“Interesting that in Earlswood fish are removed, but in Shanghai they introduce them to improve water quality!SHANGHAI ¿ Authorities in eastern China have said they will release 20 million algae-eating fish into one of the nation's most scenic lakes that has been ravaged by pollution.

Taihu Lake, which straddles Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces, has been severely polluted by sewage as well as industrial and agricultural waste.

Authorities started using fish to try to clean up the lake in February last year when they released 10 million mostly green and silver carp into the water, after the algae tainted the drinking supply of millions of residents.

Over the next few days, around 20 million more algae-eating fish will be released into the water, the Taihu Lake Fisheries Management Committee said in a statement Monday.

The campaign, funded by the government and public donations, cost a total of 8.6 million yuan (1.3 million dollars), according to the statement.

A silver carp can consume 50 kilogrammes (110 pounds) of algae and other plankton in its lifetime while gaining only one kilogramme in weight, authorities have said.

Millions of algae-eating fish have been used in the past to clean up Taihu and other lakes, with previous efforts hailed as a boon for the local fishing industry despite concerns over consumption of fish that have feasted on toxins.

Algae blooms, which are common on freshwater lakes in China, are chiefly caused by the presence of untreated sewage containing high concentrations of nitrogen, a main ingredient in detergents and fertilisers.

China's environment has suffered severely amid the nation's breakneck economic growth over the past three decades.”

“Barry - Boggles the mind doesnt it! I think on this ocassion its plain to see, the council have been caught with their pants down! quick quick..lets find a reason...I know! "the fish needed to be removed because they eat the tadpoles of frogs and newts and invertebrate lava."

funniest thing ever!!! And these guys are in charge!”

“what a lot of rubbish the council talk they are working to their own agenda removing fish from any lake to protect the tadpoles is rubbish as the are only in the water for a month or so certainly no use when it comes to eliminating mosquito larvae which fish will do a lot better but then perhaps the walkers and picnickers using the area feel being eaten alive better than seeing fishermen enjoying the sport on both of these lakes for decades.
In the seventies when the lakes where drained and dredged the fish where moved between lakes by the local children and members of the public as the contractors had made no provision for the fish at that time but then in those days fishing in those days was free to all on those lakes .”

“Lets get this in perspective, we are talking about a few fish!
There are far greater things to be concerned about.”

“The whole thing has been a farce from top to bottom, pun intended. I could rant, but these are the facts as I know them and would happily discuss this more and in depth should anyone else wish to!

All large fish were removed from the top lake and moved to Furnace lakes in Crawley. To stop all carp fishing at the lakes...however...Smaller ones were put back (photos and witnesses), they then published an article on the BBC site saying the lake had been mysteriously restocked by carp anglers. Anglers have now also been asked to go to the "carp shop" in horley to purhcase day tickets (gotta love that irony). I have alot of information on the subject if anyones interested it all gets a bit weird..

I questioned the reasoning of removing the lakes greatest assets at the time. The lake has been netted a few times, how many times with permission is another story.

More worrying to me was the award of the fishing rights back to a club that has done little to police, manage, baliff or promote the community spirit type angling venue of the past. I actually questioned this at the time the fishing rights were reviewed, I wanted to know about the process and how one would go about aquiring the rights. Silence followed for a considerable time despite my best effort to contact the right man. I then was told it had been handed back to the original club. (Though i have my own theories on this too surprisingly)

What with the recent netting in one of the worst winters in recent history that that ended in what only can only be described as a fishing club and anglers worst nightmare. Very sad indeed.

I feel This is a subject that needs to be discussed on a larger platform as I too believe there is moreunseen "fishy" business.

oops...it did end as a rant!

I applaud the Surrey Miror for looking into this story. Should anyone else be interested in discussing this post here.”