Picture of the Tees Barrage taken in 2002. Part developed by the TDC, Teesside Retail Park is visible to the right of the photograph. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
Picture of the Tees Barrage taken in 2002. Part developed by the TDC, Teesside Retail Park is visible to the right of the photograph.
P. Boiston
In 2002 I visited the Tees Barrage site, I was amazed to see so many large salmon and sea-trout leaping about in the salt water on the tidal waters of the Tees. Being a fisherman I asked the E/A where I was allowed to fish for these migrating fish. I tried for a fish but I was soon joined by the large seal that I now call Sammy. Sammy popped up with a fish that must have been 20 pound plus. Since that day in 2002 I have watched the seals slaughter thousands of fish trapped below the impassable Tees Barrage. Ten years later we now have a new white water course which I hope will allow better access to the migration of fish. We also have Tees freshwater running through at least one gate mixing with the saltwater. The small cage that trapped migrating fish on the fish passage has now been removed which allows the fish a free passage after climbing the fish ladder. I have visited the site since 2002, Sammy and his growing family still feed on the trapped fish below the gates, scientists are still doing studies into why fish are being slaughtered daily. More fish have been reported on the waters of Darlington Brown Trout and Stockton Angling club I am told in 2011. The Angling Trust is working with the owners B/W and the E/A with a few more acess points for the fish, I hope that 2012 will see more spawning fish in the Tees and its tributaries.