Sturgeon in British waters

[Mr_Happy__]

There are numerous sterlet in Ivel Valley Fishery in shefford,Biggest 15lbs and some smaller ones to 12lb's.

Mr_Happy__

[sallysludge]

Sturgeon Acipenser sturio Page 2

As a young girl I fished near Broxbourne on the Lea and watched sturgeon in the clear waters between the huge deep pits, of course they may of been sterlets. I set about catching a beast with my WInfield 6ft fibreglass fishing rod, in fact it was the sole reason I longed to stay with my aunt for the 6 weeks summer holiday. I snaffled a tin of lunchion meat, lobbing out a rusty but trusty sea hook - on my 10lb curly thick mono, only for the reel to empty in a flash. I hooked several, never landed 1 and have often thought of going back to try.
I originate from a long tradition of Teme Salmon poachers, with my nans poloride sunglasses, I could see the fish and was facinated. I qualified as an angling coach in recent years and have caught many weird and wonderful fish, but those I saw as a kid still catch my mind to this day.

[Naturenutz]

I have or think i still have the book mentioned ( Severn tide) published 1950 i think.. Some great salmon tales with photo's from the early nineties in the book too.

[fairplay]

Originally Posted by tom00_uk

slight off topic but i belive due to the number of fish being released and the fact they can survive in brittish waters, sturgeon are due to be banned for sale in the pet trade in the near future

A bit of common sense at last - why has it taken all this time before someone raised this issue ?
Surely this must raise eyebrows with other people - I do not even have any interest in fishing, but I still find all this talk of introductions (and escapes) to various places in Britain very disturbing, surely Natural England are not turning a blind eye are they, and what about fishermen themselves, surely they must know the risks involved to our environment ?
Think mink and coypu for goodness sake.

Neil.

[sallysludge]

Originally Posted by fairplay

A bit of common sense at last - why has it taken all this time before someone raised this issue ?
Surely this must raise eyebrows with other people - I do not even have any interest in fishing, but I still find all this talk of introductions (and escapes) to various places in Britain very disturbing, surely Natural England are not turning a blind eye are they, and what about fishermen themselves, surely they must know the risks involved to our environment ?
Think mink and coypu for goodness sake.

Neil.

What makes you believe its anglers that have released the Sturgeon ? As a member with a foot in all camps ( I study and raise my own fry and have a large ornimental Koi pond, am a qualified angling coach and passionate about the natural environment, eco system etc ) Maybe Sturgeon that have outgrown there pond, or been washed away during floods that escape, the same as grass carp, top mouth gudgeon etc but what would be the point of buying; what is a very expensive creature, £1000 for a 52" on Ebay recently; only to let it go in a river ?

Just for the record, UKs invasive species includes Grass carp, Wells Catfish, Signal crayfish, Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) which entered the UK via bilge water in cargo ships, as well as Parakeets, which I have seen locally !

As an Coach, I teach kids safety around water, wildlife and the environment, you will never stop kids fishing, but a bit of education goes a long way.

Everybody is keen to put the boot into anglers, yet my local RSPCA inspector used to call me if he needed to catch a Swan as they would all come to me. When a Goose was sat dying on unfertile eggs, it was I that removed them and saved her life. Anglers ( real anglers that fish to be closer to the environment ) are gardians of a world that no other member of soiciety have access to, I notify when eels and Perch have sores on the the anal vent, when Blue Green Algue is spotted etc When a Hungarian Sigging Toad is found, otter spraints in a new stretch etc etc etc

Lead shot was banned January 1987, but fazed out before that, 15 years later people still say its lead shot that are killing Swans, yet there is more shot in one shotgun cartridge than a Towns anglers would EVER lose in there lifetime. Bewdley was famous for Pewter making, it takes 1000s of years to degrade and the river is full of the stuff after a flood, the Mines higher up have had a cleanup by the EA at great expense.

Still the finger is pointed at the anglers, I fish to catch my own fresh fish, herring, mackerel, dabs, whiting all of which are plentiful and very VERY good for you.

[nightshade]

I have met fishermen that have seeded waters with _THEIR_ favourite species
(Zander for instance and Catfish even removing Tench from lakes and introducing Carp)and even a shooter who wanted to release rabbits at a Target Shooting club.
Unfourtunately these types do exist though luckily in small numbers.
True Anglers are very keen to look after the rivers and lakes and keep them natural and healthy

[fairplay]

Originally Posted by sallysludge

What makes you believe its anglers that have released the Sturgeon ? As a member with a foot in all camps ( I study and raise my own fry and have a large ornimental Koi pond, am a qualified angling coach and passionate about the natural environment, eco system etc ) Maybe Sturgeon that have outgrown there pond, or been washed away during floods that escape, the same as grass carp, top mouth gudgeon etc but what would be the point of buying; what is a very expensive creature, £1000 for a 52" on Ebay recently; only to let it go in a river ?

Just for the record, UKs invasive species includes Grass carp, Wells Catfish, Signal crayfish, Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) which entered the UK via bilge water in cargo ships, as well as Parakeets, which I have seen locally !

As an Coach, I teach kids safety around water, wildlife and the environment, you will never stop kids fishing, but a bit of education goes a long way.

Everybody is keen to put the boot into anglers, yet my local RSPCA inspector used to call me if he needed to catch a Swan as they would all come to me. When a Goose was sat dying on unfertile eggs, it was I that removed them and saved her life. Anglers ( real anglers that fish to be closer to the environment ) are gardians of a world that no other member of soiciety have access to, I notify when eels and Perch have sores on the the anal vent, when Blue Green Algue is spotted etc When a Hungarian Sigging Toad is found, otter spraints in a new stretch etc etc etc

Lead shot was banned January 1987, but fazed out before that, 15 years later people still say its lead shot that are killing Swans, yet there is more shot in one shotgun cartridge than a Towns anglers would EVER lose in there lifetime. Bewdley was famous for Pewter making, it takes 1000s of years to degrade and the river is full of the stuff after a flood, the Mines higher up have had a cleanup by the EA at great expense.

Still the finger is pointed at the anglers, I fish to catch my own fresh fish, herring, mackerel, dabs, whiting all of which are plentiful and very VERY good for you.

Who is accusing fishermen/women of releasing Sturgeon ?
For clarification, I am trying to point out that it is sad that those on this particular forum who like to do a spot of fishing do not seem at all concerned with all this talk of alien fish somehow coming in to British marine and freshwater systems and the possible threat they pose.
Nothing was said until or since TomOO-uk made his post, so ask yourselves what sort of impression is this likely to give those of us that do not do any fishing but still do have great respect for all our native wildlife ?

Neil.