Tags fitted to scores of Broads pike and bream to track their every move

Steve Lane and John Wall lift a basket containing pike on the River Bure near Wroxham. Picture: ANDREW STONE (Image: Archant)

Pike and bream in the northern Broads are being fitted with tags so scientists can track their movements around the waterways.

In an aquatic twist on the heat maps that show player movements in football matches, the researchers will be able to keep an eye on every move the slippery customers make.

The Environment Agency has started tagging fish across the northern Broads in order to track their movements. Picture: ANDREW STONE (Image: Archant)

They hope the project will help with the tricky task of managing fish stocks.

The Environment Agency's Steve Lane said the project was running alongside a PhD study by Emily Winter from Bournemouth University, Fishtrack and Natural England.

The Environment Agency has started tagging fish across the northern Broads in order to track their movements. Picture: ANDREW STONE (Image: Archant)

'We have divided the area into different zones and since November 6 have been catching, tagging and releasing fish from each of these zones.

'We're trying to learn a number of things about the fish through the project - where they forage, spawn, move during the seasons, what areas of the Broads they are using, how they react during storm surges and what influence salt plays in tidal areas.'

Steve Lane and John Wall with pike caught on the River Bure. Picture: ANDREW STONE (Image: Archant)

Rivers included in the project are the Bure, Ant and Thurne.

Mr Lane said using the information the agency could protect areas where fish spawned or even improve them to increase fish stocks.

Pike being transported to a mobile base where they have the tags inserted. Picture: ANDREW STONE (Image: Archant)

Local and visiting anglers are assisting in catching fish, which are then transported in live tanks to a mobile base.

Here the fish are anaesthetised before scientists surgically implant an acoustic tag and a pit tag, which will enable them to track the fish for up to three years.

A receiver which picks up the tagged fish. To date 45 have been placed in strategic locations around the northern Broads. Picture: ANDREW STONE (Image: Archant)

'It doesn't harm or influence them in any way,' said Mr Lane. 'The fish are then returned to the area where they were caught and released.'

He said a network of 45 receivers placed around the Broads picked up the fish when they came within 250-300m of them.

Fisherman Steve Roberts assisting the Environment Agency with catching fish. Picture: ANDREW STONE (Image: Archant)

'We're concentrating on bream and pike at the moment,' he said. 'The acoustic tags are expensive and we have enough funding for 135 at the moment. We hope to have 50 fish tagged at the end of this week.'

He said previous tagging projects had turned up startling results. 'Some fish show a preference for a certain areas while others appear more nomadic, with bream having being recorded travelling 17km in a night.'

Before the tag is inserted, the fish are anaesthetised. Picture: ANDREW STONE (Image: Archant)

The wherry Hathor sailing on the River Thurne. July 2009 Norfolk Broads / Fishing / Angling / Wherry / Broadland / River Thurne / Boating / Day Boats / Hire Picture: James Bass For: Calender / Scenic / Weather James Bass © 2009 (01603) 772434 (Image: James Bass © 2009)