THOUSANDS of young fish are being given a new home across the region as part of a major winter restocking programme led by the Environment Agency.

Rivers, lakes and ponds across Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset have received a welcome boost, with 6,750 coarse fish carefully reared at the agency’s Calverton Fish Farm near Nottingham now released into local waters.

The seasonal programme, carried out at the optimum time of year, is almost complete.

The fish – including barbel, dace, rudd, roach, bream, tench and crucian carp – have been funded entirely through money raised from anglers’ rod licences.

Each species has been selected to suit the individual waters, helping to strengthen fish populations and improve the long-term health of local ecosystems.

Jim Flory of the Environment Agency highlighted the vital role anglers play in supporting the region’s waterways.

He said: “Anglers are better known for catching fish, but it wouldn’t be possible to put fresh fish back into the places they are needed without the income from their rod licences.

“Giving back fish is good for the environment and everyone and everything reliant on it.”

Restocking is sometimes essential to help fisheries recover from a range of pressures, including disease, pollution incidents and the impact of extreme weather.

This summer’s high temperatures and low river flows placed additional strain on many waters, making this year’s programme particularly important.

December and January are considered the best months for releasing fish.

Cooler water temperatures reduce stress on the fish and give them time to settle into their new surroundings before the crucial spring spawning season begins.

The Environment Agency says the work not only benefits anglers but also supports wider biodiversity, improving habitats for birds, mammals and invertebrates that depend on healthy freshwater environments.

Anyone wishing to support future conservation work can find out more about fishing licences, or purchase one, by visiting www.gov.uk/fishing-licences/buy-a-fishing-licence