ONE of the nation's true native coarse species, much loved by anglers, looks to have a much brighter future.
Crucian carp conservation efforts continue apace with the Environment Agency recently restocking local fisheries with a large number of specimens.
There has been widespread concerns about the loss of crucian habitat and the threat to the species through hybridisation and competition. This is reckoned to be a direct result of inappropriate stocking practices.
The concerns resulted in the formation of the National Crucian Conservation Project in 2014, and their efforts have been paying off.
Crucian carp conservation progress
Member Peter Rolfe who wrote the renowned crucian book ‘Crock of Gold’ explained some of the group’s crucian carp conservation work.
“The NCCP keeps an oversight on how the crucian conservation cause is progressing,” said Peter.
“We work closely with the EA and the Angling Trust and help clubs and individuals to obtain crucian stocks from the EA fish farm at Calverton.
“We also help with advice on stocking and management of crucian waters.
“We hope that through our services we have reversed the downward slide to extinction in the UK of this iconic fish,” he added.
The Calverton fish farm increased its production of true crucians to support these stocking initiatives.
Between 2013 and 2016 a staggering total of 152,046 DNA tested crucians were stocked into 195 separate waters… and the work is ongoing, with many stockings this summer.
Trust back crucian carp conservation
In June 2016 the Angling Trust successfully started the very popular ‘Catch a Crucian Month’ photographic competition, and its become an annual project. It shows the national angling body’s own commitment to crucian carp conservation efforts.
The Trust encourage anglers to get out there crucian fishing each spring and summer, and to send in photographs of their catches and scenic waters.
Crucian carp conservation will ensure more happy faces like this fella, southern specialist angler Richie Martin. This fantastic picture graced the cover of Angler’s Mail magazine earlier this year.
Martin Salter, head of campaigns at the Angling Trust and chairman of the NCCP, said: “This fantastic initiative has grown in popularity and compliments the excellent practical work that is going on to enhance and restore crucian habitat.
“We decided this year to extend the competition over the three months June to August to give anglers more time to get their entries in.
“Thanks to some generous sponsorship from Bait-Tech and Angling Direct, each of the four main winners receives a £100 Angling Direct tackle voucher, a copy of Peter Rolfe’s book ‘Crock of Gold’ plus a special Bait-Tech bait bucket containing £35 worth of crucian groundbaits, pellets and additives.
“Our judges will choose three finalists in each category and all nine finalists will receive the Bait-Tech bait package,” he concluded.
Entries for the 2018 competition closed at the end of August.
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