Electro-fishing is the process of emitting a mild electrical field through the water to temporarily immobilise the fish. The fish are then netted and placed in a holding tank filled with water, where they immediately recover. A scale is then carefully removed (they grow new scales quickly) and the length and species of the fish are recorded.
The fish are then promptly released back into the river with as little interference as possible.
Fish surveys provide a good indication of the river's health, and if the water is unhealthy, additional effort is required to help the river. The scales also indicate how healthy the fish themselves are.
The river Holbeck, a tributary of the River Rye, runs through our grounds. This week we welcomed volunteers from The Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership (a scheme that works to conserve the River Rye and its tributaries), who electro-fished 50m down the Holbeck.
Data (which includes species of fish, their size and their scales) will then be sent for analysis to understand how healthy the water and its inhabitants are.