Stuck Falmer fish die as village pond evaporates in heat

Dozens of fish in Falmer village pond have been left flapping in the mud as water levels recede.

Dog walker Clare Sealey took photos of the scene.

One shocking image shows a fish’s bones on parched ground that once formed the bed of the pond near the Amex Stadium.

Dental receptionist Clare, from Woodingdean, saw fish writhing and gasping on dry land and others waiting sluggishly in the shallows as the waterline drops.

The 36-year-old said: “It was so heart-breaking. The water levels have dropped so low the fish are just dying. They were gasping for air and I couldn’t do anything.

“I had my best trainers on and I went into the mud to help them, picking half-dead fish up and trying to throw them a bit deeper into the water. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

Some of the fish are believed to be carp. Clare said: “I don’t know what kind of fish they were, but they certainly weren’t goldfish.

“Some of them were bigger than my dog. It was so sad seeing them that morning.”

Clare wants to raise awareness and help the fish.

“I was hoping to find someone who could put some of them in another pond,” she said.

Another regular visitor to the pond also took grim pictures of the scene.

Verity Keeley was horrified to find seagulls eating the fish carcasses and “picking at the live fish” when she visited the pond on Tuesday.

She asked why Falmer pond was in such a state while others are well looked after.

In the past, the fire brigade has been called to replenish Falmer pond.

Village resident and supervisor at the neighbouring Park Farm Shop Laurie Harriott said: “This has happened a few times before.

“Some years ago fire crews shot water into the pond from a cherry picker.

“But it looks like a puddle at the moment.

“The ducks can just walk along the bottom to the island in the middle. It’s all slimy and smelly and it’s got no oxygen in it. Hopefully there’ll be a clap of thunder and some rain soon.”

He has seen several fish carcasses and said foxes had been hauling carp out of the water and eating their remains.

“I saw a seagull munching on one recently,” he added.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said: “Falmer pond is owned by Brighton and Hove City Council.

“Our local officers have given the council advice on managing the pond and the fish in hot weather, including possibly moving the fish to a safer location. We are grateful to local residents who have contacted us about Falmer pond.

“We would encourage any further reports of fish in distress, such as gasping for air on the surface, in ponds, lakes and rivers to call 0800 807060.”

Councillor Amy Heley from Brighton and Hove City Council said: “We appreciate that the situation with the Falmer Pond fish is very upsetting both for our residents and our staff.

“Ultimately the problem is due to the exceptionally hot, dry weather we’ve had this year.

“Our chalk ponds are not fed by streams. So during periods of prolonged drought, even with the best will in the world the water in these ponds slowly evaporates.

“We have been working closely with the Environment Agency and Southern Water to try to save the fish by refilling the pond or relocating them.

“Unfortunately we have been advised that filling the ponds from the water main is not an option as Southern Water are already struggling to meet consumer demand.

“Moving the fish at short notice is extremely difficult because of national disease testing regulations.

“With possible heavy rainfall predicted we are currently monitoring the weather situation closely.

“Due to the global climate emergency issues around extreme weather and increasingly hot weather are only going to get worse.

“This underlines the importance of the commitment we’ve made to becoming carbon-neutral by 2030.”