging environment in which about the potential of DIDSON to tell us more about the fish and their
to survey and attain reliable, habitat in the Norfolk Broads. A recent trial survey in one of the main Great Yarmouth (North Quay)
representative estimations of the fish boatyards clearly showed how important these areas can be for fish at Tel: 01493 332095
community. The elevated levels of certain times of the year. This will help us to prioritise schemes to protect Hoveton (Station Road)
rudd are encouraging, although the such sites against high salt tides.” Tel: 01603 782281
success of other species is yet to DIDSON can also show up some surprising details. “Whilst surveying a
be determined. very coloured Broadland dyke, we came across a couple of anglers fishing Ranworth (The Staithe)
from the back of a moored cruiser”, said Steve. “They told us they were Tel: 01603 270453
Broads general summary using a secret groundbait recipe and had caught a few fish that morning. Toad Hole Cottage

Scarcity of eels throughout the I think they would have been amazed to have seen just how many fish (How Hill, Ludham)
Broads is of grave concern. Current were actually in their swim. We asked them how many fish they had in their Tel: 01692 678763
fisheries surveys are looking more keepnet – the look on their faces was most amusing when we were able to
closely at eels to attempt to gain a tell them BEFORE they lifted the net out of the water!” Norfolk Wildlife Trust
better insight into their population Berwick House, 22 Thorpe Road,
dynamics. Several specific Norwich NR1 1RW
monitoring projects are in progress Tel: 01603 625540
and schemes to enhance eel stocks www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk
are being developed.

Bream continue to be present on Designed and printed by:
most broads at very low densities. CDS www.cds.co.uk
Routine surveys often fail to pick Angle on the Broads is
up many juvenile fish, so special printed on Cyclus Print,
fry surveys are being undertaken 100% recycled paper.
to assess breeding success. The © The Environment Agency
Ecological Appraisal team is currently Buy your rod licence online:
looking into the feasibility of www.environment agency.gov.uk/
monitoring bream movements and rodlicence, or call:
A nice tench sampled from the margins assessing numbers, using tagging 0870 166 2662.
experiments to better understand