As you are aware, on the 21st September we invited club members to be present for the first hour of our committee meeting giving you the opportunity to table questions and give your points of view of how the club is being governed. We were pleased to see 15 members in attendance, and we all felt the meeting was constructive and very worthwhile. On this experience alone we are considering organising two meetings, plus the AGM, giving 3 opportunities per year for you to engage directly with the committee.
There were a lot of questions, and I had intended to capture everyone’s name who spoke, but I apologise as I lost track as a lot of people were involved in the discussions. Here are the questions that were asked with the replies given by the committee.
Questions from members
“Why did the fish die”
There were copies of the EA report into the fish mortality on display for members to read. The fish did not die because of KHV or an associated virus. They did not die through lack of dissolved oxygen. The report states that the most likely cause was acute levels of blue/green algae coupled with extreme water temperatures causing stress and gill damage. In short, it was a perfect storm of environmental conditions. We lost 269 fish in all with a combined weight of approximately 1,200 LBS.
“What is the club doing to protect Shepherds Way from this happening again”?
The club is committing thousands of pounds in a Solar power capture system that will provide electricity to run lakebed diffuser aerators. This will aerate the lake at night when oxygen is lower which puts more stress on fish. It will also provide us with additional power to run CCTV and other devices. The Solar set up will be installed on the peninsula island and will be protected by a metal fence and locked gate. No unauthorised access will be allowed. Barley straw bales will be installed mid-winter to offer some helps with reducing algae growth in the spring. We will also be adding Siltex to Neates Lake in two tranches. Bio security measures have been put in place with club supplied landing nets and unhooking mats with drying frames to hang the wet equipment after use. The use of these is mandatory.
“When will Shepherds Way re-open”
We do not have a date to re-open. The EA have advised that we should remain closed until the water level has risen at least 12 inches. We need rain desperately.
“Why are we not using dip tanks for nets instead of mandatory club issued equipment”?
It was decided to provide club landing nets and mats as we are not confident everyone will use the dip tanks. It will be strictly monitored.
“The club must be aware there are lots of keys in the hands of non-members who may have access to the fisheries”
It is a good point and one that the club is acutely aware of. The club is looking to replace the key lock with electronic card entry system now that we have a source of electrical power at Shepherds Way. We are researching technologies and will update in due course.
“Was the fishery over stocked”?
This is another good question. Given that we have lost 269 fish, that were mainly common carp, and we still have numbers of carp swimming around, the stock was at a significant level before the deaths. Members had been telling us they believed cormorants had taken a lot of fish, so we restocked a few carp in early spring. The EA has advised us not to stock any more fish for the foreseeable future and we will follow their guidance.
“Was the small lake affected”
No. We had no mortalities in the small lake. One reason may be the lake is deeper with significantly less fish.
“What is happening about the water outlet which is too high and subsequent bank erosion on swims 24-28”?
The water outlet heights have not changed but there has been some additional wooden shuttering across the outlet into the waterfall. We want to ensure the maximum capture of water during the winter, but we accept we need to keep a watch on flooding. We are planning to work on the far bank with more shuttering in due course.
“Would it not be a good idea to insist all member display their membership card beside their peg whilst fishing then everyone can see they are a paid-up member”?
This is a valid suggestion, and we will give it some thought. Once we improve the gate entry system and move away from keys, it will be more difficult for non-members to access the fishery. Could be useful on other fisheries.
“Can we build a filter system in the silt trap to help water clarification”?
This has been suggested before and whilst it is a valid proposition, the club has limited funds, and we must choose our projects carefully. We will discuss.
“Are there leaks in the lake, and should we be doing more to identify them”?
As the water is low at present, there does not appear to be any visible leaks. We will look at leaks when the lakes fill, and we will look to assess how severe they are.
Thank you for all members who attended, and we look forward to having the opportunity to meet again in the very near future.
Kindest Regards
Paul Hutton (on behalf of the committee).