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Waterways charity, Canal & River Trust, is completing an important ecological milestone in the recovery from December’s canal breach on the Llangollen Canal at Whitchurch. Around 1,000 fish washed into a neighbouring farmer’s field are being rescued and safely returned to the canal.
The pool of water in the field, which was up to six feet deep in places, has been gradually drained to around knee height to allow a specialist fish rescue team to begin the operation of catching the fish and safely returning them to the canal. The fish include native species such as roach, perch, gudgeon, bream and ruffe.
Whitchurch breach John Ellis with MEM Fisheries
Using specialist fisheries equipment, the rescue team will temporarily stun the fish by passing a low‑voltage direct electric current through the water. This is a safe and widely‑used fisheries management technique that temporarily immobilises the fish and allows them to be collected without harm. They will then be carefully lifted into aerated buckets and transported back to the canal.
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John Ellis, national fisheries and angling manager at Canal & River Trust, said: “Fish welfare is a key priority for our charity, and we will take the utmost care when relocating the fish back to the canal. I’m expecting about 1,000 fish totalling around 200lb to be rescued. The fish appear to be in good health having temporarily been rehomed in a field of water for two months.
Whitchurch breach fish rescue
“The breach has had a real impact on people living and working on the canal and nearby, and this rescue is one small but important step in putting things back together.”
The investigation into the breach along with a plan for the repair is ongoing. Following the initial effort to make the area safe and recover the stranded boats, work has been continuing to secure site access that will be needed to undertake the repair to the canal embankment. This includes the ongoing creation of a site compound and access track.
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For more information on Canal & River Trust including how you can donate money or volunteer with us to support our work visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk
Article Tags:
Canal and River Trust fish rescue, Canal and River Trust news, canal breach recovery, canal conservation UK, canal restoration UK, canal wildlife rescue, environmental rescue UK, fish rescue operation UK, fisheries management UK, inland waterways UK, Llangollen Canal breach, roach perch bream gudgeon ruffe, UK canal repair works, UK waterways news, Whitchurch canal breach 2026
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