Wildlife experts have warned people not to dump unwanted fish in local ponds after hundreds of suffocating goldfish, carp and other species were rescued from a hot mud-caked pool near Exeter.
Hundreds more are thought to have died as volunteers fought to rescue the floundering fish from the shallow water of the pool at Poltimore.
The summer’s heatwave and drought have left the pond dangerously short of water, and while some of the fish were rescued, many others were found dead around the parched edges of the pool.
It is believed that much of the fish population of the pool has come from people dumping unwanted pet fish in the water. Those fish have bred, leading to a pond that is teeming with shoals of colourful fish including mirror carp and ghost carp.
Among the volunteer rescuers was Exeter city councillor Alison Sheridan (Reform, St Loyes), who said: “There were dead fish all around the perimeter, and those fish that were in the water were gasping for breath. They were caked in mud and it was incredibly hot.”
Rescuers called the Environment Agency, saying the incident was a ‘wildlife emergency’, but no official action was taken.
Cllr Sheridan, who waded in with her son Marcus to scoop up the fish, said: “We missed the eclipse to save hundreds of fish – carp, goldfish, perch and others – that were suffocating to death in the hot mud.
“Volunteers, families and some construction workers from the Greendale Farm Shop were up to their thighs in thick mud saving well over 1,500 fish.”
After more than four hours Cllr Sheridan and her son took home more than 200 fish to recover in massive tanks in their garden, where they keep their own fish. Other people with fish tanks and ponds at home did the same.
She added: “People were confused that this wasn’t being covered by the authorities as it was a wildlife emergency and around 50 ordinary people were helping or watching.
“It was a great team effort, but nothing ‘official’ was being done despite notification to the relevant authorities.”
An Environment Agency spokesperson said that droughts were taking a toll on watercourses and the wildlife that inhabit them.
“We are putting all our efforts into rescuing fish in distress in rivers and streams where there is little to no flow and high temperatures,” the spokesperson added.
“While we are unable to carry out fish rescues from ornamental ponds, we are always willing to give advice to owners on the best way to safely and legally mind their stock.
“Those responsible for fish need to take utmost care when moving them to other waters. Diseased fish can devastate entire populations if moved to new waters, and predators can pose a further threat.”
The agency introducing any fish to open waters needs its approval first.
“We would remind people not to release unwanted fish into ponds, lakes or other waterbodies,” said the spokesperson. “Non-native fish can breed and spread, disrupting local ecosystems.”
Anyone who sees a fish in distress can report it to the incident hotline on 0800 807060.
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