AN analysis of the water in Middlesbrough’s Albert Park lake has shown there was nothing fishy in the number of fish deaths.

A total of nine fish – all carp - have now been recovered from the lake by staff, seven since last Monday (June 22) and two in the previous month.

The Environment Agency (EA) has been carrying out investigations which have mainly focused on the lake’s oxygen levels due to the aerators – oxygen pumps – having been broken.

The analysis has found that the oxygen levels are not low enough to affect healthy fish, but that they may have been a contributing factor in the deaths of weaker fish already suffering from issues relating to other natural environmental factors.

No pollution incident has occurred and a fish disease has been described as “unlikely”, however Middlesbrough Council has installed temporary pumps while the aerators are in the process of being fixed.

EA team leader Jon Shelley said: “Our investigations have revealed that there has been no pollution incident at the lake and a fish disease is also unlikely.

“Oxygen levels in the lake would not normally be low enough to affect healthy fish, but some weaker fish which may be suffering stress due to spawning or other natural environmental factors could have died as a result.”

A spokesman for Middlesbrough Council said: “We will continue to monitor the lake and the effects the aerators have on the health of the fish stock so as to ascertain whether the oxygen levels have played a part or whether the number of recent fish deaths can be ascribed to natural wastage.”