Migrating Fish Caught On Camera

October 9, 2007

Release from: BBC News Online

Underwater CCTV cameras have been installed in a Cambridgeshire river to monitor the numbers of migrating fish.

The Environment Agency has mounted a small digital camera at the Dog in a Doublet Fish pass on the River Nene near Peterborough.

Agency staff will watch the footage and note the fish that go along the pass.

The data gives an indication of the species and numbers of fish using the river and is an indicator of the quality of the health of the river.

Protecting fisheries

The pass, built in 1994, slows the flow of water through the channel enabling fish to pass the structure and complete their natural migration upstream.

Some of the fish already caught on camera include roach, eel and some large pike.

The agency's technical specialist Chris Randall said: "This is the first time the Environment Agency in the Anglian region has made use of this CCTV technology to monitor fish numbers and if successful we will consider using it where other more traditional techniques are not available.

"It is important that we know how effective we are at protecting and improving our fisheries. Monitoring those populations tells us if we have been successful."