Angler-driven Citizen Science study on barbel stocking

The West Midlands Environment Agency’s fisheries team is expanding its angler-driven citizen science study. It will explore whether stocking barbel in larger rivers, such as the River Severn, can enhance fish stock health and create more opportunities for anglers.

As part of efforts to study and support barbel populations in the lower Severn, 250 barbel have been stocked into the River Severn. The fish are from the Environment Agency’s Fish Farm in Calverton, Nottinghamshire.

The fish have been specifically bred and conditioned to thrive in flowing water environments, ensuring they are well-suited to the river’s habitat.

Passive Integrated Transponder tags

Each fish will be fitted with a Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tag - a small, implantable microchip that provides a unique and permanent identifier for each fish.  

This cutting-edge technology will enable the Environment Agency to monitor the movement and survival of these fish. It will provide long-term data on fish caught by anglers. It will also offer valuable insights into their behaviour and the effectiveness of stocking efforts. This will contribute to better fisheries management and conservation efforts.

The Environment Agency is collaborating with anglers and academic partners to trial the advanced tracking technology in 3 year study to explore the potential benefits of additional barbel stocking. The study will examine whether stocking efforts can enhance fish populations and angling opportunities in a sustainable way.

Environment Agency Fisheries Technical Officer Laura Bullock, who is leading the project, said:

We have equipped several individual anglers with PIT readers and kits to record vital statistics from the fish they catch. Alongside researchers from Bournemouth University, we have provided in-depth training on how to accurately document any barbel caught.

The anglers will measure the length and record the individual weight of the fish. They will also remove a small number of scales, which will allow us to determine the fish’s age. This detailed data collection will provide valuable insights into the health of barbel in the River Severn, which can then be compared to findings from similar studies in other rivers across the country.

This collaborative approach ensures that anglers play an integral role in building a deeper understanding of barbel populations and their condition, helping to inform and improve fisheries management.

The stocking of marked barbel will be repeated over the next 3 years. It is hoped the study of the barbel catches on this part of the River Severn with the angling society will continue for many years after.

Background information

Before 1956, barbel were not native to the River Severn. The species was introduced through an initial stocking of 500 large adult fish from the southern River Kennet. These fish thrived, successfully colonising the river and earning a reputation among anglers as one of the ultimate coarse fish species to catch. Prized for their impressive size, strong fighting ability, and the finesse required to land them.

Subsequent barbel stocking efforts, however, have not been as successful as the initial introduction. Some fisheries scientists believe this is because the barbel population has already maximized its available ecological niche, reaching a sustainable level in the river.

Focus on Lower River Stretches: Expanding the Barbel Study

We are now taking the opportunity to focus on the lower stretches of the River Severn, where concerns have been raised about a potential decrease in natural fish numbers. This initiative is part of our ongoing study into barbel populations and their management.

Stocking and Technology

To facilitate the study, selected members of participating angling groups have been equipped with PIT tag readers. These devices, funded through the Environment Agency’s Fisheries Improvement Programme (FIP), represent an important investment in citizen science initiatives supported by rod licence revenue.

The PIT tag readers will allow anglers to scan and record tagged fish they catch, providing real-time data on fish distribution, survival, and movement patterns. This data will directly contribute to the study’s findings, offering valuable insights into the effectiveness of stocking efforts and supporting evidence-based fisheries management for years to come.

In this study, the Environment Agency is collaborating closely with academic researchers from Bournemouth University. This work complements long-term studies on adult coarse fish movements in the lower River Severn and River Teme. The barbel study, along with the valuable information provided by anglers, will enhance and support more complex research being conducted both within the Severn catchment and across the country.

Stocking definition

The deliberate introduction of fish into a water body where they are either absent or present in low numbers. Typically aimed at enhancing fish populations for recreational fishing or conservation.

Restocking definition

Reintroducing fish into a water body where their populations have declined, become depleted, or been eradicated. Focused on recovery efforts to restore a previously existing fish population, for example to restore stocks lost following a pollution.

These definitions are important as on this occasion we are introducing stock as part of a study to understand fish behaviour and angling success. We believe the population of barbel in the Severn catchment remain sustainable.