Peterborough anglers concerned over 'dire' and 'unprecedented' drop in River Nene fish numbers

The Peterborough and District Angling Association has expressed its dire concern about the drop in fish stocks in the River Nene caused by seals.

The association has described the situation as ‘dire’ and ‘unpredenented’ after a fish survey of the River Nene, carried out by the Environment Agency in February, showed a significant drop in fish population levels in most areas on the Nene compared to when they were last surveyed and there were no presence of seals.

The data was collected using sonar technology during the winter and provided an estimate of the number of larger adult fish (bream, roach, barbel, pike, carp, tench and zander) in different areas of the river.

The results showed:

Peterborough City Centre: 2021- 3000 to 2025- 119

Orton Sluice to Alwalton Lock- 2019- 40 barbel in main river to 2025- 0

Alwalton Lock to Water Newton: 2021- 150 to 2025- 0

Waternewton Lock to Wansford Lock: 2019- 140 to 2025- 0

Overton Lake, Ferry Meadows: 2019- 800 to 2025- 66

Gunwade Lake, Ferry Meadows: 2019 750 to 2025- 1023.

The Environment Agency has suggested that many of the fish from Overton Lake have moved to Gunwade Lake as it is further from the river and provides unfavourable conditions for seals to haul out and rest.

The report also stated that the River Nene is that has “nowhere for larger fish to escape high level predation from seals.

The Peterborough and District Angling Association has called for tough action to protect the ecology of the River Nene and for seals to be released back into their coastal homes rather than in the Nene.

The association has said that it believes that all seals residing in the Nene are tagged rescue seals that have been rehabilitated and later released by the RSPCA at its rescue centre at East Winch in Norfolk.

The Association said: “The situation here is dire and unprecedented. The survey makes bleak reading and it is incredibly difficulty to digest for all involved and anyone who supports not only angling but the environment and the community.

“What makes it even more difficult to accept is that these results were inevitable and signposted by ourselves. The presence of seals residing in the River Nene for extended periods of time was first reported in December 2022 and reported in the months.

“Since this time, the P&DAA have campaigned to all relevant authorities for the removal of these seals. Volunteers have spent hundreds of hours on evidence gathering, campaigning, emailing, telephone calls, meetings both in person and remote, as the only voice calling for solutions that benefit ecology, the environment, fish, people and seals.

“Following the situation on the River Nene, we fully intend to continue to fight for the removal of all seals resident in freshwater fisheries to the long lasting and sustained benefit of the environment.”

In response, a spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “The RSPCA is here for every kind of animal, through rescue, advocacy and prevention and we’re proud of the work we do in rehabilitating seals at our specialist wildlife centres.

“Releasing a seal into the wild is an important and rewarding part of rehabilitation which can often take many months of hard work.

“Our seal rehabilitation work and releases have been developed using robust scientific evidence. We always take great care when we release seals in order to give them the best chance at surviving, and following collaboration with local groups, we now release seals at other locations in the area in the interests of all wildlife.

“Seals are protected by law and rivers are a natural habitat for them. ”