Thousands of fish released into Greater Manchester river

Thousands of fish have been released into a Greater Manchester river in a major boost to the ecosystem.

The Environment Agency said it has increased the population of dace, chub and roach, as 4,000 coarse fish have been freed into the River Tame. The fish were released at two locations in the river, near Hyde in Tameside.

The Fisheries Improvement Programme, which is paid for by the sales of rod licences, has funded work with the River Tame Anglers association to create fish refuges and boost habitat to support fish survival in the area.

The Environment Agency said stocking happens in winter because water temperatures are low, minimising stress on fish and giving them the best possible survival rates.

A spokesperson said: "February is a good time to introduce the fish into rivers, as it enables them to acclimatise to their new surroundings, ahead of their spawning season in the spring.

"Fish also play a critical role in sustaining a river's finely-balanced ecosystem, so the wider natural environment will also get a helping hand, as a result of the restocking."

Mark Easedale, Area Environment Manager for the Environment Agency in Greater Manchester, said: "The carefully coordinated releases on the River Tame provides an amazing opportunity to further boost fish numbers and support our local angling clubs. Our officers work closely with partners across Greater Manchester to protect and enhance local fish populations.

"This includes responding to reports of fish in distress, gathering evidence at pollution incidents, protecting or enhancing habitats for fish, improving angling access and addressing barriers to fish migration.

"We hope this stocking in the River Tame will encourage even more people to give fishing a go,