sticklebacks in tanks
Catching, caring for and releasing fish
Sticklebacks in tanks
Written by:
Debbie Whittaker, Gledhow Primary School
Jerome Masters, Environment Agency,
Iain Barber, University of Leeds
Aimee Clorley, Environment Agency
This project pack is copyright of the Environment Agency and the University of
Leicester. Other organisations have allowed us to reproduce some of their material
and have been duly credited within.
Copying of parts of the project pack is authorised for use in classrooms during
sticklebacks in tanks projects. Other than for this use, the pack may not be
reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the Environment
Agency and the University of Leicester.
We are grateful to the Environment Agency, The Institute of Fisheries Management
and Hydrosphere UK Ltd for funding the development of this pack.
Any field visits must be carried out in accordance with LEA / school guidelines
sticklebacks in tanks
This project pack is designed to help you to run your project.
It is split into two parts, and a short film which illustrates some of the
behaviours your sticklebacks might exhibit can be found at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBX8hWuiHTk.
‘Learning with sticklebacks’ provides background information on
stickleback biology and the freshwater environment, as well as a series of
activities that can be used enhance learning.
This is the ‘Teacher’s Pack’ if you are running your project with a school.
Sticklebacks are wild fish, and looking after them well takes a significant
amount of time, care and attention. We have found that projects can work
better if day-to-day care for fish is given to someone other than a class
teacher, due to their existing high workload and responsibilities.
Non-teaching members of staff, governors or parents, can be ideal people
to look after fish in schools, particularly if they have practical experience of
keeping fish. This leaves the teacher free to concentrate on the educational
aspects of the project.
If projects are taking place in several locations simultaneously, a dedicated
project officer is needed. The project officer becomes the point of contact
for groups who might need help or advice whilst caring for their fish.
‘Catching, caring for and releasing fish’ provides information for the people
collecting and looking after your fish. Teachers do not need to be provided
with this part of the pack if their fish are going to be cared for by someone
else.
Acknowledgements
This pack was developed by Jerome Masters and Aimee Clorley from
the Environment Agency, Iain Barber from the University of Leicester
and Debbie Whittaker from Gledhow Primary School with help from
colleagues in the Environment Agency, Steel Valley Project,
Meanwood Valley Urban Farm, Thames 21 and schools in Rotherham,
Leeds, Stocksbridge, Oldham, Salford and London.
Financial support during project development was generously
provided by the Environment Agency, the Institute of Fisheries
Management and Hydrosphere UK Ltd.
Links:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk
http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/biology/people/barber/lab
http://www.gledhow.leeds.sch.uk/gps/index.php
http://www.thesteelvalleyproject.info/
http://www.mvuf.org.uk/
http://www.thames21.org.uk/
http://www.ifm.org.uk/
http://www.hydrosphere.co.uk
1. Catching sticklebacks
Please contact your local fisheries, recreation and biodiversity team on 08708
506 506, at an early stage, to talk about your project.
You will need to apply to the Environment Agency for consent before catching
your fish (Appendix 1). This can take a long time to arrange. You can apply for
more than one date to catch your fish. This allows you to be flexible if you need to
postpone a trip due to adverse weather/water conditions.
You will also need consent to release your sticklebacks back into the wild
(Appendix 2). This is an important control to prevent the spread of fish diseases.
As with consent for catching fish, this can take a long time to arrange. You can
apply for more than one date to release your fish. This allows you to be flexible if
you need to postpone a trip due to adverse weather/water conditions.
Three-spined sticklebacks can be found in a wide variety of freshwater habitats.
They can be caught easily by using a sturdy hand net from the bank of a stream or
in the shallows of a pond. A trap made from a plastic bottle can also be used.
Sticklebacks swim into the trap because they are naturally curious, but cannot
find their way out again.
Fish trap - top cut from plastic bottle and re-attached ‘inside-out’
It is useful to have a ‘reserve tank’ (away from classrooms) holding spare fish, or
have a readily available source. This allows you to replace any casualties.
During the breeding season males have red bellies and blue eyes; females are
silvery and can be fat with eggs (“gravid”).
Gravid female (top) and male (below) three-spined sticklebacks
Try to use larger fish. They are more likely to build nests and develop eggs, and
less likely to be sucked into aquarium filters.
When you catch your fish can be crucial. The breeding season starts in April / May
and continues through the summer. Precise timing will vary. In a cold year,
breeding be delayed. If you catch fish too early in the year, they will not have
developed into breeding condition. If you leave it too late, males may be
exhausted (and so vulnerable to disease), having been defending territories,
breeding and looking after eggs for some time. The best time to catch fish will
usually be in early May.
2. Health and safety in the field
All off-site visits must be carried out in accordance with local education
authorities / school guidelines.
A detailed risk assessment will be necessary
• A ratio of one adult to every four children is a general guide
• Careful preparation will ensure a safe and enjoyable activity
Remember that, when working outside conditions can change. A site assessed as
low risk one day might be high risk at another time (for example, a stream before
and after heavy rainfall). The Rivercall service (0906 619 7711) can provide
information on river levels (Appendix 3). Recent river level data can also be found
at www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/riverlevels/default.aspx
Ensure that the pond/stream is not too deep and that the rims are solid and will
support the children without any risk of giving way
• The two metre rule is a good guide: keep two metres away from the edge
unless sampling
Make sure the children are fully aware of the fact that there are risks and to be
extra careful and sensible.
It is a good time to reiterate and reinforce a code of behaviour appropriate for
field visits i.e. to be quiet and calm and move slowly so as not to disturb anything
else in the environment.
Leptospirosis (Weil’s Disease) is caught through contact with urine from infected
animals (mainly rodents, cattle and pigs) in water or soil. The bacteria enter the
body through abrasions or cuts in the skin and through the lining of the nose,
mouth and eyes. Early symptoms include flu-like symptoms, vomiting, high
temperature, headache and muscle pains. The treatment is antibiotics.
Protect yourself by:
• covering all cuts and abrasions with a waterproof dressing;
• avoiding rubbing your eyes, nose or mouth during work;
• washing your hands thoroughly before eating or drinking;
• avoiding immersion in potentially infected water.
More detail about Leptospirosis is at
www.nhs.uk/conditions/Leptospirosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx
3. Equipment for the classroom1
Tank - Three acrylic tanks with lids (for example, Small Pals Pen, Living World:
12.57 L, 40cm x 22cm x 28cm).
• Tanks need to be dried before the start of the project to kill off any diseases.
• Do not put sticklebacks into tanks with other fish, due to the risk of catching /
spreading infection.
Filter – Internal 5W filters / aerators (for example, Aqua Pro internal filter M200,
Trixie). Every fish tank must have some form of biological filter to remove waste
products (especially ammonia) and debris. Test filters before committing to
buying in bulk. Some filters can be very powerful, turning small fish tanks into
jacuzzis. Filters can be particularly powerful just after cleaning.
Gravel - It is advisable to buy pre-washed gravel from a pet store. It is also a
good idea to rinse pre-washed gravel again before adding it to the tank
Sand – use sand pit sand (cleaner). The sand needs to be washed until the water
is running clear. This usually takes 10 or more washes
Polyester thread – To simulate the filamentous algae males use to produce a nest
(about one hundred 2.5” strips per male tank)
Chemical water treatment (if using tap water, e.g. AquaSafe (Tetra (UK) Ltd,
Southampton) – Used to treat the water to remove harmful metal ions and
chlorine
Plastic plants - There are lots of these to choose from on the market, but read the
labels carefully in case they have to be boiled before being added to the tank.
Plants provide important cover for fish within the tank.
Hand nets – To move the fish between tanks
Screen with viewing slit – Tanks need to be placed behind an opaque screen with
viewing slits to reduce disturbance of the fish from general classroom activity.
Boxes can be used to make screens.
Frozen bloodworm – to feed the fish (available from pet shops). Freeze-dried
bloodworm also work, but it is easier to overfeed using this.
If your stickleback produces offspring then you will need to feed them suitable
food, such as Liquifry™ No. 1 for egg layers (Interpet). Alternatively you could set
up a Paramecium culture (www.e-aquarium.com.au/paramecium-culture.htm) or
hay infusion culture (www.microbiologyonline.org.uk/forms/hay.pdf) to provide
them with food until they are ready to take chopped up bloodworms.
Freezer – necessary for storing frozen bloodworm.
Thermometers – to monitor water temperature in aquariums (self-adhesive
‘sticker’ thermometers are available)
1
Please note that the inclusion of any supplier on this list does not constitute a
recommendation. Similarly, the omission of any company or product does not mean it is not
satisfactory.
4. Setting up your tanks
Place the tanks securely in their final location.
• Choose an area of the room that does not get too much direct sunlight. This
will avoid the tanks heating up and will also reduce the growth of unsightly
green algae
• Sticklebacks die in hot tanks. Reducing the likelihood of increases in water
temperature is very important (the optimal temperature for sticklebacks is less
than 20oC). Make sure your tanks are not positioned close to radiators or other
heaters.
• Choose an area where disturbance will be minimal.
The three tanks should be placed alongside one another (males will be kept in
the side tanks, females in the middle tank – see below).
Add medium-grade gravel, building it up from the back of the tank, the gravel
layer should be thinnest at the front of the tank.
Using pre-treated water, fill the tank and install your filter by following the
instructions.
• Do not take water from a river/pond that is not the original water source of
your sticklebacks, to prevent the spread of disease.
Slowly add a handful of sand into the tank and allow to sink, covering the front
1/3 of the tank. This keeps the sand away from the filter and it is easier to view
nests built on sand at the front of the tank.
Add your plastic plants.
Use card to visually isolate the back half of each tank. This provides an area for
females to retreat to where they can avoid attention from males in the
neighbouring tanks. Alternatively, use boxes to similarly separate the tanks. The
males to see the females from time to time, to be stimulated into displaying
breeding behaviours.
Do not add any fish until you are sure that the biology in the tank has stabilised.
This will take between two to four weeks.
• Place one male into each side tank and 3-4 females in the central tank.
If your fish are delivered to you in a bag, float the bag on the surface of the tank
for about 30 minutes. Then open the bag and allow the fish to explore their new
environment.
Secure the lids on the tanks.
Place your viewing screen around the aquariums. The viewing screen is essential.
Sticklebacks are wild fish and will easily become stressed by constant
disturbance. If stressed, they will not feed, display or build nests. Stressed fish
can become ill and die.
Three aquariums, separated by card, prior to fish introduction.
Aquariums with cardboard boxes, used to screen tanks from each other, and from the
classroom. These boxes were later decorated by the class, using river life as a theme.
Aquariums behind a decorated viewing screens.
Bad tank location - by the door, on top of frequently visited drawers and no screening. This
will result in very stressed fish.
5. Stickleback care
5.1 Feeding
Overfeeding leads to poor water quality, which can kill your fish.
Children feeding fish need to be closely supervised.
Feed the stickleback 1-2 times per day.
Give them as many bloodworms as they can eat in 2-3 minutes.
• Start with small amounts, of around five bloodworms per fish per day and
build up until you reach the right amount (around 10 bloodworm per fish per
day).
Ensure the food is defrosted
• If placed in a Petri dish the frozen cubes will defrost within a few minutes or
you can mix the food with a small quantity of tap water and stir with a pipette.
Stop feeding if the food hits the bottom of the tank and the fish still don’t eat it
within one minute.
Any left over food (after 20 minutes) should be removed and disposed of using a
pipette.
• Too much food has been given, try to feed a little less next time.
The fish will be fine left without feeding over the weekend providing they have
been fed properly through the week and fed as late as possible on the Friday.
It is a good idea to feed the fish again early on Monday morning.
Bloodworm are chironomid larvae. Chironomids are a type of non-biting midge.
Using the name bloodworm can be off-putting to children (or teachers). It might
sometimes be better to call them ‘chironomids’, ‘midge larvae’ or similar.
5.2 Water quality
Poor water quality kills fish. The filter (the sponge attached to the plastic pump
on the inside of the tank) needs to be removed and held under tap water in a
bowl before being squeezed until clean at least once a week. The sponge should
then be put back.
Ensure everything is clean and rinsed thoroughly before it comes into contact
with the fish tank (including your hands)
Cleaning products kill fish. Do not use containers that held cleaning products /
washing up liquid, as even small traces are toxic to fish. Never use soap or
detergents or anything other than clean water to clean tanks or anything that
goes into them.
Hot tanks kill fish. The optimal temperature for sticklebacks is less than 20oC. If
necessary, aquariums can be cooled by floating (sealed) bottles of frozen water in
the tank.
Diseases kill fish. Tanks need to be dried before use, to kill any disease. Never
put your sticklebacks in a tank with other fish species.
5.3 Fish welfare
High standards of animal welfare are essential to minimise stress, disease and
mortalities. Stressed fish will not feed, display or build nests.
Children should not have access to the fish unless accompanied by an adult .
Do not knock the tank or moving too quickly around the tanks. Putting your tank
behind a screen gives you the best chance of your fish behaving naturally and
building nests.
Hands should be washed before being dipped into the water.
Cleaning staff need to be made aware of the presence of the fish and encouraged
not to use any cleaning materials around them. These can be toxic to fish, even in
very small quantities.
Male sticklebacks become aggressive when they see red. In nature, this only
happens when they see another male. One classic piece of scientific research
reported sticklebacks displaying every time a post-office van drove past. Males
could become very stressed in classrooms where children have red uniforms. This
can be solved by screening. Alternatively, we have heard of classes that became
‘red-free zones’ whilst they were looking after fish. Children changed out of their
uniform jumpers for the duration of the project.
Sticklebacks are wild fish and are thus prone to disease and the stresses of
having lived life in the wild. In the UK, sticklebacks usually only live for one year
before breeding and dying. As such, you can probably expect some fish
mortalities during your project, but high welfare standards will reduce these to a
minimum.
Dead fish should be sealed in a bag, which is then sealed in another bag
(“double-bagging”) and disposed of in a waste bin. This is to prevent the
potential spread of fish diseases. Do not flush dead fish down the toilet.
The risk to sticklebacks can be further minimised by ensuring they are not kept in
classrooms for too long. If breeding behaviour doesn’t happen within a short
time, it is unlikely to begin after prolonged captivity. Keeping fish for longer than
three to four weeks should be avoided.
6. Nest material
Sticklebacks use filamentous algae for nest construction in the wild.
We can simulate this with polyester thread (about one hundred 2.5” strips)
• Wrap the thread around four fingers (50 times), then cut the thread at either
end (below the little finger and above the index finger).
Squeeze the threads under (clean) water to release air bubbles and to allow the
threads to sink.
Add the hundred strips to the males’ tanks after they have become saturated.
There is no need to place the thread in any particular place within the tank as the
male will organise this himself.
Stickleback nests are built by the males
and vary in shape.
7. Introducing females
If you want your fish to breed. You will need to allow the males (supervised)
access to female fish. Video footage of courtship behaviour is included on the
CD accompanying this guide.
•
•
•
You will have two tanks with males and one with females
o The fish are kept separate to avoid stressing them
Once a male has built a nest, introduce a gravid (i.e. fat, egg carrying)
female (using the hand net)
o If the male is aggressive towards the female and she tries to
escape or hide remove her from the tank. Either the male or
the female are not ready to spawn. Receptive females will give a
‘head up’ response to courting males.
o Try again to introduce a female the next morning, try to rotate
the females to reduce the levels of exposure of stress
When both fish are ready, they might display a courtship dance
o The male will lead the female to his nest
o The female will pass through the nest
o Once the female has deposited her eggs the male will chase her
away
o Return the female to her original tank
o The male will fan the nest to oxygenate the eggs
o He will take care of the eggs until they hatch
8. Young fish
•
When young fish (fry) swim free of the nest
o Remove the male and place in the female tank (leaving the
young in a tank on their own)
o Unplug the filter pump to prevent it sucking up the young fish
o The young should be fed Liquifry No.1 for egg layers, or be fed a
protozoa called Paramecium or hay infusion before being moved
on to finely chopped bloodworms.
Stickleback fry
9. Potential problems with classroom sticklebacks
Stress
Sticklebacks are well suited to this project, but they can still become stressed if
they are subjected to too much disturbance. Therefore, the tanks should be
placed in an area where they will be disturbed as little as possible, and behind a
screen. Adding plastic plants to the tank will help the fish feel less vulnerable.
Temperature
Sticklebacks prefer temperatures below 20oC, so keep them as cool as possible
in the classroom by positioning them out of direct sunlight, and away from
radiators. This will also reduce any problems with algal growth on the sides of the
tanks. In emergencies, aquariums can be cooled by floating (sealed) bottles of
frozen water in the tank.
Overfeeding
This is a common cause of problems. Only feed the fish 1-2 times per day and
give them as many bloodworms as they can eat in 2-3 minutes. If food is left
uneaten after 20 minutes on the bottom of the tank it should be removed before
it starts to rot and pollute the water.
‘Leaky’ aquariums
Condensation can collect on the lids of aquariums and then drip down the
outside. This can lead to people thinking that the tanks are leaking. Drilling a few
extra holes in the lids of tanks can help to prevent condensation building up.
Water treatment
Tap water may contain dissolved metals such as copper and lead in minute
quantities, but these can be sufficient to kill fish. Chlorine is also highly toxic to
fish. For these reasons, treat tap water with a proprietary brand of water treatment
(e.g. AquaSafe (TM) by Tetra) before the fish are added.
'Whitespot’ disease
This is caused by a parasite. Infected fish become covered with small white
spots, and infections may eventually be fatal to the fish. The presence of the
parasite is often linked to increased water temperature. There are numerous
treatments available to treat this disease and a web search will bring up many
recommendations. Also, if you visit any pet store that sells fish, you can find a
variety of different brands and treatments available.
Tapeworms
Sticklebacks can be infected with a large tapeworm called Schistocephalus.
Heavily infected fish resemble females that are full of eggs, but the swelling tends
to be more 'square' looking, and often there is a bulge under the throat of the
fish. Infected fish are incapable of breeding and unlikely to perform as expected.
Appendix 1
Obtaining consent to catch
sticklebacks.
(Form FR2)
Please contact your local Environment Agency
Fisheries, Recreation and Biodiversity team on
08708 506 506, at an early stage, to talk about your
project.
Environment Agency reference number
Form FR2
Application to use fishing instruments
(other than rod and line) and/or
remove fish from inland waters
The applicant is
angling club?
water owner?
contractor?
1 Angling club
Title
5 About the task you plan to carry out
Please note before consent is granted by us you will need permission
from the fishery owner and any relevant controlling angling club.
First name
Surname
Planned date of task we cannot issue consent in retrospect
Position
Organisation
What equipment are you planning to use?
Address
netting or trapping please give details
Postcode
Phone
Fax
electric fishing please give details
machine
Email
power
pulsed
DC
AC
2 Owner of water if different to the angling club
Title
Are you intending to remove any fish from the site?
No
go to ‘Signature and declaration’
Yes
please give details
First name
Surname
Position
Total
number
Species
Organisation
Size length/
Total
weight (cm/kg) weight kg
Address
Postcode
Phone
Fax
Email
3 Contractor
Title
Will the fish be introduced to another inland site?
First name
No
Surname
Yes
FR1 reference number
Introduction date
Position
Name of Agency consenting officer for FR1
Organisation
Address
6 Signature and declaration
Postcode
Phone
Fax
Email
Company registration number
4 About the water
If you give any information which is incomplete or inaccurate
• we will return your application
• we will not grant consent.
I have read and understood this form and the data protection
notice in the enclosed guidance notes. To the best of my
knowledge and belief, the information I have given is correct.
Applicant’s signature
Name of water
Nearest town
Location give national grid reference or supply a map showing the site.
Type of water: canal
river
fully enclosed stillwater
on-line stillwater
stillwater in flood plain
Size of water you should find this on your lease or purchase agreement
acres/hectares
Is the site covered by a conservation designation such as a SSSI?
No
Yes
Type of order
Date
What happens next
Please post or fax the completed form to
National Fisheries Laboratory (FR2 Applications)
Environment Agency, Bromholme Lane, Brampton
Huntingdon PE28 4NE. Fax 01480 483955/483026.
FR2v011
Your application to use fishing instruments (other than rod and line) and/or
remove fish from inland waters
Making an application
We have produced this application form to help you apply
for permission to remove fish from inland waters and/or use
fishing instruments such as nets or electric fishing equipment.
It asks you for all the information we need to decide if you can
carry out the task as you plan. If we need more information we
will contact you.
Activities such as commercial netting for eels and salmon will
require licensing under a separate consenting process. If you are
unsure what consents you need, please contact your local Agency
office or call 0845 933 3111.
You should send in your application
• no more than 10 weeks in advance
• allowing at least 20 working days before the task.
If you need to carry out the task on a number of different dates
please ask us about applying for a multiple (block) consent.
There is more about this in the Guidance notes which came with
this form.
Who should fill in the form?
We can only issue the consent to one named individual. The
‘applicant’ should be the person responsible for the consent.
For example, if the application is for an angling club or a
contractor, you should choose someone to oversee the task.
Make sure you tick one of the boxes before section 1 to make it
clear who the applicant is.
We need to know the owner of the water in every application.
Please use indelible ink and make sure the form is signed by the
applicant.
After you fill in the form
Send the application form to the address printed on the form.
When we get your application we will
• send you an acknowledgement by post or email (giving the
name of the person processing your application)
• process your application and send you our decision within
20 working days. We aim to do this within 10 working days.
In some cases it may take longer to process your application,
for example if the conservation status of the removal water
means we have to consult an external organisation.
Issuing your consent
If you can carry out the task as planned, we will send you
written consent.
If we cannot give you permission to go ahead as planned we
will write and tell you why.
What the consent means
The written consent is a one-off ‘permission’ to carry out the
task you describe on the application, on the date you give in
section ’5 About the task you plan to carry out’.
Once you have received the signed consent you must not
change the details of the task.
For example, you must not
• change the date
• change the equipment you use
• remove a different species or amount of fish.
FR2v013
If you need to change the date you carry out the task
If you cannot complete the task on the date you planned,
please contact us as soon as possible.
You may be able to change the date of the task. For example,
if you only want to delay it by up to 4 weeks, you may not
have to make a new application.
There is more about this in the Guidance notes which came with
this form.
Section 4 About the water
We need to know exactly where you will carry out the task.
Please give us the national grid reference (NGR) of the site
from an Ordnance Survey map.
If you are not sure how to find the NGR, please ask us for help.
You can also send us a map of the area with the site marked
clearly on it, using its full name.
There is more about this in the Guidance notes which came with
this form.
Inspecting the task
We may want to visit the site while you do the work. If you do
not carry out the task as described on the consent form, we
may
• stop you from completing the task
• start proceedings to prosecute you.
Please make sure that you have the FR2 consent with you on site.
Non-native fish species
If the task involves non-native fish species and you plan to
introduce fish to
• another site
• temporary holding facilities
you must ensure that the sites hold an appropriate licence.
You may be prosecuted if you do not comply.
If you need advice on this, please contact Department for
Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on 020 7238 5937 or
National Assembly for Wales, Agriculture Department (NAWAD)
on 029 2082 5451.
Moving fish to another site
If any fish you remove will be used to stock another site, you
must have written consent from us.
You can apply for the consent using form FR1.
You can download a copy from http://www.efishbusiness.co.uk
or contact us on 01480 483968.
You should send in your FR1 application
• no more than 10 weeks in advance
• allowing at least 20 working days before the introduction
date.
Appendix 2
Obtaining consent to release
sticklebacks.
(Form FR1)
Please contact your local Environment Agency
Fisheries, Recreation and Biodiversity team on
08708 506 506, at an early stage, to talk about your
project.
Environment Agency reference number
Form FR1
Application to introduce fish, fry or ova
Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, Section 30
1 The applicant
Title
5 The fish introduction
Planned date of introduction we cannot issue consent in retrospect
First name
Surname
Details of fish involved
Species
Position and/or organisation
Total
number
Size length/
Total
weight (cm/kg) weight kg
Address
Postcode
Phone
Fax
Mobile
Email
Trout: triploid
Company registration number
female
male
6 Source of the fish being introduced
2 Purchaser if different from applicant
Title
diploid
Location Give national grid reference or supply a map showing the site
First name
Name of water or farm fish came from see guidance notes for more details
Surname
Position and/or organisation
Who owns (or leases) fishing rights on the source water
Address
Removal Reference number of consent for removing fish if applicable
Postcode
Phone
Name of any temporary fish-holding facility used see notes overleaf
Fax
Mobile
7 Health checks on the fish
3 Supplier if different from applicant
Title
First name
Has a representative sample of the fish from the source water
been examined within the last 6 months?
No
Yes
give details or enclose a copy of the health report
Surname
Who did the health check?
Position and/or organisation
Date
Health check reference number
Address
8 Signature and declaration
Postcode
Phone
Fax
Mobile
4 Receiving water the fish will be introduced to
If you give any information which is incomplete or inaccurate
• we will return your application
• we will not grant consent.
I have read and understood this form and the data protection
notice in the enclosed guidance notes. To the best of my
knowledge and belief, the information I have given is correct.
Applicant’s signature
Name of water
Nearest town
Print name
Location give national grid reference or supply a map showing the site.
Date
Type of water:
canal
river
on-line stillwater
fully enclosed stillwater
stillwater in flood plain
Size of water you should find this on your lease or purchase agreement
acres
hectares
Does the site have a conservation designation such as a SSSI?
No
Yes
Type of order
Disclaimer
• A consent does not guarantee the health status, condition or
suitability of the fish that you plan to introduce.
• The Environment Agency is not liable for any damage associated
with the introduction of fish covered by a consent under Section
30 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.
What happens next Please post or fax the completed form to
National Fisheries Laboratory (FR1 Applications), Environment
Agency, Bromholme Lane, Brampton, Huntingdon PE28 4NE.
Fax 01480 483955/483026.
FR1v041
Your application to introduce fish, fry or ova
Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 Section 30
National Fisheries Laboratory
01480 483968
Making an application
We have produced this application form to help you apply for
permission to introduce fish. It asks you for all the information
we need to decide if the introduction can go ahead as you
plan. We suggest you get advice on your application before
you apply from your local Environment Agency office.
If you do not comply with the regulations we may prosecute.
You should send in your application
• no more than 10 weeks in advance
• allowing at least 20 working days before the planned
introduction date.
If you need to introduce fish on a number of different dates
please ask us about applying for a multiple (block) consent.
There is more about this in the Guidance notes which came with
this form.
Who should fill in the form?
We can only issue consent to a single individual, named as the
‘applicant’ on the form. This individual is responsible for
• the application
• ensuring that the fish introduced are as described on the
application form.
If the application is made by an organisation such as an
angling club, an individual person should apply for the
consent on behalf of that organisation.
Please use indelible ink and make sure the form is signed by the
applicant.
After you fill in the form
Send the application form to the address printed on the form.
When we get your application we will
• send you an acknowledgement by post (giving the name of
the person processing your application)
• process your application and send you our decision within
20 working days. We aim to do this within 10 working days.
In some cases it may take longer to process your application,
for example if
• we require a health check on the fish
• the conservation status of the receiving water means we
have to consult an external organisation.
Issuing your consent
If you can go ahead and introduce the fish to your site as
planned, we will send you written consent.
When you introduce the fish to the site, you must have the
consent with you.
If we cannot give you permission to go ahead with introducing
the fish as planned we will write and tell you why.
What the consent means
The written consent is a one-off ‘permission’ issued for specific
date(s), site and consignment of fish.
Once you have received our consent you must not change
• the fish you plan to introduce
• the date you plan to introduce the fish.
For example, you must not introduce
• a different species of fish
• fish from a different source
• a different size, weight or number of fish.
FR1
Version 2, November 2008
FR1v041
If you need to change the date of the introduction
If, for any specified reason, you cannot introduce the fish on
the date you planned, please contact the National Fisheries
Laboratory on 01480 483968 to amend the date of the
introduction. Providing the delay is less than 4 weeks, you
may not have to re-apply. See the Guidance notes which came
with this form for more information.
Supplier and source of the fish to be introduced
We need to know exactly where the fish came from (the
supplier and source), and whether they have been held in any
intermediate sites.
Fish supplied by a third party
If you are buying the fish from a supplier or dealer, please give
their details in ‘3 Supplier’ and ask them for the information to
answer the questions in ’6 Source of the fish being introduced’.
Where fish have been raised on a farm, we usually do not need
to know the source of the brood stock fish.
Source water
You must give the name and location of the source water
the fish were obtained from. Please give us the Ordnance
Survey national grid reference (OSNGR) from an OS map.
You can also send us a map of the area with the site marked
clearly on it, using its full name.
There is more about this in the ‘Guidance notes’ which came with
this form.
Intermediate or temporary holding sites
If the fish have been held at an intermediate site, such as a fish
dealer’s premises, we need to know where it was. If they were
there for less than 6 months, we still need to know the original
source water.
About health checks
The fish you plan to introduce may need to have a health
check before you introduce them. This depends on the
location and type of site you plan to introduce them to.
We will let you know if a health check is necessary and tell you
what we need to know.
Any health check already undertaken is valid for 6 months,
providing no other fish have been added to the source water.
Inspecting the introduction
We may attend the introduction to check that you introduce
the fish specified on the consent form. If the fish are not as you
described, we may
• stop the introduction
• start proceedings to prosecute you.
When you introduce the fish to the site, make sure that you have
the FR1 consent with you.
Introducing non-native fish species
If you are applying to introduce non-native fish species you
must have the appropriate DEFRA or NAW licences as well as
consent from us. DEFRA or NAW licences may take up to 2
months to process.
There is more about this in the Guidance notes which came with
this form.
Appendix 3
Rivercall service
All off-site visits must be carried out in accordance
with LEA / school guidelines.
Rivercall
Warning
River levels can change rapidly, and you should not rely on Rivercall
for assessing the risks of entering a river.
Phone Rivercall before you go to find out about river levels, it could save you a
wasted journey. A recorded voice message will tell you the river levels at key
gauging stations. Rivercall is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Messages are usually updated every 12 hours. The message also states whether
the river level is falling or rising.
For information on levels in your local rivers you can call the following numbers.
North East region - 0906 619 7722
Coquet, Tyne, Tees, Wear, Swale, Ure, Ouse, Derwent, Nidd, Wharfe, Aire, Calder,
Don, Dearne
North West region - 0906 619 7733
Derwent, Eden, Kent, Lune, Ribble, Irwell, Goyt, Weaver, Dane
Midlands region - 0906 619 7744
Avon, Dove, Derwent, Severn, Soar, Tame, Trent, Vyrnwy
Anglian region- 0906 619 7777
Great Ouse, Ivel, Nene, Witham, Wensum, Stour
Environment Agency Wales - 0906 619 7755
North Wales - Dee, Clwyd, Elwy, Conwy, Seiont, Llyfni, Dwyfor, Glaslyn, Dyfi,
Dysynni, Wnion and Mawddach.
South west Wales - Rheidol, Ystwyth, Teifi, Aeron, Tywi, Cothi, Taf, E and W
Cleddau, Loughor, Tawe, Neath, Afan and Ogmore.
South east Wales - Taff, Rhymney, Ebw, Usk and Wye.
Call pricing information
Calls to 0906 numbers cost 60p per minute at all times (BT Premium Rate).
Please note Payphones and non-BT network providers may vary. All Environment
Agency profits will be used to fund fishery projects.