Who would of thought that again we saw the power of nature following the tidal surge and locking of salinity impact on the northern broads in early April. This demonstrates the challenges facing not only the broads fishery, but its whole freshwater ecology, as climate change continues to ramp up these events with the continuing rise in sea levels.
What I find amazing is the way the broads fishery has always recovered from such events, be it saline or prymnesium causing tens of thousands of fish moralities, within a couple of years the fish are able to recover. Why is this the case you may ask, when in other riverine catchments, large fish stocking programs are undertaken to recover the natural balance and ecology.
What makes the broads different you may ask. Well our dedicated fisheries team spent 6 years proving that the Broads with its complex set of interconnected rivers dykes and broads all are important in the life cycle of many of the broads fish. Indeed, the evidence is such that now even Natural England admit that such places are important in the spawning and recruitment of cyprid fish. But it doesn’t matter because freshwater plants are more important!
The 2nd attempt to issue a permit to close Hoveton Great Broad to fish, which if recent fish mortality events show, will have devastation impact to the broads fish population and their ability to recover, given the proven science that Hoveton is so important to spawning fish.
We await the outcome, but have our legal team primed all ready for the next challenge.
The strategic importance of the Wensum Drinking Water in supporting the growth of an additional 48,000 homes in and around Norwich, is something we are currently investigating and exploring how to influence peoples use of water and the environment. Finally I mention the winter broads flooding, again more water related issues.
That’s all for now.
Kelvin
Chairman BASG
