Wild trout fishing on the River Ebble - Do you want it?

There are just a few weeks to go for people who live in the Salisbury area to let the Environment Agency know what they think about plans to turn the river Ebble into a wild trout fishing river - one of the few in England.

The Agency has been consulting local people for the past few months about reclassifying the Ebble - one of the best trout chalk streams in England - into a Wild Fishery Protection Zone.

If local people agree to the idea, it would mean only wild trout would thrive in the river. Stocking it with farmed trout could no longer take place. Doing this would mean wild trout in the Ebble are not mixed up with farmed fish.

D-J Gent from the Environment Agency said: "Every response we've had to the proposal so far has been really positive. We are nearing the end of the consultation process, but there is still time to tell us what you think about reclassification proposal. From our point of view we are keen to protect the native wild fish population, but there is also potential benefit here for local angling businesses who will be able to
market themselves to the niche market of wild trout fishing."

The Environment Agency is keen to formally reclassify the river by the end of September, so if anyone has a point of view on the proposal, they are being urged to get in contact with us as soon as possible. People can do this by calling D-J on the Environment Agency customer service line on: 08708 506 506.

Koi Herpesvirus disease outbreak confirmed

Movements of fish in and out of the Royal Horticultural Society Garden Ponds at Hyde Hall, Essex have been restricted, following the confirmation of Koi Herpesvirus (KHV) Disease.

Apparently the RHS was willing to accept donations of fish from members into their ponds!!

Defra has issued a Designated Area Order prohibiting the movement of fish to and from Hyde Hall (Top and Bottom Pond), Royal Horticultural Society, Hyde Hall, Hyde Hall Road, Rettendon Common, Chelmsford, Essex. Samples were taken from the affected pond following reported deaths of fish. KHV Disease affects common carp and carp varieties such as Koi. It can result in high rates of fish mortalities. There are no implications for human health.

It became a legal obligation to notify suspicion of KHV Disease on 6th April 2007. The measures developed in partnership between government and industry to help combat outbreaks were announced on 21st May. Suspicion of the presence of the disease should be immediately reported to: the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) in Weymouth.

Presence of the Citrus Longhorn Beetle in UK

An invasive non-native insect which could harm woodland areas and garden plants in the UK has been identified. The Citrus Longhorn Beetle (Anoplophora chinensis) has been brought in on Acer plants (Acer palmatum or 'Japanese Maple') imported from China via the Netherlands and distributed by mail order. This pest is not established in Great Britain but there have been several recent findings in different parts the country.

Although the beetle is known to have been introduced in Acers, it can affect a wide range of trees or shrubs, such as oak, beech, ash, maple, apple, pear, willow, hibiscus, horse chestnut, hornbeam, hazel, birch, mulberry and rose.

Citrus Longhorn beetles develop inside plant stems and tree trunks, taking between one and three years to emerge, and are therefore difficult to detect.

Prior to emergence, there are no obvious symptoms of infestation or the presence of a larva or pupa within a plant or tree. However, large (6-11 mm) exit holes are left by the emerging adults in the stem. These exit holes may be just above ground level, but can also be just below ground level and as such are not visible. Other symptoms can include:

* Scraped sections of bark

* Chewed leaves and damage to the petioles by adults

* T-shaped egg slits in bark

* Saw-dust like 'droppings' or wood pulp around holes and larval tunnels in the wood under loose or thin bark.

Examination of the ground at the base of the shrub or tree for signs of wood shavings provides a rapid method of detecting activity of late stage larvae.

These large black beetles grow to between 21-37mm long and have distinct white markings and long "horns" or antennae. The antennae are longer than the body and are black with white bands. It could be found on a wide range of trees or shrubs.

If you see one of these distinctive beetles, please isolate it in a sealed container and contact your local Plant Health and Seeds Inspector (PHSI) details of whom can be found on the Defra website - http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/senior.htm or telephone 01904 455174. The PHSI should also be notified if there is other evidence of Citrus Longhorn beetle infestation.

Further information about the Citrus Longhorn Beetle is available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pestnote/2006/citlong.pdf

All suspect alien invertebrate plant pests must be reported to the local Defra Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate office or the PHSI HQ, York (Tel.: 01904 455174, Fax: 01904 455197).

Public enquiries 08459 335577;