Fishing has been suspended at a popular lake as efforts are made to save freshwater fish poisoned by salt water during flooding.

Many of the fish in the lake at Gravesend Promenade have already died since the town's riverside area was hit by heavy flooding from the tidal River Thames during Storm Franklin.

But with some of the fish still alive, anglers and others called for action to save them – and work has begun.

Longfield man Tony Mack described watching carp being taken out the lake last week and placed in plastic bags. He claims some were still alive, although this has been denied.

"The man taking them out said 'we've been instructed to dump them'" said Tony. "It seems rather extreme to kill all these fish – it was a shame to look at these beautiful fish in plastic bags and still breathing.

"Why couldn't we do something rather than just bung them in a skip?"
He said he saw a dozen bags with large carp inside, adding: "Four of them I saw were breathing. The bloke who was fishing them out was standing over the bags and this young lad was saying they're still breathing.

"I could see their gills going out and mouths going. There must be a way of reviving them if they're not dead, and I think it's a bit draconian to not make any attempt.

"It would be worth asking people who deal with fish to see if they could save them.

"It was horrible."

Tracy Smithson said she was sad to see around eight dead fish in the lake on Monday, and added: "Some are still alive but barely." She suggested fishing should be banned in the lake indefinitely.

Angler Jon McPherson took to Facebook to call on fellow anglers to meet up and help clear the lake.

"It’s probably too late and we have suffered a great loss of fish. But if we can help in any way shape or form I’d really like to offer my help and yours if you are willing.

"If you have chest waders and weed rakes or whatever you have to help clear the lake."

But Gravesham council said such action would not be helpful to the Environment Agency's work.
A post from Gravesham council on Facebook stated: "Following last month's flooding of Gravesend's riverside leisure area, we have temporarily suspended fishing at the lake while ourselves and the Environment Agency monitor the health and recovery of the surviving fish. We do not have a timescale for the lifting of this suspension, but will post updates here as we have them."

A further statement from the council said steps were being taken to remove fish that had died because of the salt, adding: "All the fish that have been removed to date were dead, apart from one which was caught by a fisherman and which subsequently died on site."

Cllr Lee Croxton, Gravesham Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Operational Services, said: “We are working closely with experts from the Environment Agency to monitor the health of the fish that remain in the lake at the Riverside area. We have suspended fishing at the lake while that monitoring takes place.

“I would ask anglers and members of the public to please observe that suspension of fishing and to not take it upon themselves to clear the lake of fish as this could hamper the work of our colleagues from the Environment Agency.”