Residents work to save Sandown lake fish after 100 found dead
Island resident Natalie Power said she and her husband were walking by Canoe Lake, which is three-quarters privately owned, on Sunday and noticed the fish struggling."We just jumped in and started digging out a trench for the fish, but we realised so much more was needed," she said."Through the power of social media over 72 hours, we've grown this into a huge operation and what we're achieving is phenomenal."
Mrs Power said the lake was drying up "rapidly", but she estimated there were up to 400 fish still alive.She said the lake owners had given them permission "to do what we need to save the fish" and a fundraising page had been set up to fund emergency water supplies.
'Time is critical'
Mrs Power added: "Time is critical. Due to a huge amount of red tape, it's not as simple as removing them and taking them elsewhere."Fellow resident Katrina Gilderthorp said: "We're going to be down here until it pours with rain and it fills again, or we get the licence to move the fish."It's really important, these are animals that are dying."
In Southampton resident Carol Pope said she had never seen water levels so low for the lake in the common."Just sad, I couldn't quite believe it actually, such a shock when I saw it," she said.Resident Jean Dewey added: "It's gone down and down and the fish are so big, they're half in and half out the water and when the sun's shining on their backs, it's so cruel."
Southampton City Council has been approached for comment.A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said it had been monitoring fish health and water levels at the common and was providing advice to the council. "Our officers continue to provide advice to local residents on managing Canoe Lake," it said."It is essential that the correct licenses are obtained before moving fish, because of the dangers of disease transmission, overstocking, and the risk to endangered species."
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