Hampshire fishery lakes to be poisoned to kill Topmouth Gudgeon

Topmouth Gudgeon are believed to have entered British waterways in the 1980s but only recently become widespread.

The Environment Agency removes native species from the water and then adds poisons - the treatment it is to carry out at the FLE Fishery near Romsey, the BBC News reported.

The Environment Agency said the tiny fish was a "significant threat" to the ecology and wildlife in UK waters.

The FLE fishery in Romsey is not connected to the river system, where trout and salmon live.

However, there is a risk the population of Topmouth Gudgeon could spread if no further steps are taken.

If the species were to enter the Tadburn Lake which connects to the River Test, a parasite called rosette agent could affect the salmon population.

The agency will try to remove as many fish as possible from the lake before putting in the piscicide Rotenone, the news source wrote.