Britain’s current Arctic freeze-up could lead to an explosion in the number of fish deaths in stillwater fisheries. As a result, venue owners are being urged to take immediate steps to protect stocks during the current cold snap.

The Professional Coarse Fisheries Association (PCFA) has advised its members and others responsible for running fisheries to open ice-free holes in lakes and ponds to ensure fish survive the freezing conditions.

PCFA Chairman Trevor Passmore, who runs Passies Ponds Fishery in Lancing, West Sussex, said: “A continuous layer of ice over a stillwater fishery prevents oxygen from entering and waste gases from escaping. Although fish are adapted to survive such conditions for short periods, prolonged ice cover can cause eventual deoxygenation and the subsequent death of fish beneath the ice.â€