Fears mount for ‘Britain’s Best Canal’
The Aire & Calder Navigation in West Yorkshire is regarded as one of the best canals for fishing in Britain, but anglers are now fearing for its future.
Widespread fish deaths have been reported, as well as plummeting match weights, and venue regulars believe that these are strongly linked to the emergence of a huge sand barge on the popular waterway over recent months, which they say is destroying the aquatic environment.
The Aire & Calder Navigation in West Yorkshire is regarded as one of the best canals for fishing in Britain, but anglers are now fearing for its future
Capable of carrying 400 tonnes of grit sand, ‘The Farndale H’ began appearing on the canal in late September, which is when the alleged problems began to emerge.
Colin Finney, who runs the Aire Tackle shop, told us of the damage he’s witnessed.
“The barge has been going up and down the canal for a few months. We estimate that five tonnes of fish have been lost,” he said.
“It chugs along, leaving a trail of dead fish that’ve been chopped up and sucked into its engine cooling system. The seagulls follow it as it passes, mopping up the fish like they do with trawlers out at sea.”
“The barge has been going up and down the canal for a few months”
More possible evidence of the damage being caused can be found in pre-lockdown match results. In areas of the canal where 65lb catches of roach won matches last year, a mere 1lb 12oz won one contest. But it’s not just the fish that are allegedly suffering.
“We’ve got otters, kingfishers, herons and other creatures on the canal,” Colin added.
“This barge will have an impact on them too and before we know it, they’ll all be lost as well. Something has to be done.”
Angling Times contacted the Canal & River Trust, which owns the canal, about the reported fish deaths.
A spokesperson for the CRT told us:
“We’re investigating reports of fish in distress and a small number of carcasses along the Aire & Calder. The reports and evidence are inconclusive and could be a result of a number of causes. We’re doing our best to establish the cause of any incidents and will take any action that we believe is necessary.”
Angling Times contacted the barge owner for comment, but they are yet to respond.