Country’s largest fish pass officially opened in Nottinghamshire
13:30 8th November 2024
The largest fish pass in England has been officially opened, allowing species such as salmon, trout and eel to travel upstream once more.
Water Minister Steve Double and local MP Lee Anderson attended the official opening of the fish pass on the River Leen in Nottingham. It is the biggest in the country at 2.2km long and will provide improved passage for fish, creating a better environment and aiding the recovery of depleted fish stocks.
Speaking at the event, Water Minister Steve Double said:
“Improving the health of our rivers and wildlife is a key priority for this Government. This major project will allow many more fish to travel upstream to spawn, helping to boost fish stocks and improve the health of the River Leen.
“This is one of a number of ways we are working to improve our water environment. We are investing millions of pounds to protect and restore our precious rivers, lakes and wetlands.”
The fish pass has been designed to allow fish to travel upstream to spawning grounds, which were previously inaccessible due to weirs and other barriers. It has been built around the existing weirs, rather than removing them, to maintain the flood risk management function of the structures.
The project has been delivered by the Environment Agency, working in partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council and the Leen Rivers Trust.
Local MP Lee Anderson said:
“This is a fantastic achievement and I am delighted to see the fish pass officially opened.
“This project will make a real difference to the river environment and will help to boost fish stocks, which will be great news for anglers and wildlife enthusiasts alike.”
The Environment Agency’s Area Director for the Midlands, Dawn Cassie-Sexton, said:
“This fish pass is a major investment in the River Leen and it will make a significant contribution to improving the health of the river.
“We have worked closely with our partners to design and build a fish pass that is not only effective, but also sympathetic to the environment.”
The fish pass is part of a wider £4 million project to improve the River Leen, which also includes works to improve the banks of the river, create new habitats for wildlife and plant thousands of trees.
Country’s largest fish pass officially opened in Nottinghamshire
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