1.2 Sea to Chalk: Restoring Sea Trout and Eels

Aims/Objectives

To remove in-river structures and create fish passes on the R. Lark to enable the free flow of Native wild brown trout and other river species includes provision for improved canoe and recreation access to this stretch of the river including

• Improve Fish and Eel Passage at Turf Lock
• Improve Fish and eel passage at gas Pool sluice
• To restore Eels to the Rivers in the Scheme area
• Engage young people with their native wildlife, as well as a way of facilitating learning about life cycles, food chains, habitats and water quality
• Raise awareness of how people’s actions can impact the water system and how they can help improve water quality in their local area

Summary

Sea trout and eels are iconic species in Brecks rivers and indicators of their health. This project will remove in-river structures (Fig 1) and create fish passes on the R. Lark to enable the free flow of Native wild brown trout and other river species and includes provision for improved canoe and recreation access to this stretch of the river.

It will also link with other Schools engagement activity to provide a unique opportunity to jump start a new cycle of sea – river migration and raise awareness and support for their ongoing conservation by:

Raising and releasing eels with schools, delivering fishing activity events, and undertaking visits to schools with mobile fish tanks, releasing stock fish into local rivers;

Working with catchment volunteer groups to monitor the river and plan sustainable conservation work programmes focussing on support for migratory fish species.

If you’d like to get involved in this project contact us for more information or to be added to the project mailing list: bfer.admin@suffolk.gov.uk