SPECIAL PASS SET TO RESTORE THE HAMBLE FISHERY (Eastleigh Liberal Democrats)

Eastleigh Liberal Democrats <enquiries@eastleighlibdems.org.uk>

SPECIAL PASS SET TO RESTORE THE HAMBLE FISHERY

February 24, 2009 9:30 AM

Chris Huhne with Cllr Keith House, James Humphrys and Hannah Wright For the first time in centuries, sea trout and salmon are likely to be seen far up the Hamble river as the fish will soon be able to navigate past age-old human obstacles.

A special rock-ramp "fish pass" will be the first of its kind in the United Kingdom and will help the spawning sea fish swim as far up the Hamble as they go up the Test and the Itchen.

Eastleigh MP Chris Huhne and Eastleigh leader Cllr Keith House were shown the nearly-completed pass by Solent and South Downs Environment Agency area manager James Humphrys and fisheries project officer Hannah Wright (pictured).

"The three-year £60,000 project will allow the sea trout to swim upstream of the Botley Mill that has blocked their way at least since the eighteenth century" said Ms Wright. "Although the river at Botley is still tidal, the fish have been unable to get past the Mill and its weirs".

Modelled on German fish passes, the Hamble pass is called a rock-ramp because it contains upright stones to create the tossing white water that the fish like, interspersed with tranquil pools where they can rest on their climb upstream. Most of the pass is formed from the old main channel of the river, running down at the valley bottom below the Mill's workings.

"The Hamble river is a chalk stream just like the Test and the Itchen and there is no ecological reason why it should not have just the same variety of fish as its two more famous Hampshire cousins" said Chris Huhne. "This is an exciting project and the Environment Agency and local landowners deserve praise for their farsightedness".

At present, the Hamble is fished for brown trout, but these river fish are typically just a quarter to a third the weight of the sea trout that have been blocked by man's millraces.

"This is a great example of creating a local amenity that will serve generations of local anglers, the most successful and popular participation sport in the country. It will preserve the historic Botley Mill but also restore the Hamble's eco-system" said Cllr Keith House.

"The fish pass will be complete in about a fortnight, and will come into its own this Autumn when the first sea trout may try to get past the Botley Mill successfully for the first time" said Ms Wright.

The owner of the Botley Mill and surrounding land, Mr Jonathan Appleby, has been an enthusiastic supporter of the project, encouraging Environment Agency access to build the improvements.