A freshwater swimming club’s plan to cull hundreds of fish to improve water clarity at a lake has sparked fury from anglers - with one of them chained to the railings today.
The fishermen share Henleaze Lake, in Bristol, with the outdoor swimmers, who want the number of fish cut to reduce algae which clouds the water.
But the Environment Agency (which advised on the cull due to be carried out by a private firm) said there was thought to be a “spat” between the two groups using the lake.
Veteran fisherman David Hodges, 59, chained himself to bars at 8am this morning saying he was “disgusted” the way the 200 anglers had been treated.
Mr Hodges, a former window fitter, said: “I’m disgusted at the entire process the swimming club committee have gone through.
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“It was only in the last six weeks that they’ve notified us about their proposals. The report says that the fish are infected (preventing them being moved to another lake), but they only have a naturally occurring parasite.
“I’ve been fishing for 11 years. I’ve never even seen one floating on the surface. No one is even being allowed to see the fish killed for health and safety reasons.
“This isn’t just about the anglers - there are kingfishers and herons here too that rely on the fish. It just can’t see the point to it.”
Mr Hodges, from Westbury-on-Trym, said he was prepared to risk arrest to make his point.
The locks had been glued and the gates padlocked - so far delaying the planned cull of fish including roach, rudd and bream.
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He was joined by a dozen like-minded supporters supervised by Avon and Somerset police who did not intervene in the private dispute.
An Environment Agency (EA) spokesman said that swimming club was concerned about “water clarity”. As the lake was overstocked it did not object to the cull, and agreed to advise on the best way to carry out the work.
The spokesman said: “The fish have got a parasite in their gills so couldn’t be moved to another lake. The only way was to kill them. We are not doing the work, just offering advice.”
A technique called electro-fishing is due to be used to drive the fish towards nets, where they will be put in a tank and killed by a chemical.
The number of carp is due to be reduced from around 156 to 65, but hundreds of smaller fish are also expected to be killed.
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Mark Thompson, an executive member of Henleaze Swimming Club said the lake currently has 11 times the stocking level recommended by the EA.
He wrote on the club’s website this month: “Unfortunately because the fish have the category 2 parasite and we and the Environment Agency have not been able to find another water environment where they could be transferred to, the fish will have to be destroyed.
“This will be done in a humane way according to Environment Agency guidelines.
We deeply regret this but have no other option.
“The Club is completely committed to angling at the Lake and maintaining a mixed coarse fish stock, at a level compatible with good water quality, suitable for a local fishery.”
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The 65 highest quality carp would remain for the anglers.
A spokewoman for Avon and Somerset police said there were no plans to intervene in the dispute, but a unit was present to facilitate “peaceful protest”.
The force said it had no power to forcibly cut Mr Hodges from the railings unless a highway was being blocked or the public were in danger.