23. The 43rd City of London Thames Fishery Research Experiment, 10 October

You can do laboratory tests and simulations about estuarial biodiversity but an annual census by skilled anglers tells you a lot about the health of the Thames estuary. Started in 1973, this event is held on the foreshore adjacent to the Port Health Lower Thames Office in Gravesend.
The Water Conservators’ Company makes an award for Biodiversity – the catch which best demonstrates the continuing healthiness and improvement of the River Thames.
Fishing starts at 08.30 and finishes at 13.00. What seems like hundreds of anglers, from angling clubs, individuals, local schools, and, even our own Andrew Parmley, range for over a mile along the foreshore and the contest begins. Marshals verify the catches, which are mostly returned to the river. Some are retained for inspection and eating.


This is serious stuff: catches included seven fish species – including eels, which are quickly measured and returned to the water. Eels are protected following a massive population drop some years back. This has not been satisfactorily been explained but fishermen talk of estuary development in recent years.  The catch on the day is dependent on a variety of issues: weather, tide, date in the season, unexplained causes and fishermen’s stories. Last year only just over 100 fish were caught.


This year was better, with 591 fish caught. The majority where whiting, but others: cod, Dover sole, pouting, flounder, dab, eel were also present.  The interesting catches were laid out for inspection and judging (watched over by Sheriff Dr Christine Rigden).

Lunch was followed by prize giving for teams and individuals. The principal team prize was The Lady Howard Trophy, which was awarded to the Kent County Anglers. Gravesend Grammar School, saw off the City of London School and the City of London Girls School won the PLA Schools Trophy.  Individual winners included the Best Individual Catch (Barry Graves) and the Fishmonger’s Cup (Chris Northover, Thamesiders). The Company’s Biodiversity Award was won by Barry Graves (Essex County Anglers) and presented with our prize jug by me. The picture shows us, and Reg Butler, the MC, who caught the first cod in the River Thames for 100 years back in 1966. Reg has been a key figure in organising the annual competition for many years.

Georgina and I were grateful to the PLA for the opportunity to visit the event and the unfailing good humour of those present.