DEAD FISH seen floating in Hedon Haven and Burstwick Drains were reported by a local resident Asa Edmonds on Thursday evening (19th July 2012).

Asa had been walking his dogs when he noticed the dead fish floating on the top of the waterway. As a keen angler he knew that something was not quite right and suspected that the drain may have been polluted. He reported the incident straight away.

The Environment Agency sent a two-man team to examine the watercourse on Friday. They observed that as well as the dead fish, a number of others were gasping for air. Samples taken revealed a low-level of oxygen in the water.

The Environment Agency Fisheries Officers checked three miles of the watercourse in a small boat to check for pollutants. They also treated the water with hydrogen peroxide to raise its oxygen level.

The cause of the depleted oxygen levels is not known but in an interview with BBC Radio Humberside, Environment Agency officer Pete Turner, said that oxygen levels can be lowered by natural causes, such as warm weather, heavy rain, or by pollution.

The treatment of the watercourse is expected to continue today (Saturday 21st July 2012).

View from EA boat shared on Twitter

Updates – Pete Turner from the Environment Agency via Twitter:

Just checked the first area we treated and oxygen levels have risen from 1% to 22%. We're seeing far less distressed #fish on the surface.—
Pete Turner (@PeteTurnerEA) July 21, 2012

That's it we're out of chemical so it's time to head back to the depot. Our officers will keep an eye on things and let us know how it goes.—
Pete Turner (@PeteTurnerEA) July 21, 2012

We're getting lots of reports of dead and distressed #fish probably due to the recent floods. If you see any let us know 0800 807060.—
Pete Turner (@PeteTurnerEA) July 21, 2012

We've finished dosing on Burstwick Drain. Oxygen levels have increased to 25% in places. Here's a photo of us in action http://t.co/uxpq9GlO—
Rita Reid (@RitaReidEA) July 21, 2012