20
October
2015
|
09:53
Europe/London

500% increase in fish caught in Thames

76 anglers across London gathered earlier this month for the annual Thames Fishery Research experiment. Nearly 600 fish were caught including sole, eel, cod and flounder – an almost 500% increase on last year’s competition – indicating the good environmental condition of the Thames.

The results show how dramatically the health of the Thames has recovered since the 1950s & 1960s, when a person risked being hospitalised if they fell into the water.

The event is organised by the City of London Corporation in collaboration with the Thames Angling Preservation Society and the Environment Agency.

Wendy Mead, Chairman of the Port Health Committee said: “More fish were caught this year than in the past two years and the variety of fish caught is cause for celebration. Although the event is competitive it is also a great way to involve the local riverbank communities - including schools - to establish the current health of the Thames. This year’s results show the importance of this marvellous resource and how highly the City Corporation regards its safe-guarding responsibilities.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

PRESS ENQUIRIES:

Susanna Lascelles, Media Officer, City of London Corporation

Tel: 020 7332 1754

Email: susanna.lascelles@cityoflondon.gov.uk

About the event

The Thames Fishery Research Experiment is an annual angling event held along the foreshore of the River Thames, one and a half miles downriver from the Port Health Lower Thames Office in Denton, Gravesend. The event is organised by the City of London Corporation in collaboration with the Thames Angling Preservation Society and the Environment Agency. Financial contributions are received from the Fishmongers’ Company and the Port of London Authority (PLA).

The Experiment encourages sustainability and conservation through the rules of the competition which require young and undersize fish to be returned immediately to the river once recorded.Eels are no longer to be taken away from the riverside due to the low numbers in the Thames. Judging is based on the greatest variety of fish caught and a scoring system is used which was originally devised by Dr Wheeler of the Natural History Museum. The system rates fish according to scarcity and significance in the context of a cleaner river.

About the City of London Corporation

The City of London Corporation provides local government and policing services for the financial and commercial heart of Britain, the 'Square Mile'. In addition, the City Corporation has three roles:

(1) We support London’s communities by working in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on economic regeneration, education and skills projects. In addition, the City of London Corporation’s charity City Bridge Trust makes grants of more than £15 million annually to charitable projects across London and we also support education with three independent schools, three City Academies, a primary school and the world-renowned Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

(2) We also help look after key London’s heritage and green spaces including Tower Bridge, Museum of London, Barbican Arts Centre, City gardens, Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest, Burnham Beeches, and important ‘commons’ in south London.

(3) We also support and promote the ‘City’ as a world-leading financial and business hub, with outward and inward business delegations, high-profile civic events and research-driven policies all reflecting a long-term approach.

See www.cityoflondon.gov.uk for more details.