Anglers have criticised Liverpool City Council for being "too late" in protecting fish in the city's parks, after hundreds of fish died in a lake at Calderstones Park during hot weather. Around 400 fish are thought to have been recovered from the water, with the high temperatures also affecting Speke Hall Woods and Greenbank Park.
Anglers raise concerns over delayed action
Mark Myers, founder of Fishing the Mind, a group that brings anglers together for social gatherings, said the council was not acting quickly enough. He told the ECHO: "Each year the fish struggle due to the lack of oxygen in the waters especially in the summer months. Locals do their utmost to keep the parks clean and tidy while studying the lake for oxygen crashes. The council is aware of the oxygen crashes each year on Calderstones and Greenbank but it’s always too late. They put aerators into the water after there’s a huge fish kill."
The build-up of algae in the water is believed to deplete oxygen levels, affecting larger fish. Another angler noted that smaller pond life like rudd and roach are also impacted. Myers added: "Calderstones is a lovely park, it’s got some lovely fish in there that have been going for years and years and years, but each year it’s a massive battle with them. Unfortunately, like the big grass carp, you’re talking about a 20, 30-year-old fish, so it’s really sad to see."
Community efforts and council response
Myers praised the local angling community for their efforts to monitor water levels and fish growth. He said: "The local angling community is unbelievable, they study the water levels, the growth of the fish and that’s why people go fishing." Images of dead fish being bagged by council staff were shared on social media, prompting calls for action.
A Liverpool Council spokesperson said: "We are aware of a number of fish who have died in the lake in Calderstones Park and have investigated the situation. During periods of hot, dry weather, oxygen levels in bodies of water can lower substantially. To combat this, our lakes team have used mobile aerators in the lake to introduce more oxygen and improve the water quality."
Planned improvements and future monitoring
The council added that it is looking at wider lake improvement measures for Calderstones, including desilting, permanent aeration, and restoration of the lake’s features. Technical and environmental studies have been carried out, and part of the funding has been secured. The council is seeking additional funding to deliver the full programme, noting that similar improvements have already been made in other parks across the city. Council staff are visiting other lakes and ponds this week to assess if action is needed and will monitor them during the warm weather.
Myers expressed doubt about the effectiveness of current measures, stating: "Sitting there with an aerator for a few hours a day isn’t going to do much." He urged the council to act more proactively to prevent future fish kills.
