More than 100 fish including brown trout and grayling were rescued from the River Kennet at Manton, near Marlborough, on Thursday. 

The main pic shows Environment Agency Fisheries Officer Dan Horsley transferring a brown trout to a flowing section of the Kennet

Responding to a report by a member of the public, Environment Agency Fisheries Officers successfully netted the fish from isolated pools in a section of the river that had dried up as a result of the exceptionally low rainfall.

Fisheries Officer Dan Horsley told Marlborough News Online: “This is the first time we're carried out this type of operation so late in the year. Fortunately we were able to transfer the fish downstream to a location with a secure flow of water.”  

The Environment Agency is collaborating with Action for the River Kennet (ARK) and local river keepers to protect fish stocks in the upper Kennet during the danger moments created by low flows of water, which is also piped to Marlborough households.

“We are currently in contact with British Waterways regarding a potential water quality issue in the canal around Bedwyn,” added Officer Horsley.

Environment Agency Fisheries Officers Andy Killingbeck and Dan Horsley netting fish trapped in pools

Environment Agency Fisheries Office Dan Horsley transfers a brown trout to a transport tank

The dry bed of the River Kennet at Manton

A dead grayling

Environment Agency Fisheries Officer Dan Horsley and riverkeeper John Hounslow transfer rescued fish to a flowing section of the Kennet

Fisheries Officer Adam Hilliard recovers a dead grayling

Environment Agency Fisheries Officer Dan Horsley transfers a brown trout to a flowing section of the Kennet

One of the young brown trout saved by the Environment Agency Fisheries Officers