THE Environment Agency is re-stocking a Tynedale river in a bid to improve its aquatic habitat.

Around 500 young grayling were released into the Pont at Matfen last week as part of an initiative to re-stock the North-East’s rivers in a bid to improve natural
populations.

Grayling are members of the salmon family, but are classed as coarse fish.

The re-stocking on the River Pont started near Kirkley Mill and was aimed at boosting fish stocks following previous pollution incidents and as part of ongoing work to improve habitat.

Environment Agency fisheries officer Robbie Stevenson said: “We’re pleased we can help with the restoration of these watercourses and it’s now time to help fish stocks recover.

“It is good news for local anglers and conservation alike as there should be a wider variety of healthy adult fish in our rivers.”

Rivers in the North-East have suffered from poor water quality and habitat degradation in the past.

In 2001, pollution wiped out many of the fish in the Pont near Matfen.

While the source of the pollution was never traced, it is hoped the new grayling will help the stream’s habitat recover.

The grayling are introduced at a year old and are expected to begin spawning in the spring of 2017.

The grayling come from the agency’s fish farm at Calverton, in Nottinghamshire, where between 350,000 and 500,000 fish are produced to stock rivers across the country each year.