Fisheries officers from the Environment Agency will be releasing thousands of fish into the River Don to restore stocks killed by a pollution incident in July.

Around 10,000 roach will be brought from the Environment Agency’s Calverton Fish Farm at Nottingham and released at locations in the Kilnhurst and Conisborough area.

Restocking of the rivers will further improve ecology of the regions rivers, where water quality continues to improve year on year. This follows an earlier stocking when 2,600 dace and 1,400 chub were released earlier this month.

Fisheries Team Leader Pat O’Brien said: “We have a three-year programme which targets rivers and stillwaters that would benefit most from restocking, but we need to re-prioritise this programme to stock those rivers in greatest need.

“Restocking is only one part of our recovery plan for the River Don and we are in active discussion with angling groups to ensure we give the river the best possible support to restore the fishery to its full potential and encourage anglers back onto the riverbank.”

In July this year, intense rainfall caused sewage from storm overflows  to enter the River Don at Sheffield and Rotherham. Oxygen levels in the water collapsed and Environment Agency officers worked against the clock to save hundreds of fish.

Further restocking of rivers in the region is planned for 2007.