Fish on the move as water levels fall in drought-affected canal

Fish experts used large nets at Gargrave, near Skipton, yesterday to trap the fish before wading in and using electro fishing equipment to catch them. They were then carefully transferred to other sections of the canal where water levels are being maintained.

The canal, which partially closed on Monday last week, is suffering from a lack of water in its feeding reservoirs due to the worst drought in the North West in almost a century.

Fisheries manager for British Waterways, Carl Nicholls, said: "The drought has meant we have had to take the very unusual step of partially closing this canal.

"While we have carried out a number of measures to maintain water levels in the longer stretches of canals, it was inevitable water levels would decrease in shorter stretches."

A 60-mile stretch of the canal has been closed to boating between Gargrave and Wigan.

British Waterways said it was continuing to monitor the situation on a daily basis and hopes to re-open the entire canal as soon as possible.