Environment Agency’s Calverton fish farm produces over half a million fish for national restocking in 2024

A Nottinghamshire fish farm has bred more than 500,000 fish for release to help boost fish populations in rivers and still waters across England.

In 2024, the Environment Agency’s National Coarse Fish Rearing Unit, in Calverton, produced and stocked 510,488 fish into waterways around the country — an increase of 6.5% on the previous year when 478,937 were bred and stocked.

75,990 fish were distributed in waterways in the Midlands, with Barbel, Bream, Chub, Crucians, Dace, Grayling, Roach, Rudd, and Tench the varieties stocked by the Environment Agency.

In addition, just under two million advanced reared larvae were also stocked out into the wild.

This was despite a challenging spawning season, due to increased rainfall and cool temperatures during the spring making it harder for broodstock to be located, and causing reduced live food production.

Richard Pitman, fish farm technical specialist at the National Coarse Fish Rearing Unit said: “The work of our national fish farm is funded by income from rod licence fees, so it’s great to see we are continuing to produce strong and healthy fish needed for restocking and recovery.

“Occasionally a helping hand is needed to restore the natural balance following a pollution incident or decline, or to create new fisheries and opportunities for anglers. The annual national restocking programme is funded by income from rod licence sales and usually takes place in the winter. We take great care in ensuring that every fish is fit for purpose when stocked out into the wild. During their 18 months plus at the farm, the fish are fed live natural food, they encounter a range of flora and fauna and are trained in flowing conditions while being grown in the earth ponds.

“Winter is a good time to introduce the fish into rivers, as the water temperatures are low and this minimises any stress on the fish, giving them the best possible survival rates. It enables them to acclimatise to their new surroundings, ahead of their spawning season in the spring.

“Despite the challenging start in 2024, the team at Calverton showed their dedication and commitment throughout the growing season to produce an increase in fish production compared to last year. Their diligence has resulted in over half a million, high quality, fit for purpose fish, being released into the wild throughout England.”

Fish also play a critical role in sustaining rivers’ finely balanced eco-systems, so restocking also boosts the wider natural environment.