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Residents are calling for action to stop fish dying in a pond. Visitors to East Beach pond in Selsey, north of Chichester, have raised concerns over the welfare of fish there after several have been found dead. Bobby Watman, a fisherman from Selsey, said he believes around 80 fish had died at the pond over the last week based on reports from other residents.
Mr Watman said: “People noticed the fish were struggling, lots of fish were dying. “We went down with a pump. Since we have been doing that we have not lost any fish.
“I have made over 145 phone calls trying to get this sorted. “I am a fisherman, fish are my passion. Fish gathered in a small area of the pond (Image: Supplied) “As humans we have a duty of care to look after them.
“It’s heartbreaking to see. “It’s really frustrating trying to get anywhere.” Mr Watman believes the fish are struggling due to a high salt content in the water.
He said there is a water outlet that goes from the pond to the sea to allow water to disperse in cases of high water levels. Mr Watman said that following a high tide, he believes the valve failed and allowed sea water into the pond. The fish have been seen swimming close to the surface and gathering in one area of the pond in what is believed to be an attempt to take on more oxygen.
A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency said: “Our officers took water samples from East Beach pond and confirmed the presence of a naturally occurring algal bloom, caused by warmer temperatures. “We are in contact with the local authority, which owns the land, who are working to solve the problem. “The fish were likely struggling due to a combination of factors including low water levels, salinity, and low oxygen caused by an algal bloom.
“The condition of the water will improve with the next significant rainfall but unfortunately ponds like this one will continue to be vulnerable due to climate change.” Read more: Study reveals 100-fold increase in chemical pollution in harbours A spokeswoman for Chichester District Council said: “Having recently received reports from concerned residents about the health of the fish in East Beach Pond in Selsey, we have been closely monitoring the site this week and liaising with experts to assess the situation and seek their opinions. “The Environment Agency and members of the council’s environmental protection team have visited the pond and run some tests on the water and we have also been liaising with the local pond group.
“We have seen that around 30 carp are gathering at the pond inlets, which could be an indicator that they are seeking oxygen rich water, or could be a result of natural spawning behaviour or because they are seeking out the warmer shallow waters. “We are aware that the pond often experiences lower than normal oxygen levels when there are periods of dry weather, because the flow of new water from the local surface drainage is decreased. “This prevents oxygen from being generated in the pond which, in turn, can affect the natural environment.
“As a result of the current dry spell, there has been very little water flow in or out of the pond, which would also tie in with recent Met Office reports confirming that England and Wales have experienced their driest March conditions since at least 1961. “We completely understand that people are worried about the health of the fish, and we will be keeping a very close eye on the situation to make sure this is a natural phenomenon and not something more concerning. “We will also be continuing to speak to the experts about what we can do to help.
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