Hundreds Of Fish Relocated For Dredging Work At Foxton Locks

Work is underway to dredge side-ponds at Foxton Locks which has seen the temporary relocation of hundreds of fish.

They have been moved to another part of the Grand Union Canal, while specialist machinery is used to clear reeds and silt.

The Canal and River Trust say the work is to ensure the ponds have sufficient capacity to store and balance water, enabling the safe operation of the locks.

Pic: Andy Carpenter

A spokesman said: “Specialist fisheries contractors have already had to wade into the ponds to carefully relocate them to another part of the canal, well away from where the works were due to take place.

“The contractors used special rods to emit a low-level electric pulse into the water which temporarily stuns the fish enabling them to be safely netted.

“The cut reeds have been placed beside the side-ponds so any invertebrates or other wildlife can get back into the water.

“The machine was then fitted with a special pump which acted as a giant vacuum, sucking tonnes of mud and silt from the bottom of each side-pond.

“This mud and silt was pumped through a pipe over the Harborough Arm of the canal, to the north of the locks, where it will be left to dry before being spread evenly on the ground there.”