THE Environment Agency (EA) has called on anglers, fisheries owners and the public to help it protect vulnerable fish stocks during the heatwave.

A rare red extreme heat warning has been issued by the Met Office for Monday, July 18  and Tuesday July 19.

Extreme weather, such as continuous hot temperatures and thunderstorms, can be highly dangerous for fish and can cause a range of problems, particularly for more susceptible species like salmon and pike, according to the organisation.

Hot and sunny weather typically triggers algal blooms, which can reduce dissolved oxygen levels in the Uk’s waters leading to fish becoming distressed and, in some cases, dying.

Read more: LIVE: Weather warning as Cumbria set to top 28 degrees

EA incident response work includes deploying aeration equipment or hydrogen peroxide to restore dissolved oxygen levels, providing expert advice to angling clubs and anglers, and occasionally, as a last resort, relocating fish. All of this work is funded by fishing licence income – and provides a life line to fisheries when they most need it.

Many angling clubs and fisheries carry out effective practices to help manage and mitigate the impacts of continued hot temperatures on fisheries, but a list of ten top tips are available to guide people on how to protect vital stocks and prevent fish deaths where possible. 

Anglers can also help vulnerable fish stocks by minimising use of bait, taking care when playing, landing and releasing large or sensitive fish, such as pike, barbel, trout and salmon, as well as avoiding taking photos of fish out of water to avoid further oxygen loss.

EA has warned that fish should never be moved to other waters by the public because they are unlikely to survive and could spread disease or invasive species by accident, which can damage fish and other wildlife in the area.

Anyone who sees fish in distress should contact the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60.