Lake back in swim after fish disaster

Photo: Darren Robinson

Graham Harrison (left), from the Environment Agency, with Mike Hilton, from Limehurst Angling Club, putting the new fish stock into Crime Lake.

Crime Lake has been restocked with thousands of fish after pollution from water used to fight the Maple Mill fire killed off wildlife.

Anglers were devastated last year when thousands of mature fish were found dead within days of the blaze which broke out at the kitchen factory on March 21.

A hundred fire-fighters used 18 fire engines and three aerial machines, battling for more than five hours to bring the blaze under control.

Water in the lake, tested by Environment Agency experts, was low in oxygen and had high levels of ammonia and phenolic compounds — found in burning materials — plus chemicals which may have been used in fighting the fire which smouldered for over two weeks.

Limehurst Angling Club members pulled dead fish, including carp weighing more than 30lb, from their fishing spot. But it has now been restocked with 13,000 young fish with help from the Environment Agency, Oldham Countryside Service and the King William Angling Club in Prestwich, which was overstocked, and needed to find somewhere to re-home thousands of fish.

The agency knew that the water quality had improved at Crime Lake, and was a suitable location.

The overstock fish are also being supplemented by more from the Environment Agency’s Fish Rearing unit in Nottingham.

Graham Harrison, local officer from the Environment Agency said: “The work the agency carries out around fisheries is funded through the rod licence. Those who participate in the sport are helping to fund the maintenance and improvements to water courses.

“By working with angling clubs we are able to identify opportunities, such as this, in which all concerned can benefit.”

Mike Hilton and Derek Parkin from Limehurst AC said they were delighted to see the restocking.

Mr Parkin added: “Some of the carp were at least 20 years old weighing about 30lb and in monetary value they would cost a lot to replace.”

Derek added: “We are are grateful to the agency, the countryside wardens and the Prestwich club for their help.

“As a small club this would have cost us a fortune and we would never have been able to raise the money.

“It is going to take a few years for the lake to recover.

“A few fish had managed to survive and had swum up the canal, but it was a minuscule amount.

“When the agency did tests they found water in three underground pipes running towards the canal from Oldham.”

The agency said the polluted water could have been sitting in a feeder stream until rainwater flushed it into the fishery causing the kill.