Fishing halted due to 'critical' river condition

There is no official ban but numerous angling clubs have taken the decision to stop fishing themselves

Fishing on the River Trent has been suspended by numerous clubs because of "critical conditions" endangering the health of the fish.

Nottingham Anglers Association said itself and other clubs separately took the decision because of "low oxygen levels" caused by the recent hot weather.

Club secretary David Turner said during optimal conditions in winter the oxygenation readings could hit 130-140% but currently some areas were down to 30%.

Guidance from the Angling Trust and Environment Agency states that low oxygen level make it harder for the fish to recover from being caught and leaves them more susceptible to diseases and infections.

These signs have gone up across the 10 miles of River Trent fished by the Nottingham Anglers Association

Mr Turner said: "With the lack of rain and the fact we keep getting these high temperatures, the river's become quite a dangerous place for fish."

He said this is because there is a correlation between water temperature and its ability to hold oxygen. A slow water flow has also impacted oxygen levels.

"Even the rain that we've had this week won't get into the river, because the land is so dry, so it's just going to soak into the soil and not run off into the tributaries," he said.

Dale Whittaker, secretary of the Nottingham Piscatorial Society, said its members had been "very supportive" of the decision to suspend fishing and cancel matches.

"The River Trent is a very precious commodity that we should all look after, [and] as anglers, we're doing our best to look after the fish and the habitat," he said.

Low oxygen levels can prove fatal to fish - such as this 2024 incident in Cotgrave

Both clubs said they had seen reports of dead fish on social media but had not witnessed it within their fishing waters and the decision to suspend fishing was a precaution.

Mr Turner also said there would be repercussions for any members who go against the advice.

"If we do find any of our members on our water that have ignored the close signs, they will be dealt with by the committee, and almost certainly will lose their membership," he said.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency confirmed any decision to suspend fishing was down to the angling clubs.

They added the agency works with the Angling Trust to issue advice to fishing clubs regarding the impact of hot weather.