Fish Rescue from the Environment Agency

The following has been received from the Environment Agency with regards to the low water levels on the river Darent:

Fish rescue

We are currently in full incident response mode and have doubled the fishery duty officer roster to deal with the elevated numbers of incidents occurring across the area. The Darent will take priority regarding attendance and deployment of aeration kit. Fish rescues are the last resort, to date we have carried out three rescues, none of which have been on the Darent, however we are prepared to do so if required.

We have received multiple calls about low flows on the Darent of which some have included fish in distress. We have been operating a surveillance plan over several weeks which has confirmed low flows but has not yet confirmed distressed or dead fish. The river has been identified as being of high risk and surveillance will continue. We have responded to a fish kill; however, this was assessed on site as being a consequence of a pollution.

With regards helping we would welcome and encourage your support reporting any signs of fish in distress so we can investigate and respond to these reports.

To do so, please call our emergency number on 0800 807060 providing as many details as you can.

Jonathan

Environment Programme Manager

Kent, South London & East Sussex