River Teme mission to save stranded fish after heatwave
Fish have been rescued from a river on the Shropshire border after becoming stranded due to falling water levels caused by the hot weather.
Officers from the Environment Agency were called in to action along the River Teme close to Leintwardine, near Ludlow, after fish became stranded on gravel beds caused by parts of the river starting to dry up.
Fish have also been left stranded in isolated pools where they are at risk of suffocating due to lack of oxygen.
The fish were carefully stunned using a light electric current and transported to other parts of the river, before being released safely into deeper water.
Officers said the falling levels on the River Teme, caused by the recent spell of dry weather, had produced low river flows which, in turn, had forced the fish on to the gravel beds.
The water was just 34cms deep today, on the lowest edge of its expected depth. Dave Throup of the Environment Agency said: "This is a natural event and occurs from time to time on this part of the River Teme in the summer.
"Over the past couple of months we have received below average rainfall in this area, which has caused river levels on the Teme to fall, leaving the fish stranded.
"It's important that we rescue the fish and take them to a safe location, as part of the work we do to protect and conserve fish stocks during these weather conditions.
"Although our last fish rescue was in 2011, we're finding that, on average, it's happening one in every three years."
Seven environment officers were involved in the mission to rescue the fish from the River Teme.
