TAVISTOCK canal has had its annual fish rescue, courtesy of the Environment Agency.

Men bedecked in waders recently walked along the bed of the Morwellham Canal and Bennett?s Leat sections with an electric stun wand.

This was used to stun the young salmon, trout and eels, which were collected and removed to a safer location. A total of 5.75km of canal was covered.

?When salmon migrate they can get caught in obstructions or in the water intakes at the hydro-electric power station at Morwellham, so they are rescued and moved into the River Tavy so they can reach the sea,? said a spokesman.

The fish are kept in the same watercourse to avoid moving any infection into a different area, he added.

More than 2,000 fish were rescued, including 400-500 salmon fry, parr and smolts, around 900 trout, 50-60 sea trout smolts and a number of eels.