Anglers at Calvert Angling Club can look forward to more catches in the future thanks to the Environment Agency installing four eco-islands at Lower Claydon Lake, Steeple Claydon, Buckinghamshire.
A fish population survey of the lake by the Environment Agency’s ecological appraisal team showed the absence of small fish and anglers reported a decrease in angling success in recent years.
Eco-islands consist of floating rafts with established native aquatic plants, providing valuable habitat and protection from predators, such as cormorants, and have resulted in improved stocks in other fisheries. They also provide refuge and shade in summer and increase the fish spawning opportunities.  All these improvements are expected to lead to much improved fish stocks.
 Ian Hirst, technical officer (fisheries, recreation and biodiversity team) said: ‘The club is very appreciative of our work and we hope members can look forward to a more sustainable fishery with increased catches in the future.’
The Environment Agency will be keeping an eye on anglers’ catches at Lower Claydon Lake over the coming seasons to see whether installation of the eco- islands has resulted in an improvement  in the fishery.