Stranded fish to be saved following canal breach

Fish trapped in a farmer's field in Shropshire are set to be rescued following a major canal breach.

Around 1,000 became trapped after being washed on to the land next to the Llangollen Canal in Whitchurch when it collapsed in December.

They have survived in the water, which has been 6ft (1.8m) deep in places, after it flowed out.

Using specialist equipment, a rescue team plans to temporarily stun the five native species of fish, electrifying the water with a low-voltage current.

The Canal and River Trust said the recovery would be an "important ecological milestone".

The breach happened on 22 December, leaving two narrowboats at the bottom of a trench and a third hanging over the edge.

All boats trapped were lifted to safety nearly a month later.

Since the water emptied into the field, the level has been gradually drained to around knee height, to allow a specialist fish rescue team to get to species.

The fish caught include roach, perch, gudgeon, bream and ruffe, all native to the river.

The trust said the collection will be done using a "safe and widely used" technique, where the marine life will be "temporarily immobilised."

It means they can be collected without harming them and then lifted into aerated buckets to move them back to the canal.

"Fish welfare is a key priority for our charity, and we will take the utmost care when relocating the fish back to the canal," John Ellis, national fisheries and angling manager at Canal and River Trust, said.

"The fish appear to be in good health having temporarily been rehomed in a field of water for two months.

"The breach has had a real impact on people living and working on the canal and nearby, and this rescue is one small but important step in putting things back together."

The rescue effort was originally due to take place on Tuesday, but the Trust said it had to be postponed because the water was too deep.

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