Site Visits and Consultancy
Since the gradual introduction of our consultancy service in 2006, we are now in a position where over half our clients use the service as a first step in solving their water management issues. We now offer a large and growing number of services in this area to assist water owners in the upkeep and good health of their waters.

The consultancy services we offer can be as simple as a site visit to look at the water, take water samples and then produce a written report detailing the results and recommendations.
 At the other end of the scale we can offer a full consultancy service where we undertake a fishery assessment survey, which would include:

• Netting and/or electrofishing to determine the species, population and size of the fish (please see the link on health testing at the bottom of this page).
• Mandatory or non-mandatory fish health test to establish the health of the stock (please see the link on health testing at the bottom of this page).
• Scale reading to age and report of fish growth rates.
• Soil analysis to ascertain the influences affecting water quality.
• Diagnostic water testing to identify water quality.
• Algae Identification testing to determine species of algae present.
• Formal identification of fish species where hybridisation occurs.
• Macrophyte identification (multi-cellular aquatic plant identification).

Within this range of services we can offer each element individually or as packages and will be pleased to discuss any special requirements you may have or services not offered here.
Please note that we do not undertake the sale or purchasing of fish for re-sale or restocking. We do occasionally undertake the sale of Chinese grass carp as a biological weed control measure with due permission of the Environment Agency but we are not dealers in fish. If you are in a position where you wish to stock or de-stock fish then we will be happy to provide a list of contacts that may be able to assist with such services.

Site visits

We can visit almost any site in the UK and Europe to look at and offer recommendations on management, enhancements and improvements for a water body. In most cases we recommend that a water sample also be analysed as this give us a huge amount of additional information on the status of the water and the problems that may be influencing water quality.
The written report will detail our findings and offer recommendations on how the water can be improved. This may include recommendations on improving aeration, silt control, improving fish stocks or recommending plant species that will benefit and enhance your water habitat.
Site visits are a large part of our business and we have visited over 100 waters in the last year.  Amongst the usual findings we have seen cases of sewage being discharged into lakes, non-native and notifiable species of fish, dangerous blue-green algae and even lakes too toxic to support fish.
All prices below include VAT but are subject to a mileage surcharge, which is charged on a return mileage basis.

Comprehensive water surveys

This is a much more in depth undertaking than the site visit and gives massive amounts of data that can be used to examine the health of the water in addition to the fish population. These visits usually take a full day and include all the elements listed below. On completion of this work you will receive a comprehensive report giving a full breakdown of findings and recommendations.
Whilst these are a great way to ascertain the health of your water and life within it, it is also a valuable service for people wishing to; stock fish, de-stock fish, lease or rent a water, renew rent or lease agreements where such an arrangement is already in place or even sell a water.
Additionally, if you are looking to de-stock the lake by having fish removed, you will be in possession of a health test certificate recognised by the Environment Agency. This certificate makes it easier to sell fish, assuming they pass of course, and will often ensure you can obtain a better price.

Health tests

Fish health testing is becoming increasingly important as infections and diseases proliferate throughout the UK and native fish stocks can be at risk. For the majority of water owners the risk of having disease introduced into their water is limited as long as fish are not stocked and the water is not commercially fished.

 In almost all cases of disease and infection entering a waterbody, it has been brought in with newly stocked fish or less commonly, transferred on anglers’ keep-nets and landing nets. It would be oversimplifying the matter to say that this is the only way disease and infection spread as there are many vectors.

To reduce the risk of this occurring the best recommendation is not to stock fish at all, in most cases making improvements to the habitat and water quality will assist the native fish to breed. If you do have to stock fish then please click here for further advice.

For most water owners it is rare that they will require their fish to be tested and only when you see something will the need arise to consider this service. Therefore we offer a 2 tier service, one for clients who have noticed a problem with their fish and would like it investigated and the other for water owners or fisheries who are considering moving fish species between lakes or having fish removed and want to assure top prices.

Through one of our associated companies we can also offer an on site health testing service. For more details please contact us.
* Please click here for information regarding fish selection for health tests.

Individual services
There a number of items that we include as part of the comprehensive water surveys that can be purchased individually. You will also find some services that will be useful on the water testing page that you can access by clicking here.

Consultancy

Our consultants are well placed to help you with almost all water and fishery problems. Within our team of consultants we have experts in water management, water quality, fish health and fishery management. In addition to this we have probably the largest bank of information in the country to enable us to give up-to-date, sound advice on any of your problems.

To use our consultancy service please call us to explain in detail exactly what you require advice on. We will then put you in touch with the correct consultant for your problem.Consultants can be hired by the hour, (initial appointment is a minimum 4 hours) by the day or longer term.

In the past our consultants have worked on projects such as:
·       A planning proposal and design of some pastureland into a 3 lake fishery
·       Conversion of 3 newly formed gravel pits into a trout fishery
·       Conversion of a farm lake into a syndicate water.
·       Advice and testing of fish after a fish kill.
·       Countless water quality tests after fish mortalities have taken place.
·       Some extensive de-silting works, including silt prevention measures.
·       Bank stabilisation and strengthening, including erosion prevention     measures.
·       Advice on aquatic plant control.

If you require any further information or would like to see a sample algae test report please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

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