'Eco disaster' at favourite angling spot destroys fish; Club members fear it will take years to restock waterway.

Byline: JOHNSIDDLE

A DEVASTATING wildlife disaster has left thousands of dead fish lining a fourmile stretch of popular angling waters.

Pike, tench, bream and roach are among species wiped out at Three Pools Waterway, in Southport.

Ducklings and river birds are also thought to have perished as storm water sent raw sewage surging into the fishing haven last week.

The contamination, combined with reduced dissolved oxygen levels in the water following recent hot weather, sparked the ecological tragedy.

Steve Ball, vice-chairman of Southport and District Angling Association (SDAA), said: "Words cannot describe how sad everybody feels.

"Many members join the club simply for the Three Pools and they are distraught.

"Some of the biggest pike have been there for 14 years, and they have just been killed in an instant."

Steve Johnson, head bailiff of SDAA, raised the alarm on Tuesday, June 30, when he saw 17 dead fish float past.

But he claimed he was told not to panic by the Environment Agency, which sent officers to the site on Thursday in a failed attempt to drive up oxygen levels.

He said: "It is absolutely devastating. Between 15,000 and 20,000 fish were killed and it could have been avoided. The fishing community is distraught.

"I have fished at the Three Pools since I could hold a rod, but I will be an old man before I can fish there again."

Three Pools Waterway is a hot-spot for anglers, with the quality of fish making it one of the North West's prime waterways. Many of the dead fish were cleared by the Environment Agency, but hundreds still lie tangled in reeds.

Anglers fear it may take up to 15 years before the area is cleaned and restocked.

SDAA angler Gary Cadwell, who has fished at the spot for 30 years, said: "I am nearly in tears over it.

"Fifteen years ago and in the 1970s, some fish died, but nothing on this scale. It is utter destruction - eels, water voles, ducklings, heron and even two nesting kingfishers were killed. It is an eco disaster."

The Environment Agency and United Utilities took samples from the water as an investigation began.

Fisheries technical specialist Richard McIlwain said: "During very hot, humid weather, dissolved oxygen levels in rivers can be severely affected.

"Combined with the discharge of storm sewage, this can have a devastating impact on fish life."

A United Utilities spokesman said its inquiries were ongoing.

The SDAA last night held a meeting to discuss the tragedy. Secretary Bill Hurst said: "It is devastating to the club. It was one of our prime waterways.

"The last time this happened, it took years to get it back to a good fishing standard and it is going to take the same again.

"I would say it will be at least five years before it is good again.

"We only lease the water from the Environment Agency, so there is nothing we can do.

"It has decimated the waterway."

Angler Jonathan Roberts added: "Even if you cleaned the waterway, how long would it take to be replenish it to how it was?"Words cannot describe how sad everybody feels

CAPTION(S):

Dead fish at Three Pools Waterway, in Churchtown, Southport