- Would you want to leave a free, endless buffet?
Anglers looking to catch fish from Rochford Reservoir in England are facing a problem. Soon, there may not be much fish left in the lake.
It’s all due to a ravenous seal that’s gobbling down the fish stock of the reservoir. With an abundant source of easy-to-catch food, it seems the animal has no intention of going anywhere.
Not that it could. According to experts, the seal has gotten itself stuck in the reservoir.
It’s like being trapped at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Although the seal is in no immediate of starvation, it may draw unwanted attention from irate anglers. The animal has eaten thousands of dollars’ worth of fish and the stiff upper lip of both hobbyist and professional fishermen is starting to quiver.
“It’s ridiculous. It’s ruining my business,” complained Nick North of Marks Hall Fisheries, who has a fishing license for the reservoir.
“It could probably get out if it wanted to but it won’t go. It’s got never-ending food supplies.”
There have been multiple attempts to remove the seal, but so far it has avoided its would-be captors. Now, anglers are starting to worry that it might empty the lake altogether if something isn’t done.
‘It’s Destroying the Place’
Rochford Reservoir, located some 35 miles east of London, is a popular spot among anglers from the British capital. The reservoir’s abundant bounty of bream, carp, and catfish draws people of all ages to try their luck with the fish.
But now anglers are no longer able to fish in the lake. It’s all because of the seal, which was first spotted in mid-December.
The lake was closed down on December 12 due to freezing temperatures that caused the reservoir to freeze over. On that same day, people saw the seal floating among the ice.
John Abrehart, a resident of nearby Leigh-on-Sea, told Leigh Times his nephew Joe Francis saw the seal.
“My nephew Joe saw it at Rochford Reservoir opposite the Horse & Groom Pub when he went fishing with his friends. Joe realized it was there when the seal surfaced out of the water with a fish in his mouth,” explained Abrehart.
Indeed, the feeding frenzy had begun. And it hasn’t stopped since.
So far, the seal is estimated to have devoured more than $3,500 worth of fish. With every passing day, the bill climbs higher.
“It’s destroying the place. A seal this big is eating hundreds of pounds worth of fish every day,” said North.
“It could potentially be until all the fish are eaten at this rate.”
No Inventive to Leave
Although it might seem that the seal is having the time of its life, it may well be in mortal danger. After all, it’s way out of its natural habitat.
“It shouldn’t be here. This is fresh water, you’ve never seen a seal in a park lake or any lake really. It’s not made for fresh water,” North said.
Additionally, the animal appears to be injured. Its one eye is milky white, suggesting that it’s blind, and North noted that the seal also has a cut on its head and a large gash on its tail.
Due to its injuries and the damage it’s causing to Rochford Reservoir’s fish stocks, both anglers and animal conservationists want the seal relocated as soon as possible. That, however, is easier said than done.
Tranquilizers are dangerous for seals, so the only way to remove the animal is to lure it into a net. But the seal seems to be a smart one and has so far thwarted two rescue attempts.
“We’ve had a couple of attempts so far but the only option [with seals] is to get a net around them,” Simon Dennis, from British Divers Marine Life Rescue, told ITV.
“They’re very agile in the water and the problem with the net is he can very easily swim under it or over it.”
Additionally, the seal doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave its little paradise on Earth.
“He’s got no incentive to go in and get a fish in a trap because he’s got the real thing swimming around him,” Dennis said.
Here’s hoping the third planned rescue operation succeeds before the seal completely emptied the reservoir.
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