ENVIRONMENT AGENCY WALES

Rare Arctic charr released into north Wales lakes

A threatened fish population has been boosted as a joint project between Environment Agency Wales and Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) released hundreds of Arctic charr into two north Wales lakes this week.

To take advantage of favourable weather conditions 800 charr were released into Llyn Padarn, Llanberis, on Monday (October 17).  And a further 1,600 charr were released into Llyn Crafnant, near Trefriw in the Conwy Valley, on Tuesday, adding to the 5,000 already stocked there this year.

Arctic charr can only be found in a few cold, deep lakes in north Wales where they have developed into distinct populations.

Declining numbers of the charr (also known as the ‘torgoch’) in Llyn Padarn are causing fears for their future.

It is the second year in a row that charr have been introduced to Llyn Craftnant after an assessment by the Environment Agency Wales and Countryside Council for Wales in 2009 concluded that the Llyn Padarn charr population was under threat and a backup population should be established.

Last year 800 fish were released into Llyn Crafnant after being hatched at Mawddach Hatchery, near Dolgellau, from eggs taken from 25 Llyn Padarn charr.

This year, after making improvements to the way they were reared, 7,500 fish were hatched and raised to a length of 15cm, and as a result the Agency has been able to increase its restocking programme.

Fisheries experts advised that only 800 should be re-introduced into Llyn Padarn to reduce the risk of in-breeding among the charr population.

The fish released in Llyn Padarn have been clipped on the adipose fin between the tail and dorsal fin which will enable anglers to identify their catch as a stocked fish.

David Edwell, Area Manager for Environment Agency Wales, said: "The Arctic charr need a good habitat to thrive. Setting up the secondary population is a safety net - but we are determined to find a way to improve the conditions at Llyn Padarn so they can continue to inhabit the lake.

"We also want to thank the owners of Llyn Crafnant for allowing us to create this secondary population of Arctic charr.

"Charr are a unique and threatened species in north Wales and we are determined to protect them. This work relies heavily on our partners, the companies we regulate and the goodwill of the landowners for allowing us to use their lake for this vital work."

Tim Jones Director of North Region for CCW said: “CCW is happy to have provided funding towards this work. The Artic charr is an important element of the ecology of Llyn Padarn and this release together with the introduction at Llyn Crafnant should help ensure that the species have a more secure future."

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For more information contact Martyn Gough on 029 2046 62026 or email martyn.gough@environment-agency.gov.uk

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Note to Editors

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