Extreme heat blamed for dead fish in the Lancaster Canal near Preston

Fish dying and gasping for air between Ribble link and Sports centre canal pic via Facebook: Stuart Milne — Fish dying and gasping for air between the Ribble Link and UCLan Sports Arena Pic: Stuart Milne / Facebook

A number of dead fish have been spotted in the Lancaster Canal.

This issue has been seen between the Ribble Link and UCLan Sports Arena.

Local fishers have been going to social media to express concerns of the marina being badly affected and seeing pockets of dead fish and ‘large expanses of nothing’.

Alan Baldwin, who is a member of the Lancaster Canal Fishery PAC Facebook group, said: “The canal has so many dead perch, roach, pike, bream, carp; it’s disgusting.

“Duckweed is prominent (as is the new builds) the below is disgusting and stinks. Even dead gulls. Perch dropped on the path with gills extended literally gasping for air.”

Dead fish found might be because of the hot weather experienced recently pic via Facebook: Stuart Milne — Hot weather is being blamed for the number of dead fish Pic: Stuart Milne / Facebook

A spokesperson from the Canal and River Trust, which cares for 2,000 miles of canals, including the Lancaster Canal, said: “We are aware that a small number of dead fish have been found on the Lancaster Canal near Preston.

“We believe this is due to the recent extreme hot weather we have experienced.

“Working with the Environment Agency, our team will continue to monitor the area for any signs of further fish distress.”

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