In 2017 the team at the UEA and JIC proved that toxic alga blooms could be managed by dosing with hydrogen peroxide,
5 years later and the EA hasn’t being able to deliver a working solution on the ground, despite many promises. Below is how this has been tracked by both BASG and the Angling Trust
Extracts on Prymnesium Management progress from AT – EA management meetings, which have been attempting to address the delivery of a management plan and incident response within the Agency, since recommendations were agreed within the Task and Finish Group back in 2018.
EA Management forum 22 Mar 2018
Prymnesium Management:
Recent paper. Stakeholders Group meeting required to consider recommendations from JIC.
Action: JW to convene meeting of Working Group.
EA Management forum 22 Oct 2019
Prymnesium Management
KA raised concerns re: progress of incident response. Action: JW to check if Incident Plan has been updated and advise KA.
KA is keen to see the Prymnesium group re-invigorated. Action: MS to ensure future meeting dates are in place (frequency every 6 months)
EA Management forum 22 Apr 2020
Prymnesium Management
TB advised that the management plan had been updated in line with Coronavirus guidance. £6.5K has been spent on peroxide dosing equipment. The group is being reactivated and Steve Lane will contact KA, agreed to consider merging this group into the Upper Thurne group.
EA Management forum 20 Apr 2021
Prymnesium – MS advised acquiring some additional equipment is being acquired so can deploy peroxide and that the Upper Thurne Working Group and the Prymnesium incident plan will be a priority for the new Fisheries Tech Spec.
EA Management forum 21 Oct 2021
KA reflected on the history and the production of the incident management and reflected on the lessons that can be learnt for the Broads. MS advised that the salinity incident (earlier this year) is being reviewed and the operation of the gate this week, has followed a revised plan and agrees principles of approach in the West can be replicated in the East.
DH and KA would welcome increased confidence in the EAs incident response and offered to promote good news stories with the angling community. KA would welcome a prymnesium exercise next year.
MS described the restrictions being placed on teams in terms of incidents attendance, a message has been placed on the .gov website, this approach is due to the funding issues.
DH keen to explore how available resource can be best used to support incident response.
EA Management forum 28 Apr 2022
TBC
