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Dead fish in park lake raise concerns for residents
Walkers in St George Park have been met with an upsetting sight since mid-October: dead and dying fish floating in the park’s lake, and others gasping near the surface.
Gemma Saunders, who has lived in St George for over two decades and walks through the park every day, said that, though she only noticed three or four dead fish in November, other concerning signs had started to reveal themselves earlier.
“Before that, I’d seen some of the big carp very close to the surface of the water, which I thought was unusual,” added Gemma. “It soon became apparent that they were literally gasping for air.”
An anonymous user posted a photo of one floating dead fish on a Facebook group
“At the end of the day, animals are suffering. The council aren’t providing for them,” said Gemma, who frequently walks through St George Park – photo: Gemma Saunders
Gemma promptly contacted Bristol City Council and was told they had already received a report about a single dead fish a few weeks earlier. She was assured that a park attendant would be informed and that the water would be tested within 48 hours. A reference number was issued, and locals were promised an update.
When speaking to Bristol24/7, Gemma also raised concerns about the condition of the lake infrastructure: “I don’t think the pipe that is supposed to bring oxygen into the pond and circulate the water is working properly.
“There’s just a little trickle of water coming out of it, and there’s lots of gunk around.”
Gemma recalled that the large water jet pushing water into the air, to help circulate it through the water, hasn’t been working since before the summer.
She also remembers warnings about the welfare of the fish in the lake appearing online “on and off for a while now”.
The Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) visited St George Park in October but reported that “there was no evidence to suggest the presence of any listed or emerging infectious disease at the inspection”.
A week after Gemma recounted her experience online, Green Party councillor Rob Bryher shared a statement on the Friends of St George Park Facebook page from the council’s head of parks and green spaces, Richard Fletcher. It stated that the “working hypothesis”, based on fish behaviour, was that oxygen levels in the lake were low. Neither of the lake’s aerators – pumps that help oxygenate the water – were working.
In the statement shared by Bryher, Fletcher said: “[This is] not usually an issue at this time of year due to rainwater levels, but now looking likely [to be the cause].
“We have a quote for this that we are updating with the contractor.
“Once it is updated, we will raise an order and get it fixed.”
But many in the community felt the response had come too late.
“The poor fish have pretty much all died a slow death,” wrote one anonymous poster in the St George Park Facebook group, arguing that the fish should have been temporarily relocated while the aerators were out of action.
Others questioned the impact of a new, privately run duck-food vending machine by the lake, and the wider issue of overfeeding. One Facebook user claimed the pellets being sold were contributing to poor water quality and fish deaths, urging people instead to buy environmentally friendly feed from the park kiosk, where proceeds go back into the park.
Some have also spotted a cormorant at the lake. Known for being voracious eaters of fish, it has been seen trying to eat larger fish, and then leaving them damaged.
Swans, ducks and other birds can often be spotted at the lake in St George Park – photo: Kiran Dhami
A council spokesperson said: “We have been made aware of an alleged increase in dead fish at the pond in St George Park, and while we understand this may be distressing for residents, we have so far found no evidence of any serious issues which may require further attention.
“We will, however, continue to monitor the area closely to ensure the pond remains safe and habitable for local wildlife.”
Recent rainfall has appeared to have helped, as dead fish sightings have eased for now. Residents say they will continue to monitor the situation and call for action.
For a long-term solution, getting the aerators working and tackling overfeeding and poor maintenance seems essential to support healthy wildlife in the lake again.
Kiran Dhami is reporting on St George, Easton and Eastville as part of Bristol24/7’s Community Reporters programme, aiming to amplify marginalised voices and communities often overlooked by mainstream media.
This initiative is funded by our public, Better Business members and a grant from the Nisbet Trust.
Main photo: Kiran Dhami
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