Closed petition Make it illegal to remove perch or pike from rivers and canals

Closed on 23 August 2023

I’d like to see it made illegal to take any perch or pike from a river or canal as stocks of these fish appear to be at a critical point in many places that were once healthy, species balanced waterways.

The River Avon and canal through Bath were once well stocked with pike and perch but are now regarded by many anglers as “dead water”, and the same is true of a stretch through Bradford on Avon to Avoncliff, also large stretches of the Bristol Avon.

We believe rules on removing these species from rivers and canals are too permissive, and that any removal of perch or pike should be made illegal. These fish play an important part in aquatic ecosystems and it’s awful that this is being allowed to happen.