Weir removal good news for 'vampire' fish that was around before dinosaurs

A PREHISTORIC fish that predates the dinosaurs is thriving in a North Wales river after the removal of a well-known weir.

- By OWEN HUGHES

Last summer, the EU-funded Life Dee River project, led by Natural Resources Wales, removed a large proportion of Erbistock weir, on the River Dee.

Following this removal, fisheries experts have discovered 25 sea lamprey redds (nests) upstream of the former barrier. They said this is a clear and tangible sign that environmental interventions on the River Dee are gradually transforming the ecosystem for the better.

Earlier this month, the project team captured drone footage highlighting one of these redds just 40 metres downstream of Manley Hall gauging weir.

This confirms the removal of Erbistock (Overton) weir in Wrexham county has opened up an additional four kilometres of critical habitat, enabling these incredible, prehistoric fish to return to spawning grounds long restricted by man-made obstacles.