Environmental groups have raised concerns about the significant increase in fish deaths caused by the scorching heatwave that hit the UK in June, making it the hottest June on record.
The temperatures surpassed the previous high of 14.9°C set in 1940 and 1976.
The sweltering heatwave in the early weeks of June resulted in heat-health alerts, water shortages, and an unprecedented number of fish deaths in rivers across the country. This surge in fish mortality during this time of the year is highly unusual. Mark Owen from the Angling Trust commented to BBC News that he would typically expect rivers to be affected later in the summer when the weather is even hotter and drier.
Reports of hundreds of dead fish floating on the surface of the River Cam near Ditton Meadows in Cambridge exemplify the severity of the situation. High temperatures lead to algal blooms, which deplete oxygen levels in the water, suffocating fish and contributing to their demise. The Environment Agency received more reports of dead fish compared to the same period last year.
The scorching temperatures also impacted plant life, causing wilting and limiting the food supply for insects that rely on nectar and pollen. Ali Morse from the Wildlife Trusts expressed concern over the continuous onslaught of extreme weather events, emphasizing that nature struggles to recover when faced with repeated challenges.
Meanwhile, the hot weather has intensified drought preparations in England as water demand soared. Simon Hawkins, chair of the National Drought Group, stressed the need to prepare for weather extremes and ensure resilient water supplies. Collaborative efforts between the Environment Agency, water companies, and partners are underway to manage drought risks. Measures include balancing abstraction licenses, implementing drought plans, working with farmers to manage resources, and rescuing fish in areas with exceptionally low river levels.
Certain regions, such as Cornwall and parts of East Anglia, have been grappling with drought conditions since last summer's extreme heat, which caused devastating grassfires and thousands of excess deaths. South West Water customers in Cornwall have been under a hosepipe ban since August of the previous year, and the ban has recently been extended to parts of Devon. Photo by Anthony Harrison, Wikimedia commons.