Newsletter November 2005
Number 30
President : The Earl of Normanton
Vice President: Orri Vigfusson
Registered Charity No: 1051068
Still mornings, mist and frost to come
Dear Members and Friends,
First my sincere thanks for the wealth of good wishes during my recent illness. I am very much better and fully back in harness. I have even been fishing. Thank you, as well, to all those who have offered generous plaudits for our work, and the progress of the Trust’s EU complaint about the Irish salmon drift netting, reported in the ‘Late News’ addition to the July news letter. I must emphasise that without help and guidance from so many skilled and knowledgeable friends and colleagues locally and internationally, as well as wise guidance from the EU Commission itself, progress thus far would be unlikely.
We are very proud to report that, in recognition of our, now upheld, EU complaint and our contribution toward the campaign for closure of the Irish salmon drift nets we have won a coveted ‘Association of River Trusts Conservation Award’. This award is shared with Niall Greene of the Irish 'Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now' Campaign. We each receive a specially commissioned, water theme crystal vase, mine snaffled by Mrs. Marshall, and a cheque for £1,000 to be spent on a conservation project of my choice. Such recognition is gratefully received. I have proposed to Royal Bournemouth Hospital that we carry out an aquatic and marginal planting scheme on their large lake which, whilst very attractive and enjoyed by so many patients, staff and visitors, is devoid of much natural plant life and wildlife.
My 'Chamberlainesque' allusion to Minister Pat the Cope Gallagher’s statement in my July letter has proved prophetic. More on this rapidly developing matter inside.
In contrast to conditions in July, as I write this in Ringwood, there is a steady warm rain falling. As welcome as this is there is no scope for complacency. My garden rain gauge registered 35mm during August, , just 26mm in September and, thankfully, 145mm in October. The E A Hydrometric report tells us that the Rivers Avon, Frome and Piddle Mean monthly flows, in September, were c.35% below their long term average whilst the Stour was an alarming 53% below. These levels persisted in to late October with only the Frome reaching 87% LTA. On November 8th my gauge records 80mm of rain. Regular readers will know I am a fan of the WSRT web site, designed and operated by our ‘Webmaster’ John Levell. I know many others, like me, particularly like his Avon Diary in the News section. Have a look on www.wsrt.org.uk As another fan summed it up. It’s the next best thing to being on the river. John writes in this edition about some of the important strategies being developed and implemented. And our involvement with their development. They include CAMS, WFD, ACFMP, SAP, FAP, RAAVI, BAP, SAC, SSSI, EUHD, NASCO, ICES, AONB, AMP and their offspring; ERFO, WQO, RQO, HOF, ERFO, PWS, F&C &S&V,.... I could go on! I promise John will not write about them all. No prizes but answers inside.
On a more serious note all these references are relevant to our objectives, the restoration and conservation of the Avon catchment., and are the management tools of; you’ve guessed it, DEFRA, EA and EN.
So; what’s in a name. Wessex Salmon and Rivers Trust. Where do you put the emphasis? What is your perception of us and our role. OK. We may not be universally popular but fortunately our dissenters are a minority.
We began, of course, in 1992, with an almost exclusive salmon emphasis. The Wessex Salmon Association. Almost a panic reaction, certainly an urgent and well meant one, to a catastrophic collapse in the Avon salmon population from the late 1980’s. After a time, with some recognition of our true aspirations, the Trust was formed and called the Wessex Salmon and Rivers Trust. (my emphasis). Latterly the emphasis has acknowledged the fact that what is good for the river is good for the salmon, and the roach, and the dace, and the invertebrates, and the fly life and the ....and the.....
So what do we call ourselves next. What role do we adopt for the second half of this decade.
If you are one of the tiny minority who not only care about the rivers, but have discarded the self interest of exploitation and catches in favour of doing something, you are really very, very rare. You might suggest the Wessex Rivers Trust, The Avon Trust, or something else. After all in the three years that embraced our formation; 1991 / 1993 the Avon nets and rods returned an average annual catch of 215 salmon. In the 1994 / 1996 period 165 pa.. In 2005 an disappointing 176 salmon. Of course, during this period rod and net seasons were shortened, method restrictions applied and angler numbers reduced Even so, and despite our best efforts and those of the Environment Agency, English Nature and The Mudeford Netsmen’s Association there is little, if any, improvement in Avon salmon population.
Should we despair? Should we diversify? John Levell will develop this theme. We remain a very few. This not withstanding the many thousands of Avon anglers all seeking the highest standards of environmental and angling conditions, and all contributing to the E A’s £21 million fisheries budget.
Every one of your committee is a coarse angler. How was your Roach fishing this year? Meanwhile Ireland continues to net hundreds of thousands of salmon, many of which were born just upstream of you, whilst Cormorants consume vast numbers of all species here, protected or not. We need a Royal Society for the Protection of Fish!
Brian Marshall.
2005 Preliminary Count
River Hampshire Avon. Figures in brackets represent 2004 catches.
Salmon Rods 120 (126)
Mudeford Nets Salmon 56 (108) Sea Trout 177 (646)
River Frome No report available
River Piddle No report available
Poole Harbour net Salmon 6 (---) Sea Trout 15 (---)
River Test (459) No report available.
River Itchen (148) No report available.
The Royalty Fishery produced 77 fish of the Avon total, 43 of these were caught after the 16th of June. Of the remaining 43 rod caught fish 9 were caught after June 16th. Rod Salmon fishing was voluntarily suspended on most of the Avon for three separate periods due to high water temperatures and low flows in the interests of fish welfare. We join with everyone interested in conservation in congratulating participating anglers for their restraint. The management of the Royalty Fishery is changing but at the time of going to press we have not been able to secure any information.
MEMORIES FROM THE AVON AND THE EBBLE
Eels at the Power Station
An eel stage ready for action.
'In 1947 as a young bride I came to Downton, near Salisbury, where my new husband worked at the smallest power station in the Southern Division. It was also the most attractive, being housed in an old grist mill. We lived in part of the old mill, our garden surrounded by water. The station had a Brush diesel, also an Armfield water turbine, this supplied most of Downton’s needs including a large tannery opposite.
My husband carried out the duties of electrician cum turbine driver, switchboard attendant, diesel plant operator, station superintendent, and eel trapper. This latter job was carried out in a specially designed for the purpose. October was the best month for large catches, a good catch for one night being around 200. The record for one night was 740, the largest eel caught at Downton being 4lb 3oz. The eels were placed in a tank let in the floor of a store room through which a constant stream of water flowed, and when a sufficient number had been caught they were packed into watertight boxes and sent off by rail from Downton to London, the condition of their acceptance being they must be alive on arrival. At this time they were an average price of 2/9d (two shillings and nine pence) per lb; this produced a reasonable revenue which was offset against the running cost of the power station. In 1956 during the September quarter, the whole of the running expenses of the station, including oil, maintenance and wages, were £37, the revenue from the sales of eels was £43. My husband worked at the power station for over 40 years. It was closed down in 1973, the machinery dismantled and the building made into private dwellings.'
THE WATERCRESS BEDS
'My husband worked all his life on the watercress beds at Coombe Bissett. These were seasonally repaired and planted by sprinkling plants on the surface of the water with a pronged fork. Later the cress was harvested - in months with an R in them and he would push the bundles up the track in an old wheelbarrow to where it would be collected by a taxi-cab and taken to Salisbury market.'
(Courtesy of the Wiltshire Federation of Women’s Institutes)
CAMS
The Hampshire Avon Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy is certainly a grand title but what is involved that will have bearing on the conservation of the river in real terms? Under the 2003 Water Act several key issues were included that would bring considerable changes to the conditions covering abstraction. The 2003 act aimed to encourage water rights trading and the efficient use of water yet we have the Habitats directive and ultimately the Water Framework Directive that will make the ecology and the environment the measures of success. There are potentially conflicts that have to be resolved and the CAMS process forms part of the route under which this will hopefully happen.
As all Trust members appreciate the Avon is a unique river with a bio-diversity second to none in Britain and it is that broad spectrum that has to be protected. We all have fears that the water industry abstracts too great a volume of water and as a result the river is drying-up, flows have declined and there is insufficient water for the fish to swim upstream etc. etc. The Environment Agency review of the current abstractions and licences has reached the conclusion that the catchment is in most instances 'over abstracted' or at least 'over licensed' which has the potential if the existing licences are fully used to be over abstracted. There is a potential area for future consumptive licensed abstraction at times of 'high Flow' any new abstractions allowed would be time limited to enable review and have a 'hands off' condition that ensured that when flows dropped below designated rates all abstraction would cease.
The determination of these flows is a critical element of the current round of consultations the EA have recently entered into; theoretically once agreed flow rates are determined the river should be well protected. This process is being undertaken in as public a fashion as is possible, allowing full access to the information that many believed to be having adverse impact on our rivers. Measuring abstractions potential to damage the rivers flora and fauna is a developing science and as research expands our knowledge of environmental requirements, it is our role to ensure safeguards will be implemented to deal with concerns that are raised.
As a trust we were invited to take part in the consultation process instigated to develop the strategy. Contained within our submission were several concerns that we felt the consultation document had failed to fully address, fisheries representation, out of catchment supply, future development demands, funding in the event of licence refusal or reduction. As I mentioned previously we also felt that many of the conclusions that the EA had reached re the current state of abstraction were correct and we fully endorsed and supported these conclusions. Yes we do have concerns but overall we believe this is an important mechanism that will form part of the integrated strategies that will ultimately benefit and protect the riverine environment; hence we are firmly onboard.
Low Flows
It was recently stated by Boutros Boutros Ghali former secretary of the UN that "Water will be more important than oil this century" a bold statement but when you look at the critically balanced water supply in many parts of the world the statement does not seem as dramatic. The dependency of Israel and Jordan on the waters of the River Jordan give rise to some extremely delicate politics. The falling water levels in the Sea of Galilee are giving rise to concerns over it becoming salinated. The Nile travels through some nine countries in its 7000km journey to the Mediterranean and greater demands for water are creating tension between Egypt, Tanzania and Ethiopia. China is investing in excess of 25bn pounds in the construction of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze in an effort to stabilise supply. The list goes on and to that list we must add our own efforts to ensure a sustainable supply for generations to come. If global warming produces in Wessex the Mediterranean climate predicted, perhaps shifts in the Gulf stream and our rainfall patterns alter, those concerns of the hotter climates may well become our own.
In actual fact when we consider our lot in Wessex in comparison to these other areas of the world we are extremely fortunate. We are fortunate to have the advances of technology and the protection of some very sophisticated legislation that is designed to benefit our environment and allow for the provision of a public water supply. Whilst the agency charged with the duty of overseeing the entire catchment abstraction is involved with the CAMS process the private water companies themselves are busy reviewing their abstractions to ensure they are able to meet their own statutory obligations with regard to public water supply.
Low water due to lack of winter recharge of the aquifers
One area that is giving rise to considerable research and investment is the impact of abstraction when the natural flows of the river are reduced at times similar to those we experienced just this past summer. Asset Management Planning requires the water companies to assess the impact of their actions and ensure they are environmentally friendly. The aim is to ensure that in the event of their abstractions being deemed potentially damaging to the environment, alternative supplies may be found. Concerns arise when the evaluation of the environments needs may, potentially, be influenced by the shareholder annual dividends of the private companies involved. Short term, cheaper, palliative measures may be implemented to avoid committing huge sums investing over more prolonged periods. There is also potential for a serious clash of legislation in that the water companies have statutory obligations under the water supply legislation to provide their customers with guarantees related to standards of supply. If under low flow conditions it becomes essential for the companies to apply for and implement drought orders, what will be the value of environmental protection legislation? If we were to see a further low recharge winter and the aquifers fail earlier next year that scenario may be closer than one would like to think. It is the role of the regulators and the concerned conservation groups, such as ours, to see that such conflicts do not arise. We must continue to lobby for a robust PWS strategy that is capable of maximising the storage of the winter rain and high flows. We must not be in a position of depending on Mother Nature to provide an unlimited, cheap product for distribution. The shareholder and the consumer, the latter protected by Ofwat, are the ultimate beneficiaries and it must be from one or the other the funds are found to pay for the benefits derived.
Trust recruitment and development.
Brian M, in his chairman’s reports has on numerous occasions tried begging, pleading and even resorted to guile in efforts to increase the number of our committee. I think most members appreciate the efforts of the existing committee and sympathise with the workload faced on their behalf. Many would dearly like to do more but time and distance make such commitments ever more difficult in the pace of our modern life styles. Recent months have seen considerable discussion on how we are to ensure the trust has a robust and relevant future and covers the full gamut of the issues facing the rivers of Wessex. There are areas of concern that we are just unable to pick-up simply because we do not have the manpower or resources to give them the attention they deserve. I believe the original cause of our creation, the plight of the salmon, has long ago brought the trust into the role of significant contributor to the protection of the environment of not only the total river habitat but the entire catchment ecology. That’s the annoying thing about rivers and water, they impact on everything and everybody and as such trying to find a definitive point to say "that’s not our concern" is desperately difficult. To be a trust member already labels you as one who cares and is prepared to show your concern in a tangible form by supporting the trust. To be a trust executive committee member has a label I am still trying to find time to read and I’m not sure I wish to know the full description anyway, so it can remain at the bottom of the awaiting tray. What I dearly wish to see are river trusts established on the lines of the wildlife trusts to give effective representation for all river users, across the board on matters impacting on our rivers. Let us be the masters of our own destiny related to matters riverine, we should not require others to demonstrate the management of the rivers to those that have been involved for generations. This under the national banner of the Association of River Trusts which would provide a national network of experience and practical involvement.
The Wessex Salmon and Rivers Trust, was the first charitable trust established purely for the benefit of riverine ecology and the promotion of that ideal. We are now only a small trust among the many which subsequently came into existence on seeing our example, several of whom used our constitution as the model for their own creation. Many have full time staff and have the whole hearted support of the entire spread of river users and owners and extremely good news they are too - I would also add that our constitution is still available on the web for anybody wishing to go down this route.
The very unique nature of Wessex rivers has contributed to many of the problems we face in our attempts to expand our trust along these lines. Many of the other rivers have a much simpler user group in that they have single discipline angling and full riparian involvement in those fisheries. They do not have the diversity that we deal with in the scale of aquaculture, private water abstraction, population, coarse, salmon and trout angling and the multitude of conservation interests. What all the users do have in common is the requirement of a healthy river and as such all should be welcome in any forum to achieve this objective. Yes there are conflicting demands of that healthy river but it is only through full discussion and understanding that we are ever going to reach this common goal.
To that end I would wish to encourage a much broader church within the trust and make the criteria for joining us simply a true and genuine desire to work in the best interest of the rivers of Wessex. There is nothing here that is at odds with our established objectives, we need allies and enthusiastic recruits to meet our workload so lets spread the word and celebrate our diversity.
John Levell
Salmon in Celtic Mythology by Michael Twitchen
At the end of October I was booked to fish at Paul Eliot’s delightful Wainsford Fishery on the River Fowey, in Cornwall. The Fowey is a small enchanted spate stream, running through a wooded valley of moss covered trees, with a late run of salmon. Paul has done much to try to heal the river, building his own salmon hatchery and working to restore in-river habitat. As fate would have it a generous patient gave me pneumonia and my holiday was spent coughing in a bed whilst my fishing partner, Ian Ashby, did his best to ensure my weeks fishing was not wasted. He broke the fishery record with 5 fish for the week and took probably the largest salmon of the season, a 34 inch (c.17 LB) cock fish. Ian knows how to cheer you up on your sick bed!
Whilst lying ill in the Cornwall of legend I chanced upon a volume of Celtic Mythology and passed some fevered hours reading about how our ancestors viewed the salmon.
The salmon was one of the symbols of great wisdom deeply rooted in Celtic myth. Legend tells the tale of the "salmon of knowledge" which swam in the well of Segais.
The well of Segais was shaded by nine magic hazel-trees which bore crimson nuts. The gift of these nuts was that whoever ate of them immediately became possessed of the knowledge of everything that was in the world. Only one animal was privileged to eat this magic, divine salmon who lived in the well and swallowed the nuts as they dropped from the trees into the water. The salmon thus knew all things and appeared in legend as the 'salmons of knowledge.'
No-one else was allowed to approach the well of Segais, not even the mightiest gods. The only person who dared disobey this law was the lady Boann, who was afflicted by the proverbial curiosity of women. As she approached the sacred well its waters rose up at her and drove her away with a mighty rushing flood. Boann escaped, but the waters never returned to the well; instead they formed the River Boyne. The all knowing salmon of the well were washed into the Boyne and wandered disconsolately through the depths of the river seeking in vain for their lost hazelnuts. I wonder if their ceaseless search for the crimson hazelnuts accounts for success of dyed red shrimps in Irish rivers? Legend does not tell if Boann was ever prosecuted for this illegal stocking of the River Boyne, but perhaps the story does set a precedent that all salmon in the UK were originally hatchery bred from one genetic stock, in the well of Segais!
As a youth the legendary Irish hero Deimne Finn mac Coul wandered to the banks of the River Boyne. Here he found a soothsayer called Finegas or Finn the Seer living beside a deep pool near Slane named 'Fec’s Pool.' Finegas hoped to catch one of the 'salmons of knowledge' and, by eating it, obtain universal wisdom.
Finegas had been fishing for seven years without result. I can identify with this level of success in salmon fishing and I wonder if I am descended from Finegas! He persevered, as success had been prophesied to one named Finn and he was known as Finn the Seer.
Finegas engaged the young Deimne as his servant and shortly afterwards he caught the coveted fish. He handed it over to Deimne to cook, but warned him to eat no portion of it.
When Deimne brought him the cooked salmon he asked if he had tasted it. "No, indeed" replied Deimne; "but while I was cooking it a blister rose upon the skin and laying my thumb down on the blister I burnt it and so I put it into my mouth to ease the pain." Finegas was perplexed. "You told me your name was Deimne, but have you any other name?" Deimne replied "I am also called Finn MacCoul." "It is enough" replied his disappointed master, "eat the salmon yourself, for you must be the Finn of whom the prophecy told." Finn ate the "salmon of knowledge" and thereafter he had only to put his thumb in his mouth, as he had done when he burnt it, to receive fore-knowledge and magic counsel. Thus armed Finn mac Coul became a mighty hero, uniting warring tribes and destroying every kind of giant, serpent or monster that infested the land. If only Irish Fisheries Minister Pat "the Cope" Gallagher could achieve a fraction of Finn MacCoul's wisdom by sucking his thumb....
Belief in the mythical wisdom and knowledge of salmon endured into the legends of King Arthur from the Dark Ages and may be found in the story of the 'Quest for Olwen.'
Welsh prince Kilhooch, cousin of King Arthur, desired to marry the beautiful Olwen, daughter of Chief Giant Usbathaden. For wedding presents her father named a list of magical treasures that could only be won by great strength and wisdom. One of these was the silver shears and golden comb belonging to the chief boar Twrch Trwyth, the fiercest animal in Wales. The only dogs fast enough to hunt him were the two hounds Aned and Aethlem and the only man strong enough to hold these hounds was Mabon, son of Modron, and no-one knew where he was to be found. Despite some irritating legal changes since the Dark Ages I still find the prospect of hunting the chief bore of England, John Prescott, with a couple of savage dogs and a sharp spear strangely appealing. I think it must be the thought of him squealing when brought to bay!
King Arthur’s wisdom was that Mabon could only be found by asking the wisest of animals so Gwyr, who spoke the language of the birds and beasts, was sent with Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere to find Mabon.
The stag, so old that the ancient forest was only a single oak sapling when he first came there, had never heard of Mabon. The owl, so old that he had seen three forests grow and die in the valley, had never seen Mabon. The eagle, so old that he had been in the land since the beginning of time, had never seen or heard of Mabon, but he thought a great salmon living in the River Severn’s rapids might know.
The salmon answered the eagle’s call and his huge head appeared out of the river’s torrent. Gwyr explained their quest and the salmon offered to carry them to a black castle on an island far out in the River Severn near present day Gloucester. Here, deep in a dungeon, Mabon was kept prisoner, perhaps for hunting with hounds, and every day the salmon heard him cry for help.
Despite angry waves lashing round the castle the salmon’s noble strength carried Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere right to its walls. Bedivere smote the wall with his mighty right hand and released Mabon. The great salmon then carried them all back to safety.
With Mabon’s help the chief boar was captured, the shears and comb retrieved and Kilhooch married Olwen.
It is probably 3000 years since Celts first sat around a glowing fire on a dark night and told tales of the 'salmon of knowledge.' Strangely the wheel of belief has come full circle with scientists, our new lore masters, now telling us that eating salmon, rich in omega-3 oils, makes our brains more intelligent and may protect us from dementia. Sadly some politicians involved in fishery policy seem to live on a salmon free diet and are thus take important decisions with shrunken inadequate brains.
What of the salmon? He is no longer a god or a divine beast, but now often reduced to a flabby, domestic animal living a sad life in a cage in a Scottish sea loch.
For my part I will side with the wisdom of our Celtic ancestors and hold him as mystical and magical, and revere, hallow and protect the waters he still swims in.
Trout in Schools
We are preparing this year to again involve four local schools in the Trout in Schools project, and the Trust has now provided for the four sets of equipment to be purchased and maintained from our education budget.
The suppliers have serviced the coolers and they should provide long term reliable service from now on. There are three sets of cooling tubes on these coolers. We use the outlets reserved for Guinness. Lager and Bitter are not utilised, to the disappointment of some sixth formers.
Our aim is to have the systems up and running in the next few weeks, with a view to introducing the eggs to an ideal environment in the New Year, when Trafalgar Fisheries will be generously providing the brown trout eggs. Our thanks again to Trafalgar for support; their donation of eggs is most important and gratefully received.
As I write the system at Ringwood is running nicely, with a stable flow and temperature, and little water consumption. The tanks are now kept fully re-circulating through a good sized biological filter and driven by a low energy pump. It takes a little time for the bacteria in the filter to build up, but they then do a good job of keeping nitrate levels to a minimum, although the occasional flush with tap water helps to avoid any risk of the nitrate 'spikes' that can be fatal to young fry.
This year we are hoping that Hugh Miles will be able to film the progress of the project from planning stage to release of the fry, and some of the children are eager to become TV stars in an episode of the series on fish, fishing and fishermen that Hugh is in the process of editing at the moment. The underwater shots I have been involved with, and have seen early cuts of, are amazing, quite the best fish footage I have ever seen.
Let us hope that by May we will be releasing some hundreds of young trout into each of the rivers. Trout that have been cared for and grown on by youngsters who will have developed a deeper understanding and appreciation of our riverine environment as a result.
Pete Reading
News from the Environment Agency, South Wessex.
At last, it’s raining as I write. However, river mean monthly flows remain between 64-67% of Long Term Average. The Avon, at Knapp Mill, registered its third lowest September mean flow on record (after 2003 and 1990). This has had mixed fortunes for our work this summer.
On the plus side, the survey programme could be completed without being rained off. The programme of juvenile salmonid, eel and coarse fish surveys were undertaken at the 5 year- rolling sites and annual sites, 10 this year, representing a partial reinstatement of the national programme (negotiations are still proceeding to gain access to the 3 outstanding sites). In addition, surveys were done at the Avon carriers and side streams and we also surveyed the Stour for salmonids. A report on all this work will be published in the Spring. The gravel enhancement programme was limited in extent by the low flows, with concerns that river conditions would not enable the full benefits of gravel cleaning to be realised. About 2000 square metres of gravel were cleaned during October, in the lower parts of the river below Ringwood. Again, good weather allowed cleaning to go as planned. The winter period will see a review of this programme, including comparisons with the work in adjacent Hampshire.
An Environment Agency monitoring team at work.
We did some limited placement of gravels to raise the height of the tail pool at Burgate to assist fish migration through the hatches under low flows. This is a temporary ‘fix’ prior to more permanent river enhancement works planned for the next year or so. At Dog Kennel hatches, two barrages were constructed from graded stone and limestone blocks. Again, the aim was to raise water levels in the tail pool - in this case by about half a metre. Hours after the work was completed, grilse and adult salmon were seen successfully negotiating the structures.
Initial discussions have taken place with interested parties on the review of the Net Limitation Orders in Poole and Christchurch Harbours. (This is a legal requirement on the Agency.) There appears to be widespread support for maintaining the current arrangements for the next five years.
After a second attempt at advertising, we will be interviewing in mid November for an officer to set up, calibrate and run the fish counters at Knapp Mill. This is a two-year post, and I hope to be able to advise you of a successful outcome through your committee. An aim of the Avon Salmon group, set up earlier this year, is to get the results of the counter, hopefully including video footage, along with other information on the Avon like flows, temperature and catches on a dedicated web site. More of this in the New Year.
Finally, we are very grateful for the full co-operation of the landowners and help from others that we have received in undertaking this work.
Judith Crompton
Team Leader, Fisheries, Recreation & Biodiversity South Wessex.
Ireland.
Brian Marshall reports;
Orri has e mailed me with the sad news that Newell McCreight has passed away following a prolonged illness. Newell was a staunch ally on behalf of salmon and a helpful friend to me when I met him in Ireland.
He was Secretary of the Ulster Anglers Federation and director of NASF NI. He was also the prime mover in delivering the buyout and raising the funding for Foyle Commission area nets buy out and was justly proud of that achievement. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family.
Dublin: The Current State of Play.
To describe the level of buy out and set aside talk as accelerating is an understatement. Our 'Late News' addition in July carried the best news possible in the progress of our long outstanding EU Habitats Directive complaint. Just to remind you, the EU have issued a warning letter to the Dublin Government. Their letter to us reads:
Dear Mr. Marshall,
I refer to previous correspondence concerning your complaint P2004/4774 in relation to Ireland’s management of its drift-net fishery for salmon.
Having investigated your complaint, the Commission has decided, on the basis of the information currently at its disposal, to send Ireland a Letter of Formal Notice (first written warning) for non-compliance with the requirements of Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna and Article 10 of the EC Treaty. More specifically, it appears that Ireland’s procedures for annually regulating the total allowable catch (TAC) of wild salmon by way of drift-netting do not take adequate account of the conservation objectives of sites that have been proposed as special areas of conservation (SACs) for the species and of the general EU objective of ensuring that the salmon is maintained at or restored to favourable conservation status. This is reflected in the lack of recognition by the Irish authorities of the applicability of the Directive to the setting of the TAC, the apparent formulation of scientific advice on the TAC that takes insufficient account of the mixed-stock nature of the fishery (i.e. the potential for adverse effects outside of individual fishery districts) and a non-adherence to scientific advice in decision-making.
The Irish authorities now have an opportunity to respond to the Commission’s concerns and account will need to be taken of any submissions that they decide to make on the matter.
In the meantime, if you have any additional information of relevance, the Commission would welcome hearing from you.
The Irish government asked for and were granted a two month extension to the time allowed for a response This expires this month. As I write it has not been received.
Ironically, whilst ministers and officials are now frequently referring to potential set aside and / or buy out voluntary agreements they say not a word about our complaint! They no doubt will very soon. Niall Greene has asked a TD (we call them MP’s) to put down a Parliamentary Question on the Irish Government’s response to the EU Commission charges. He writes more below. The Progressive Democrat Party in Ireland, who are members of the ruling coalition, have launched a new policy approach entitled 'Saving Irelands Salmon Resource’ On the 30th September they announced - that they will actively seek a ban on salmon drift netting at sea'. Fienna Gail and the Green Party share this view.
The new National salmon Commission has been appointed. The task of this body is to heed the scientific advice of the Standing Scientific Committee in setting salmon fishing quotas for all netting operations which they recommend to the minister.. The minister then ignores all this expert wisdom and sets quotas vastly in excess of the advice.
Noel Carr, Chairman of the Federation of Irish Salmon & Sea Trout Anglers and a Director of ‘Stop Now’ is appointed to the NSC.
The minister, Pat the Cope Gallagher, has, for the first time this year, asked the NSC to design and source a compensation scheme for netsmen willing to surrender their licences for a set aside period or permanent cessation. This is causing some discomfort because the NSC is being asked to adopt the untenable dual role of rationing the product and setting the prices.
Our policy remains unaltered. We continue to contend that the mixed stock drift netting of the protected salmon of other EU nations is illegal and must stop. Whilst encouraged by the apparent change of heart in Dublin’s officialdom, I am increasingly concerned at the short term talk going on, representing little more than a two or three year interruption in drift netting.
Consider: A British salmon that returns safely in 2006 as a result of a two or three year set aside deal will spawn in the 06 / 07 winter. First year smolts (S1) will migrate in spring 2008. As grilse those fish will migrate past Ireland in 2009. By this time either set aside deal will be over and netting could be resumed.
At the end of September I attended, with Noel Carr and on behalf of NASF (International), the inaugural meeting of The North West Waters Regional Advisory Commission. This is the second such commission of seven. Whilst primarily concerned with sea fishing concerns about salmon food sources as well as the anadromous fish itself could make the commission relevant. This meeting was largely administrative but was co-chaired initially by our Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw and Pat the Cope Gallagher. I was able to talk informally and briefly to both of these. Certainly Ben Bradshaw is very supportive of the buy out route and clearly understands the importance to our fisheries.
Orri Vigfusson is trying to arrange an agreed meeting with Mr. Gallagher, to which I am also invited, and I referred to this in my conversation with him. "My door is always open" was his response. I look forward to that meeting. I was able to have a longer conversation with Lindsey Harris, Head of Sea Fisheries at Defra and the re-appointed Chairman of the National Salmon Commission, Joey Murrin. Mr Murrin’s theme centered upon’ show us the colour of your money! My response was show us the product you are offering.
Sadly Orri has not contributed to this newsletter, he is in the U S A as I write, but his efforts are undiminished and his presence in Ireland frequent. Thousands of anglers from throughout Ireland, together with supporters from England, Wales, Iceland, France and Switzerland, joined together today outside the Fienna Fail Party Conference to demand an end to drift net fishing of salmon. Addressing the rally, Niall Greene, Chairman of STOP NOW, was critical of the foot dragging on this critical issue by Minister of State, Pat ‘the Cope' Gallagher. Full report on www.stopnow.ie John Slader attended for WSRT with Paul Knight, S & T A Director, and Graeme Harris.
We must never lose sight of the massive and vigorous collective effort that is devoted to this enormous task. I pay personal tribute to all those involved; to Orri and his whole NASF International and UK team, FISSTA, Stop Now, many Irish clubs, associations and individuals. Our own Salmon & Trout Association, South West Rivers, and so many more. It is a force with great skill and momentum and we will not be ignored.
From Niall Greene.
We are now making real progress although there are still huge questions. First, we have a new National Salmon Commission with a very cohesive group of eight anglers among the 21 members - none of the faction fighting that characterised the previous Commission. There are two Stop Now directors (Noel Carr and Luke Boyle) on the new Commission. Secondly, while the Minister gave NSC a huge task they are focused in on a compensation scheme for exiting netsmen (probably both drift and draft) and the attainment of district level TACs by 2007. The ambitions of the chairman, Joey Murrin, may be too limited to meet our needs but at least the key questions are all now on the agenda.
For our part, and it is a view which appears to be shared by both the Department of the Marine and the commercial sector, the NSC is not the appropriate body within which to negotiate a deal. I said so in a presentation I did to the NSC yesterday and it did not best please the chair!
(Niall is Chairman ‘Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now’; The campaigning arm of FISSTA.)
NOTES: FOLLOWING A MORNING AT NORTH END, IBSLEY ON THE HAMPSHIRE AVON
Hucklesbrook looking downstream to Ham Island
Arrived at river at dawn. Conditions did not look good with mist rising from the gin clear water. The sun rose to a cloudless sky. Tied two flies on trout rod. One test at Gorley produced a Chub. Took a lovely 3 lb sea trout the first time down Huckles Brook. Covered the same lie the second time down which produced a 51b sea trout.
Rose two more sea trout at Lower Gorley with a dry fly. Then caught the larger one with the same wet fly.
Two salmon showed by the hut. Tried them both unsuccessfully with the dry fly. Saw a boil on the far side. Using a steeple cast the dry fly pitched well and was immediately swallowed by a 5lb Chub.
Tried unsuccessfully for salmon I could see in Huckles Brook and above the bridge. At Island Run there was a patch of gravel which I cleaned one evening two weeks ago. Two fish were lying there. The smaller one scampered away. Tried the larger one with a dry fly casting from the bridge. That got him excited. Changed rods and put a natural shrimp on, with similar reaction. Tried a ruby red shrimp. Ten minutes later I had the pleasure of releasing this perfect fresh fish of l2lbs.
On the top shallows I had two sea trout follow first a dry fly, then a wet one. Neither would take into its mouth.
Gutted and cleaned the two sea trout which I took. Then went to the office for the afternoon. We had the smaller fish for dinner.
The Hampshire Avon can still produce magic times.
James Ewart-Fox
A strong reminder from the Salmon and Trout Association about Gyrodactylus salaris
Keep Fish Disease out: ban live imports
Anglers and other water users have an important role to play to ensure that Gyrodactylus salaris (Gs) does not hitch hike into the UK on their gear. Countries such as Iceland insist that all visiting anglers have their fishing tackle disinfected before arrival and carry a vet’s certificate to that affect, or face an expensive local disinfecting before being allowed to leave the airport. That is a laudable precaution, yet we are unaware of a confirmed outbreak of Gs infection anywhere in the world that could be attributed to angling activity; all impacted rivers in Scandinavia and Western Europe owe their Gs infestations to fish transfers.
The highest risk for Gs infecting UK waters comes from the importation and trade of live salmonids from countries with Gs. Given the massive ecological, social and economic damage a single Gs infestation would have, the UK has to take a strong stand to protect its waters and salmonids.
S&TA would support Defra in their confidence that Gs is highly unlikely to travel to the UK in a batch of salmon eggs, which are always disinfected as part of the trading agreement. On the other hand, we consider that the importation of live parr and smolts holds far greater risk, although here again, Defra are adamant that every consignment of imported live salmonids, together with their documentation, would be checked by our vets on entry to the UK, and so they consider that any threat of importing Gs here by legal fish trading channels is minimal.
However, given the UK’s responsibilities to its rural and remote communities that depend on game fishing, and its legal obligations to protect the Atlantic salmon under the EU Habitats Directive, the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) and now the EU Water Framework Directive, we believe the Government has the duty to fight for EU approval to use ‘conservation reasons’ to stop any high-risk trade of salmonid species.
The current negotiations for the new EU Fish Health Directive offer the opportunity for the Government to shift from a Gs risk management approach to one of risk prevention. Until the new Directive is in place, the UK needs to temporarily impose a trade ban in live fish with countries infected with Gs and countries with unknown Gs status. Acting unilaterally will risk an infraction from the EU, or even internal judicial review, but, MPs, MEPs and Ministers need to back a tough stand in these new Directive negotiations in order to protect UK salmon and salmon angling. Indeed, as we go to press, we hear that six of the seven Scottish MEPs have just asked the European Commission to look with urgency at its measures covering movement of live fish and disease status.
The value of salmonid fisheries is about £1 billion pounds. This is not inconsiderable and, without wishing to be alarmist, Foot and Mouth and BSE should be lessons hard-learned. However slight the risk of importing Gs, are we to allow the interests of free trade to override the protection of our aquatic environment and its dependent species? Not if we’ve anything to do with it!
And about Cormorants
Following the excellent news last year that Defra had produced a new management policy to control cormorants, the RSPB has been hell-bent on milking the media’s sympathy for all things feathered.
Firstly, be assured that Defra have not shrunk from their original statement, except to say that licenses may only be granted for one year, rather than the two the Fisheries Minister, Ben Bradshaw, originally announced. Defra continue to sympathise with the fisheries view that the aquatic environment can only be managed on an ecosystem basis - taking all species into account rather than just one wildlife sector - a notion which, sadly, still seems to elude the RSPB, at least in their public pronouncements.
There seems to have been some misunderstanding about cormorant numbers as well. The figure that the RSPB agreed upon with the Moran Joint Bird Group was that 23,000 birds over-wintered in the UK, and so Defra’s policy that up to 3,000 could be shot (the reality for last season was 1200 dead birds) should be seen against that number.
Fisheries interests still need to play their part. Returns of birds shot must be made to Defra, and licenses sought for the new season where cormorant impact can be reasonably expected. This is the responsible approach we must be seen to be taking.
The Acronyms stand for;
CAMS, Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy,
WFD, Water Framework Directive.
ACFMP ,Avon Catchment Flood Management Plan.
SAP, Salmon Action Plan, FAP, Fisheries Action Plan,
RAAVI, River Avon /Avon Valley Initiative,
BAP, Biodiversity Action Plan,
SAC, Special Area of Conservation,
SSSI, Site of Special Scientific Interest,
EUHD, European Union Habitats Directive,
NASCO, North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation,
ICES, International Council for the Exploitation of the Sea,
AONB, Area of Outstanding National Beauty,
AMP Asset Management Plan.
And their offspring;
ERFO, Ecological River Flow Objectives,
WQO, Water Quality Objectives.
RQO, River Quality Objective,
HOF, Hands Off Flows,
PWS, Public Water Supply,
F&C&S&V, Fish and Chips and Salt and Vinegar.
Wessex Salmon and Rivers Trust, and the editor in particular, are grateful to all those who have contributed to this newsletter or provided information. Opinions expressed and/or statements made by individuals are not those of the committee of trustees collectively unless it is specifically indicated otherwise.