YOUNG trout hatched in Bradford Beck were spotted for the first time during a check of the fish population in the watercourse.

The Wild Trout Trust and Friends of Bradford’s Becks recently checked on the fish in the lower reaches of the beck. The results showed that it is recovering from the complete fish kills in August 2018.

As part of a joint project between The Wild Trout Trust, FOBB, Bradford Council and the Environment Agency, Professor Jon Grey of the Trust designed and installed some low-cost fish easements on weirs and bridge aprons in the Beck between the Aire and Briggate.

In parallel, the Council constructed a new footpath off Briggate and planted native trees and shrubs on the banks and in the water’s edge.

The team electrofished several locations in this part of the Beck in late June, which involves sending an electric current through the water to briefly stun the fish. This makes it easier to catch any fish so they can be identified and measured before being set free unharmed.

The baseline following the fish kill in 2018 was the observation of no fish, with the beck having appeared devoid of life bar leeches and worms.

The team encountered six species: bullhead, stone loach, minnow, stickleback, brown trout, and European eel. Of those, the stone loach, minnow and stickleback are often an indication of nutrient pollution issues within the watercourse and FOBB has been trying to identify the sources of pollution for a long time.

Prof Grey said: “Bullhead and trout are more indicative of cleaner water. We found a lot more bullhead than in June 2020 which is definitely a good sign. Trout numbers were up also, but perhaps most importantly, for the first time we encountered a handful of Young-Of-Year trout. These must have been hatched somewhere in the Beck this year.”

Rob Hellawell of FOBB said: “Last year, we spotted a single eel below the flow gauging weir but we were not able to catch it. This year we encountered an 400 mm long eel within metres of that initial observation. Perhaps it was the same fish.”

Barney Lerner, chairman of FOBB said: “It is exciting to see the Beck moving the right direction. The teamwork between the Environment Agency, Bradford Council, WTT and ourselves is beginning to pay off.

“And with the new project to improve the Beck between Briggate and Poplar Road in the next couple of years, it can only get better again. We just pray there aren’t any more incidents of severe sewage or industrial pollution which wipe it out again.

Friends of Bradford’s Becks is online at bradford-beck.org.