The Environment Agency has installed cylindrical bristle clusters on 2 local waterways to help fish swim upstream and over weirs.
Work has been taking place at Lukely Brook near Carisbrooke and at Wroxall Stream near Waightshale.
The clusters are a relatively simple but effective way of providing fish passage over structures like weirs – especially during low flows – which is really important for the health and biodiversity of the Island’s rivers.
Engineers have finished installing the bristles and the water is once again flowing – as captured on camera.
Southampton University assisted in the research of the cylindrical clusters, as demonstrated below…
4/4 And amazingly, this is a video of two fish actually swimming up a research tank at Southampton University (@UoS_ICER) to show it works. Brilliant. @iwight @iwcponline @islandecho @iwightradio pic.twitter.com/sauYj4Z1iw
— John O'Flynn (@johnoflynnEA) September 25, 2020
What an amazing thing to do!! This has made me believe that it is worth having some faith in the human race after all and may they do more to help the environment please – some squirrel ropes over roads, just to give them a bit of a chance.