Environment Agency officers are urging people to help them survey the River Tyne for coarse fish by taking part in an angling championship. The annual event is held so that staff can gauge the types, length and amount of fish between Bellingham on the north Tyne and Wylam, on the main river.
The Environment Agency has teamed up with the Tyne Anglers Alliance to organise the championship which has been run for the last two years.
This year’s championship is on Sunday, August 20 at Tyne Riverside Country Park, Prudhoe, and the event starts at 8am.
Environment Agency ecologist Jill McCormick said: “One of the Environment Agency’s roles is to assess and manage fish stocks in river. The aim of our competition is to gather more information about the species in the Tyne and to encourage people to try angling.
“The Tyne is an excellent river for coarse anglers as well as salmon anglers, and this year we have extended our survey to include stretches at Wark and Bellingham.â€
In 2004, the championship set a new match record for the Tyne when the overall winner netted more than 62lbs of fish, mainly Dace. Around 3,500 fish were recorded during the event including chub, roach and gudgeon.
Tickets are £5 and are on sale at tackle shops in Newcastle and Darlington.
