Anglers who use their fishing rods on Norfolk's River Thurne have threatened to deny access to the water to prevent work being carried out nearby.

Over 40 years ago, a deadly algae destroyed many fish stocks in the river and anglers fear the same may occur again if the sediment is disturbed by dredging in the Heigham Sound, near Hickling, according to the Norfolk Eastern Daily Press.

Norwich and district Pike Club committee member John Currie claimed that many local fishermen were disappointed not to have been consulted about the plans, which he claimed represented a "huge danger".

"We are urging the [Broads] Authority to at least carry out the work over a two-year period so they can limit dredging to cold water conditions," he added.

The organisation dredged a small area of Heigham Sound last summer, which had no environmental consequence.

Elsewhere, angling enthusiasts in the US held up banners and marched through St Petersburg, Florida in demonstration against the removal of the gag grouper from local waters, Tampa Bay Online reported.

Anglers who use their fishing lures to entice pikes have been urged to help protect the population of the species.

Broads Angling Strategy Group (BASG) has expressed its concerns over the plight of pikes after Environment Agency (EA) officials found three dead fish in the northern Oulton Broad in Suffolk.

BASG chairman John Currie said that although the reasons behind the deaths of the fish remained elusive, anglers should be careful when fishing for the species.

"I would urge all anglers to help us protect pike stocks by ensuring they use the correct handling techniques and proper equipment at all times when pike fishing," he said.

The EA claimed it was working closely with Mr Currie's organisation to examine various causes that may be influencing the current levels of pike in the area.

One of the three pikes found weighed more than 30lbs.

Last week, the Angling Trust discovered that the EA had known of the reasons for low stocks of salmon on the River Teign but failed to implement measures to rectify the problem.