Midlands electrofishing sparks debate over status of ‘non-native’ zander

Debate is raging once again over the status of zander after contractors were criticised for removing and killing the predators in a canal marina. 

The Canal & River Trust (CRT) electrofished Diglis Marina on the Birmingham and Worcester Canal in Worcester, leading zander fans to question whether it would have any impact on established populations, whether it was a good use of CRT funds and whether other species caught during the operation were returned alive.

The ‘non-native’ zander are being removed from canals in the Midlands

‘Futile’ culls

“It’s an exercise in futility,” said predator angler John Glover, who believes electrofishing actually boosts zander numbers because it tends to remove larger fish, leaving younger ones to thrive. He said waters which aren’t electrofished balance themselves out, leaving silverfish populations to remain naturally consistent.

Mr Glover, of Tusses Lure Division Angling Club, criticised the sporadic electrofishing of CRT waters as a money-making exercise for contractors. He said:

“It’s counter-productive and it’s not efficient. All it generates is more zander, and these small zander go on the rampage, which is what annoys the match anglers.”

Healthy canals

On stretches of canal run by Tusses Lure Division, where the CRT does not routinely remove zander, Mr Glover said the all-round fishing had never been better. Moreover, he added, a zander-fuelled boom in lure angling was bringing money to the local angling economy.

“The canals are the best I’ve ever known them for coarse fishing,” he said.

“I love roach fishing and I reckon it’s currently the best it’s ever been.

“We’re trying to encourage more matches on our stretches and I think match anglers would be pleasantly surprised. I’ve had 2lb roach out of the Oxford Canal and, in the same spot where we’ve caught half-a-dozen zander in a day, a friend and I have each had 100lb bags of bream in the summer!”

John Ellis, the CRT’s fisheries manager, defended the Worcester cull but said he was happy to have a debate about the way canal zander are treated. He said the fundamental issue was legislation, including the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which makes it illegal to stock or return zander to the water. 

“If people want to change the law they should lobby the Environment Agency and Government,” he said.

“Shouting at the CRT is a bit like lobbying the police to change the law on speeding – Parliament changes the laws, not those who enforce them.”

Mr Ellis said fully enclosed stillwaters could legally hold zander and that the CRT would happily donate all its canal-netted zander to such venues for free, but very few waters meet the criteria or have applied for a licence. He said none of the 72 reservoirs under the CRT’s control was classed as fully enclosed. 

Electrofishing is used by the CRT to remove zander from canals

Duty under the law

He added that the approach to non-native species had to be consistent, and that anglers couldn’t pick and choose preferred species to remain.

“We can be prosecuted if we allow zander to enter other waters,” he said.

“There’s case law involving the plant Japanese knotweed, where Network Rail was sued when it started growing in people’s gardens.”

Asked whether removing zander had any real impact on their numbers, he said work focused on stopping populations taking hold in previously uncolonised waters and had successfully eradicated zander on stretches of the Trent and Mersey and Sankey (St Helens) Canals. He said:

“Electrofishing catches fish as small as 10cm-15cm, so we’re reducing zander numbers and overall weight. Its overall effectiveness depends on how efficient and regular you are. 

“I agree there’s not enough science on this subject, nor the money to undertake the research. The industry collectively needs to sit around a table and work out a future.” 

“We can be prosecuted if we allow zander to enter other waters”

Other concerns

Mr Ellis said about 100lb of roach and bream were caught during the cull at Diglis Marina, which cannot be fished, and were taken to a nearby Droitwich Spa AC stretch. Asked why MEM Fisheries, which he founded, was given the electrofishing contract, Mr Ellis said he left the business in 1997 and that an eight-strong procurement panel sat for all CRT tender jobs. 

He said most of the CRT’s 250 tenant angling clubs support zander control, but stated he was in favour of a ‘Midlands canal zander zone’ which the trust proposed to the EA in 2015. No decision has yet been reached. 

“I wish it was easy to legally create zander fisheries, because I think that’s ultimately the solution,” said Mr Ellis.

“That could include a small Midlands canal zone if people could sign up to reasonable compromises – including zander anglers, the EA, CRT, Natural England and wildlife trusts.”

Speaking as a non-executive director of the Angling Trust, Mr Ellis added:

“I’m sure it’ll come up at future meetings.”

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.

Canal angling on the up!

THE NATION’S canals witnessed a surge in popularity among anglers following lockdown, it was revealed this week.

The Canal and River Trust (CRT) said that since sport resumed on May 13, there had been a significant rise in fresh faces lining the banks and a 30 per cent year-on-year hike in sales of tickets for the Canal Pairs Championships qualifiers and Waterway Wanderers fishing permits.

The CRT’s National Fisheries and Angling Manager John Ellis said:

“It’s fantastic to see families and people of all ages taking an interest in canal fishing again and rediscovering what they have to offer. Many want to fish as close to home as possible and canals are perfect for this. 

“The Canal Pairs Champs could see in excess of 200 participating anglers – which is a rarity in this arm of the sport. It’s an exciting time for canal fishing.” 

The Angling Trust’s Let’s Fish campaign, which helps get families into fishing on canals for the very first time, is also now back up and running. Log onto the CRT’s website to book a free Let’s Fish session. 

More anglers are heading to the nation’s canals