Fish dead in pond

WATER from a Newhaven pond has been sent for analysis after dead fish were found floating on its surface.

WATER from a Newhaven pond has been sent for analysis after dead fish were found floating on its surface.

Staff at the Newhaven waste site in Lewes Road raised the alarm at the weekend when they saw the stricken fish at the Valley Road pond.

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Trevor Weeks, from East Sussex Wildlife Ambulance Service, was one of the first on the scene.

He said: The people who work at the tip found the fish. They were rather concerned and called me. There were about 20 dead fish floating in the pond and a lot of others gasping for air.

Noticing that the water was an unusual grey and black colour, Trevor called the Environment Agency.

Its officers detected low oxygen levels and above average levels of ammonia in the water and sent samples to their laboratory for a more detailed investigation.

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An Environment Agency spokeswoman said 20 dead carp were retrieved from the pond. Fisheries officers could not see any further fish in distress but are continuing to monitor the situation, she added.

It was unclear if the water had been polluted on purpose of if the threat to the fish was a naturally occurring event caused by autumn weather conditions.

The spokeswoman added: In the autumn silt from the bottom of the pond can become mixed with the water.

One of the inspectors saw 30 ducks on the pond. Their waste could also mix with the water making it difficult for the fish to absorb oxygen.

The results of the water tests are expected within two weeks.