Dr Ian Hirst, fisheries expert at the Environment Agency, explains the agency’s work to encourage spawning and increase fish stocks.

Between March and June, our rivers begin to reawaken. Dace, for example, spawn in shallow, gravel runs - their eggs will sit and wait for nearly a month before hatching. Predators like Perch and Pike, however, are among the first to spawn so their offspring will prey on other species throughout the summer.

Barbel and Chub wait until May and June, cutting depressions (or redds) in the gravel to lay their eggs.

At this time of year, if you look into any body of water with fish in it, you’ll likely see thousands of tiny fish (fry) in the shallows - these represent the future of our fisheries.

It is the Environment Agency’s role to protect and enhance fisheries, and angling, in England. Our fisheries service is primarily funded by rod fishing licence income, which amounted to nearly £22 million in 2023.

Some of our most valuable work involves improving opportunities for fish to spawn, and enhancing the spawning habitat of fish. If you spot a fallen tree in a backwater, or an area with reeds, this means you’re looking at part of a natural river, rather than an untidy one. The more natural the habitat, the more wildlife a river can support.

We provide funding through the Fisheries Improvement Programme to angling clubs and partners to help enhance fisheries and angling opportunities.

In recent years, our work has included gravel jetting to clean gravels and improve their condition for spawning fish in Houghton, Buckden and St Ives.

We have also helped to restore areas of river to provide cover for emerging fry.

Through partnerships with local angling clubs, we deliver habitat improvement schemes aimed at supporting fish stocks.

For example, we played a crucial role in the design, funding and build of the Godmanchester Mill Fish pass with Huntingdonshire District Council, helping fish and especially eels reach new spawning areas further upstream.

Please remember you need to purchase a licence before you go fishing and help invest in our work. Visit: Buy a rod fishing licence: Buy a rod fishing licence for England and Wales - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)