Thousands of fish stocked into North East rivers

Pleasure and game anglers in the North East had cause to celebrate yesterday after 6,000 grayling were stocked into the region’s rivers.

The species, which has suffered more than most in recent years from loss of habitat and pollution, were restocked by the Environment Agency at Clow Beck, in Darlington, as well as the River Pont, in Northumberland.

Clow Beck flows into the River Tees, near Darlington, and has recently had two fish passes constructed. The agency, together with the Tees Rivers Trust, has improved about two kilometres of the river habitat for grayling and the release comes after the agency undertook work to improve water quality and habitats at both rivers.