On Wednesday 14 October, experts from the University of Portsmouth will support pupils from Ark Ayrton Primary Academy and Bramble Infant School and Nursery to rescue and relocate crabs from Canoe Lake before lake improvement trials can begin.
Using hook-free crab lines and pots, the children will help collect crabs from the lake before they are safely released back into the sea. Portsmouth academics from the Institute of Marine Sciences will be there to identify and measure the crabs, gaining valuable ecological data to support ongoing research into the health of local marine environments.
The operation has been organised by Portsmouth City Council to protect local wildlife before a trial to remove excess sediment from the lake begins the following day. Research on the lake has shown years of sediment build-up have made parts of the lake shallower, contributing to seasonal algae growth and water quality complications. Removing the excess sediment will help support the lake's long-term health and improve water quality.
Professor Alex Ford from the School of the Environment and Life Sciences and the Institute of the Earth and Environment said:
It's great to be working with the council, not only in rescuing the crabs but providing an opportunity for school children to engage in marine biology. This project will allow them to generate their own data to use in class for a wide range of subjects."
Alex Ford, Professor of Biology
Councillor Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure & Sport said:
Canoe Lake is one of Portsmouth's most loved open spaces and an important habitat for a variety of wildlife.
"This project is a great example of organisations coming together to care for the local environment while giving young people the opportunity to get involved in hands-on conservation work.
"The crab rescue will help protect wildlife while we carry out an important trial to better understand how we can improve the long-term health of the lake."
Councillor Lee Hunt, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Leisure & Sport
The trial forms part of ongoing work to improve the ecological health of Canoe Lake. The dangers of excess sediment can include reduced oxygen levels, restrict water movement and contribute to algae growth, especially during warmer months. Results from the trial will help inform future management of the lake.
