fish farms

[fish41]

Any one have names of local fish farms to obtain new stock from? I have been given Hampton Springs are there any others closer?
cheers

[DaveE]

I assume you are talking about coarse fish?

If so, Hampton Springs is the closest and is reliable if you ORDER your fish.
Sport & Leisure are based near Shrewsbury and our club used them many years ago with no problems.

Two I wouldn't recommend are Humberside and Blue Slate.

There used to be Willows Fish Farm at Farndon, they were very good, but closed down a few years ago.

[Steve1]

Get in touch with Stuart Wright at Damhead
He has just restocked

[StuartWright]

Jon Wall http://www.coarsefish.org/
Really helpful guy, highly recommend.

Regards


Stuart

[DaveE]

One other thing I forgot to mention.

There are fish breeders and there are fish dealers.
You need to establish which it is you are dealing with.

I would only deal with fish breeders. The fish tend to be small but at least you have some idea of their origin.

Fish dealers net waters and wheel and deal with clubs and individuals to obtain fish. They are often unreliable. They can sometimes obtain large fish but how do you know their origin/age/health?

 

[fish41]

Thank you gentlemen.

[fish41]

Bit of a warning here. Legislation seems to be changing regarding stocking and the EA are taking full advantage to fine fisheries not complying. Couple of years back i approached EA about stocking- no real problem as our pits were landlocked with no streams in or out and as some of you will know only required a fairly simple form being filled in Section 30?  I didnt realise that in 2009 new legislation thanks to the EU has kicked in which will require all fisheries and fishing clubs who want to stock to register with Defra.
website details  http://www.defra.gov.uk/aahm/

The EA have already proudly used the new legislation to fine a fishery owner £1650 + £2000 costs for stocking sturgeon (i am sure i have seen sturgeon in one of our local fisheries? )
details  http://www.defra.gov.uk/aahm/2011/05/06/environment-agency-first-prosecution-under-ilfa/

[DaveE]

Registering with Defra isn't a problem. I seem to remember I simply had to provide grid references of the waters, details of current stock and ownership.
If an individual or club simply wish to stock 'normal' native species it is easier than ever to do so.

I too read of the recent prosecution regarding sturgeon. I have also wondered about the legality of various catfish and large carp which have appeared in North West waters in recent years.

[willowsuk2]

Hi. Just been informed of this post by a customer and thought I'd set the record straight. The Willows Fish Farm have not closed, or have ever been closed. We have been trading for the past fourteen years and are still supplying excellent quality coarse fish. The website is www.willowsfishfarm.co.uk. Cheers. Jonathan.

[DaveE]

Thanks for the info Jonathan. As I mentioned in the earlier post you were very good in the past. If I'd have known you were still in business I'd have used you.
What happened to you 2 or 3 years ago? There was no website then and the phone number on the last paperwork I had from you was unavailable?