Newsletter February 2007
Number 34
President : The Earl of Normanton
Vice Presidents: Orri Vigfusson and Hugh Miles
Registered Charity No: 1051068
FORMAL NOTICE
Please be advised that the 15th Annual General Meeting of the Wessex Salmon and Rivers Trust will be held on Friday the 16th of March 2007 at the Brian Whitehead Centre, Wick Lane, Downton Wiltshire at 7:00 PM. Any member wishing a formal proposal to be included in the agenda must notify me of that proposal, and the name of the member seconding the proposal, in writing; to be in my hands at least 7 days before the date of the meeting. Nominations for election to the executive committee, which will be welcome, should also be made and seconded by members, in writing, and should be in my hands at least 7 days before the meeting. Brian Marshall; Chairman, 63, Forestside Gardens, Poulner, Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 1SZ Tel: 01425 485105 The minutes of the 2006 AGM are in member’s copies of this newsletter and available on our web site. All our readers are personally invited to this open meeting and social evening.
Dear Members and Friends,
I must begin with a few apologetic corrections for errors in the November issue.
In the final count we reported that of the 52 salmon caught by River Frome anglers; 40 were returned alive. In fact 50 were returned alive out of 53, an impressive 94% and a great contribution to the conservation of that river’s salmon. The Frome anglers and owners are to be congratulated on this great improvement.
On the back cover I attributed the illustration of the in stream incubators to C E H. Wrong! This is the Wilton Fly Fishing Club’s trout egg box installation managed by Adrian Simmons. Adrian is being very helpful with our trial of this technique. More inside.
Finally , unless you know better, a printing error and an incorrect auction date both demanding inserts. These were corrected in the re-prints.
The auction definitely follows the AGM on the 16th March. John Slader and Peter Hughes are working like Trojans to secure as many attractive lots as possible to help our funds. Can you help them? Fisheries and fishing related or not. If you can offer a lot please contact John Slader on 01794 884736
The absence of a headline feature about Irish drift netting may lead you to think it is all over, a done deal and nothing more to worry about. I hope you are right but we are not dropping our guard. Also remaining on the alert are our many friends in Ireland and Europe, who have supported us for so long; as well as the EU.
There are particular worries in Ireland about the management of angling and the allocation of quotas domestically between sport fishing and commercial netting in estuaries. Obviously we cannot intrude into these domestic discussions.
Where we do share their concerns is in the matter of enforcement of the drift net ban by authorities who have thus far proved unable or unwilling to stop illegal drift netting, are probably strapped for funds and may have little enthusiasm for the task.
In this we must maintain vigilance. The main thrust of the EU final warning is that Ireland is not doing enough to comply with the requirements of the Habitats Directive.
If illegal mixed stock drift netting is allowed to continue, and from the Irish anglers viewpoint, illegal rod fishing on SAC rivers takes place, the enforcing authorities must stop it. Failure to respond to reported incidents of illegal fishing by taking effective action will surely constitute ‘not doing enough’. I will certainly be prepared to argue that.
I have recommended to a number of our Irish colleagues to to record all reported incidents and what, if any, official action is taken.
At last our river flows have moved above their long term average and, for the first time since 2003 the groundwater levels are above long term average, all filled by the repeated rainfall events of the past three months. It delights me to see the wet meadows covered and the water meadows illustrating the remnants of ancient agriculture. Of course, not everyone is happy. Some angling is interrupted. Our brood stock efforts inhibited, probably more. Personally I am delighted to see this return to the norm, no matter how briefly.
I am actually writing this on the 1st of February; opening day of a new salmon season on the Wessex rivers. Yes! Stuck in front of the computer on a mild still morning that I had planned to spend loosening the muscles that contribute to my far from expert Spey cast.
Little hope of a fish I hear you say. I know that but I just want to be there. It is in this spirit so many Avon anglers enjoy their sport; and there is always a chance.
In the ‘old’ days of the commercial syndicates a fisher and his partner had a whole beat to themselves for the day and perhaps a keeper to guide them. Not so now on the Avon, with a few exceptions. Instead we enjoy the more sociable, if busier, privilege of club waters, often with anglers new to the sport. What we should borrow from ‘the old days’ are the good manners expected of all rods then and easily adopted now. Simple courtesies will ensure that no angler enters a pool or run in front of another; rather follow down at a decent distance. Often just as successful. Please don’t hold a pool; keep moving down even if you have seen a fish. Over attention is more likely to put a fish down, perhaps for days. Above all enjoy your fishing and help others to enjoy theirs.
As you read this and previous issues I hope you will begin to recognise the increasingly co-operative nature of so many of our aspirations and activities. Indeed co-operation and unity of effort toward common goals is, in my view and that of my colleagues, vital if significant recovery of the river and it’s inhabitants are to return to former health and abundance. If we are to influence abstraction plans, flow regimes, water quality issues, exploitation and funding bodies, we will be listened to with greater care and attention if we speak with one voice. We all, individuals, trusts and associations, owners clubs and agencies surely share common objectives. Why not unite the available resources to achieve them. I look forward to seeing you as members or guests on the 16th of March in Downton.
In the meantime, tight lines, keep safe and delight in the beautiful countryside in which we are allowed to fish.
Brian Marshall
WSRT Salmon Egg-box Project
Since our November Newsletter there has been 'a lot of water under the bridge' in more ways than one. In early November the Avon Salmon Group (ASG) discussed WSRT plans for broodfish capture/egg recovery methods, taking into account David Solomon’s review of electric fishing for collection of salmon broodstock (commissioned by Rae Borras). The review stresses the importance of using a properly trained team to catch broodstock and that fish can be obtained - in satisfactory condition by electric fishing, with minimal damage to the fish and producing eggs of high quality." Initially, three organisations had been invited to undertake the electric fishing: Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) and the Environment Agency (EA). All expressed interest but had other commitments. Alternative methods of broodfish capture and seeding the egg-boxes, five of which have been purchased by the E A, were discussed including netting, rod and line capture and excavation of eggs from redds. The ASG recommendation was for WSRT to go forward with plans to: (1) use electric fishing to drive fish into nets (without stunning the fish); (2) explore the practicality of rod and line capture.
Four further organisations were approached by WSRT and invited to provide experienced electric fishing teams, the Game Conservancy Trust (GCT), based at Fordingbridge, placed a team on standby during the spawning period over Christmas and the New Year, working alongside the Mudeford netsmen who volunteered to do the netting. WSRT paid for two made-to-order nets obtained by the Mudeford netsmen, these nets are now in store for next year. A rota of possible dates was drawn up to ensure experienced fish-strippers Darren Butterworth (Trafalgar Fisheries) and Bill Beaumont (CEH) were also available. As a back-up plan, a team of salmon anglers was organised to use rod and line to capture broodfish, if river conditions prevented the electric fishing/netting option. The Environment Agency provided a special dispensatory block licence for named individuals and specific conditions applied.
Perhaps the most critical aspect of the project has been to find keepers, fisheries and landowners prepared to contemplate a 'mini-invasion' of their exclusive fisheries and/or the siting of egg-boxes that require regular checks to clear silt. WSRT are particularly grateful to the collaboration provided by Wilton Fly Fishing Club (Adrian Simmons), Wylye Fly Fishers (Bryan Gordon-Smith/Bill Price) and the Piscatorial Society (David Hunt), also the interest expressed by the Wraight family at Allens Farm Trout Fishery (Rockbourne) to host a future egg-box.
What happened?
The Bad News - the rains came. Plans changed on a daily basis. More than 500 e-mails were exchanged during December and January. On 8th January it became clear that the river was staying too high and we would not be able to use the electric fishing/netting teams at the selected reaches in the short period when salmon were spawning, therefore the teams were stood down.
The Good News rod and line was trialled on the 27th December resulting in 2 hen fish and 2 cock fish. One hen fish was ripe and had already shed some eggs, she was stripped of her remaining 2,500 eggs, they were fertilised and transferred to a waiting egg-box. The second hen fish was not ready to release her eggs and all fish were returned safely to the river. On the second visit one cock fish was taken and on the third visit 2 ripe hen fish but no cock fish were taken. Unfortunately, the bad weather intervened again, the river rose and coloured up, remaining un-fishable until the spawning period had ended. Potential release sites for swim-up fry have been identified, they will be checked in late January to ensure salmon redds are absent. In late March/early April the swim-up fry will be counted and transferred from the egg-box to the river. The in-river habitats at the release site will be monitored through spring and summer. In late summer the numbers and size of remaining salmon parr will be surveyed (kindly funded by Wessex Water) and at that point the relative success of parr from our swim-up fry will be compared with results from the on-going EA monitoring of salmon parr throughout the Avon system.
What have we learned so far?
The practicalities of catching and stripping salmon are quite straightforward, but organising the activity is not. Setting up this project has required many meetings, phone calls, e-mails and site visits. Overwhelmingly, people have been supportive and without that positive attitude nothing could have been done because constraints imposed were highly restrictive and could easily have prevented the partial success achieved. I look forward to addressing some of these constraints in the coming months to ensure the project can be taken forward more efficiently into a second and possible third year. Although not a major problem up to now, we have been largely reliant on voluntary assistance and to fulfil our objectives some tasks will require more financial support. Finally, along with the help provided by individuals already mentioned and salmon anglers that turned out (and actually caught a few salmon!), WSRT would like to thank members of the ASG for their inputs to and support for the project.
Jon Bass (Hon. Project Manager for WSRT)
Final Count updated
River Hampshire Avon. Figures in brackets represent 2005 catches. Bold = correction.
Salmon Rods 147 (121)
Mudeford Nets Salmon 57 (56) Sea Trout 242 (646)
Knapp Mill Counter Net upstream Movement February 2006 to January 2007 = 1278 fish. Provisional estimate by size and or tail suggests about 85% to 90% were salmon.
Thanks to Jon Bilbrough of EA Blandford for this information.
Avon Calendar of Rod Catches. Feb. 0- Mar 2- Apr 24- May 39- June 32- July 6- Aug 32. Plus 12 undated of which 3 were pre-June 16th. It is worth noting that salmon fishing was very wisely suspended on a voluntary basis for most of July and a little of August as water temperatures reached a life threatening 19C. Congratulations to those fisheries and anglers who showed such restraint.
River Frome Salmon 53 of which 50 (94%)
Sea Trout 100 of which 21 returned
River Piddle Salmon 4 all returned
Sea Trout 36 of which 21 (58%) released.
Poole Harbour net Salmon 8 (---) Sea Trout 13 (---)
Preliminary & Partial Results;
River Test Rods 429 (459)
River Itchen Rods 87 (148)
Counters: RiverTest 624
Little River No report but estimated + ? (Total 1129)
R. Itchen 456 (410)
D J Gent: Fisheries, Recreation & Biodiversity Team Leader Environment Agency (Wessex South) writes:
Wet winters. Are they a good thing for salmonids? High, attractive flows support the migration to spawning and more water means more habitat. However, higher flows can also lead to more siltation and more challenges for the incubated eggs in the gravel. This silt not only prevents oxygen getting to the egg but can compete directly with the eggs for the oxygen (sediment oxygen demand). Egg boxes (incubators) are a useful ‘sticking plaster’ helping overcome this bottleneck and have been shown to increase survival from egg to fry. Reducing the quantity of silt entering the river is still the major challenge for us. We have been working in partnership with the WRST and Avon Salmon Group on the salmon in-stream incubator (egg box) project). The collaborative project has been a positive initiative, supported by the Environment Agency, and currently one incubator is running with approximately 2,500 salmon eggs. The hard work of all those involved in the program is recognised and very welcome. Thanks to all those involved.
My first few months have been busy. The FRB team has delivered significant fisheries improvements this year despite the funding pressures. Enforcement activities have continued and there are 3 ongoing cases for the illegal taking of salmonids.
In an effort to prevent the illegal exploitation of salmonids, amendments are being sought to the Sea Fisheries by-law to ban the setting of fixed nets in West Bay from May to July each year. The by-law is waiting to be agreed by the full Joint Committee of Southern Sea Fisheries. Approval should be granted in mid January and the amended by-law should be in place for the 2007 season.
The Net Limitation Orders (NLO’s) for Christchuch Harbour and Poole Harbour expired on the 31st Dec 2006. New NLO’s were drafted and sent out for consultation. No objections were received and they have now been confirmed by DEFRA.
We have secured project approval for a fish pass at Loud’s Mill on the River Frome. Our Water Resources department is funding the project with contributions from the Frome Piddle and West Dorset Fishery Association and our own salmon development fund. We are now proceeding with the final designs, with construction scheduled for this summer. Fish passage projects have been completed at Tadnoll Mill and Bindon Mill on the Frome.
A recent review of Fisheries Monitoring will meet the requirements of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). It will lead to changes in the number and location of surveys carried out.
Due to the high flows and turbidity we have been unable to complete a full redd count for this spawning season, although we have been able to gather some information on the spawning range of salmon and sea trout.
I look forward to working with you further in coming months.
D-J
EA Funding Cuts
Defra have been fined 131 million euros because of their very late delivery of the single farm payment scheme. As a result they have made draconian cuts in the support funding to EA., Natural England, British Waterways and others. Grant in Aid (salmon and latterly eels funding) has been cut in England by a further £400,000 for 2006/2007. As a result £57,000 has been cut from year on year salmon funding in South West Region. The sale of the Endsleigh hatchery yielded a one off £150,000 which has enabled some salmon projects to proceed. Some of this money has been granted to other fisheries projects. Not surprisingly the Agency are forced to seek funding partners for some important salmon projects.
75 Years Fishing
(Mike Twitchen Continues from our November issue)
As well as being a regular Royalty rod with fly and prawn, spinning being barely mentioned in his Avon accounts, Barrington also caught the first Somerley salmon.
"His Lord-ship’s river-keeper was anxious to have the Somerley water tried, as salmon were said to visit that part of the river occasionally. Accordingly, the keeper and I walked up one morning to the highest stream, bent upon giving the water a fair trial. In one of the pools, two or three salmon had been netted at considerable intervals of time: nothing was known as to the rest of the water. In that pool two kelts were caught and put back. Some way lower down the river made a considerable bend, and the keeper suggested that, as the pool below the turn did not appear to be of much account, we should take a short cut across the fields in order to save time and trouble.
Being generally acquainted with the look of the river from having often shot wild fowl out of the Gazes on its banks, this particular pool was well known to me, and I had thought to myself that it was just the place for a spring salmon; it seemed therefore a pity to leave it untouched. We accordingly stuck to the river and fished the pool down, with the result that there we got the first salmon ever taken with the rod on the Somerley water (28 ½ lbs). After this other casts were discovered, and in the spring a few salmon were generally killed - a few only, for the Avon never held many, and the Somerley water being a long way from the sea, as the river ran, the fish had much difficulty in escaping nets and rods on their way up.
Although Avon salmon were not numerous this was compensated for by their quality. Barrington rated the Avon second only to the Tweed. He had also fished the Tay and Awe, amongst other rivers, so he knew good fishing.
"The best sport which has fallen to my lot has been on the Tweed, and after that on the Hampshire Avon. On that river I once killed four spring salmon of large size in the day. More than once three. Whilst it was only on one or two occasions that my trip from London to Christchurch failed altogether. It was not only on account of the weight of the fish, but owing to their condition, that the sport on the Avon is thus rated. They showed extraordinary game, running hard, leaping out of the water at one moment, swimming at the bottom the next, and producing, what an old Tweed fisherman described to me as ‘music in the Pirn’." In less poetic modern prose - screaming reels.
I particularly like his chapter on other fishing methods. The issue was not fly or prawn, but rod or spear. Salmon spearing had only been banned 47 years earlier so Barrington had some experience.
"In the Tweed the leister was brought into play whenever the low state of the river afforded an opportunity...The leister was a four pronged spear, each prong having one barb, the shaft being about 16 feet in length...The sport was keenly enjoyed; indeed, the late Duke of Roxburghe and his father have told me that they would give up a month’s autumn fishing for a couple of night’s ‘sticking’." I wonder if any current peers are such all-round anglers? Law and order in the Avon valley was not without problems, even though you could serve community service in Australia.
"One of the most successful ‘coups’ of these gentry was made, now many years ago, near Christchurch on the Avon. The fishermen employed on the ‘Royalty water’ had made a heavy capture one morning, no less than nine fine fish having been netted. These they locked up inside a fish-house at Knap Weir, whilst they went into Christchurch to have their dinners and procure a cart to take them away. Meantime, some poachers, who had watched the proceedings, sent one of their number on to the roof of the fish-house. The man then dropped down the chimney, opened the window shutter, and handed the nine salmon to his confederates outside."
Nineteenth century salmon had more in river netting to contend with, but they may have faced fewer feathered predators. Barrington thought cormorants so rare, away from the coast, that a friend shooting one on an inland pond was regarded as an unusual event!
Although uncontrolled netting was the most pressing problem facing Avon salmon in 1906, Barrington had the foresight to see the dangers of future abstraction.
"One of the most serious dangers to which salmon and trout rivers are exposed is the diminution of the volume of the stream. One source of risk is the abstraction of water by the construction of reservoirs for the benefit of large towns."
The Avon’s flow was not only managed for irrigation, but also netting. Water was penned in by closing hatches and pools were then netted. The subsequent release of this water produced an artificial flood similar to modern hydroelectric scheme release spates.
The over whelming impression offered by the book is of a good salmon river ruined almost beyond redemption. Barrington looks back on a life of great sport, but despairs, in 1906, if anything will survive in the future.
In a way we have come full circle. The Avon recovered and fifty years later, in 1956, was a great spring fishery with magnificent multi sea winter salmon. The run was subsequently devastated again by abstraction and agricultural changes so that, 100 years after his book was published, we again fish a ruined Avon with little prospect of recovery. The consistent failure of authorities, charged with the Avon’s protection, over the last century is lamentable. My copy of this account of Avon history is stamped with the details of a second hand bookshop in Long Beach, California. It probably left England with an emigrating angler, perhaps bound for the steelhead rivers of America’s west coast. I am glad that the book, has, salmon like, returned to its country of birth and to the shelves of an Avon angler, even at such dark times.
I will end with Barrington’s account of his best salmon, caught not on the Tweed or Tay, but on the Avon.
"The largest salmon I have ever killed weighed 36lbs., and was killed in the ‘Royalty’ water, Christchurch, late in the spring, with a prawn. The river had been fished with fly without success for one whole day, and the following morning at luncheon the head-keeper reported that two salmon had shown themselves at Knap Weir (our boundary), and asked leave to run the net round the pool. There was no objection on my part, as, not only was the place useless for angling, but it was probable that the fish would swim about at dusk. Moreover there was a chance that the slight flush which would be caused by opening the sluices of the weir after netting might induce any salmon hanging about the lower pools to come up into our angling water. The men were accordingly sent up to get the net ready, whilst I sat talking to the fisherman, smoking the after-luncheon pipe. Presently a large fish was seen to roll at the tail of a pool close by, which, as mentioned above, had been tried in vain with the fly. I thereupon put some prawn tackle on my rod, and cast a little above. At the second throw a fish took gently hold and began to shake the line. No notice was taken until a heavy drag was felt, then, lifting the rod, I was fast in a salmon. Instantly he ran furiously up stream, leaping two or three times; the head-fisherman, gazing with wide open eyes, shouted, ‘Heavens, he’s 40lbs!’ The words were hardly out of his mouth when the fish turned and made off down the river. It was impossible to follow along the bank from which he had been hooked; luckily, a small dinghy lay close to our side of the river; jumping in, I was across the water in no time, and landing, seemed to be on good terms with my fish. Here I was mistaken. A short distance below and on the opposite side was a mill lade which ran down to the town of Christchurch. Down this lade went the fish, the keeper urging me to take the boat and follow. This I declined to do, knowing that where the fish had gone the water was very shallow, and believing that he would certainly turn and come back to us. After running out a good deal of line he did so, and, putting on all the pressure it was safe to use, I brought him within reach of the gaff. The keeper, though generally certain of his shot, being greatly excited, missed his chance, and away went the salmon down the lade a second time; back he came, however, and, his strength being by this time nearly exhausted, I contrived to keep him long enough at the top of the water to seal his fate. Immediately below was a pool more than twenty feet deep; had this big salmon taken refuge there until rested, he might, for aught I know, have taken me down into Christchurch Harbour. Whilst the fish was being weighed, I reflected that this could not have been the one which had shown himself, as he was certainly ten pounds heavier than our rolling friend. Putting on a fresh prawn, therefore, I proceeded to try for the fish we had seen. After a few casts he was hooked, and running hard up stream was landed without serious difficulty. Like his big relative, he was perfectly clean run, and weighed 25lbs. And a river which produced such salmon has become virtually useless, as far as fishing is concerned, from want of proper limitation of the netting. Yet we are advised by the Commissioners of 1902 to leave the management of affairs in the hands of the local authorities, who have failed to prevent its ruin!"
Everything changes yet everything stays the same.
Mike Twitchen
Trout in Schools
As I write, the latest batches of brown trout eggs, so generously provided to WSRT by Trafalgar Fisheries, have just been safely distributed to the four secondary schools taking part in the Trout in Schools project, after a nervous and hasty journey from Downton, to Ringwood School,, via Burgate School, then on to Priestlands School at Lymington and finally to Applemore College near Southampton. Excited pupils were on hand at each delivery, eager to ask questions about hatching times, what to feed them on, how many eggs there were, and a host of other questions about how the little fish would develop. I was initially more concerned to see that the filters, the new pumps and the cooler were all in working order at each school, but eventually found the time to answer a few questions and brief them and their supervising teachers on how best to care for the eggs and hatchlings once the first stages of the amazing fishy lifecycle were over.
Even though the system at Ringwood has been successful for three years already, and I had maintained a close watch over the fish each time, the prospect of waiting and watching over the development of another brood still fills me with anticipation and an excitement that is only a symptom, I suppose, of what afflicts all those of us with an interest in things fishy.
The first fascination is with the little pink spheres, strange little containers of new life, that sometimes betray their contents with a sudden twitch of movement within. The children are advised to scrupulously observe the eggs, and remove any that fail to hang on to life. They turn a dead white colour, and must be sucked up, away from the live ones, and disposed of. Such is life, and they are only the first casualties of a perfectly natural process. The eggs that are weaker, less resistant to stress, or to the onslaught of the microbes that are trying to kill us all, have to go, and the survivors are the stronger for it.
The same fate awaits the inevitable two headed or two tailed hatchlings. There are always a few in each batch, and they can survive a little while, but as in nature, their inability to feed or avoid predators mean that their weird little lives are short.
Survival in the wild, from egg to maturity, is probably less than a tenth of one percent. A female cod, I have read, lays over five million eggs, and tench are similarly fecund. There are lessons to learn about such numbers and concepts that watching our trout hatch will reinforce amongst those who witness it.
The magical process that occurs when the eggs hatch properly is a wonder to observe. The eggs turn from a dusty pink to a clear glassy orange, the little fish inside become very active indeed, and the egg case splits and drifts away. The surface of the tanks are covered in egg cases and a strange froth, a result of complex, enzyme driven reactions. Here is when the children are well occupied in cleaning operations, clearing away the spent cases from the filters, and dealing with any further casualties. The eyed ova are now alevins, huddling together in the corners of the tank, and in the long process of absorbing the egg sac that gives them an awkward bloated appearance. The stronger individuals are already showing themselves, and they are the first to start to develop into recognisable little fish, with big clear eyes and mouths and bold little fins.
The timing of the first feeding is crucial, and just after the stage of "buttoning up", when the egg sac is fully absorbed is always difficult to judge. The little fish are now swimming upright, facing into the flow, and starting to get into pecking order. Survival of the fittest really comes into play here.
It is essential to test the fish regularly with tiny pinches of food, and the biggest and most robust individuals are inevitably the first to start reacting to particles of food that drift by. Keith Elson, past Trust committee member who helped us set up the very first system at Ringwood, advised that failing to recognise this first phase in feeding and provide the stimulus of food soon enough could spell disaster, as the fry would fail to learn to feed and get that first vital full stomach.
As the feeding fry get stronger, they start to become very competitive, and there is invariably one big strong fish taking up pole position and chasing lesser fish away from his prime, king of the castle place at the front of the queue. Now the fish are recognisable baby trout, resplendent in delicate golden sides and the beginnings of spottiness. They move and feed as a shoal, some are bottom feeders, picking up morsels from the floor of the tank, while others take floating food with miniature splashy rises on the surface.
Cleanliness becomes an essential, and at least twice a day the uneaten food, faeces and any dead trout are routinely hovered up by a rota of students. The big flashy trout are inevitably given names, and the time is soon coming when the fry are ready to be released. I found that the interest in the progress of the fish was as high with sixth formers as the youngest pupils, and questions on survival rates from the lower school were balanced with queries about triploidy and Darwinian theory.
Adrian Simmons worked amazingly hard to put together our system at the primary school at Great Wishford, in conjunction with a very supportive head teacher. Here we saw a real community project, and the work produced by the children was astounding. I will never forget the moment I walked into the classroom at Great Wishford, saw Adrian’s version of the hatchery, and the walls covered with posters and drawings the children had done. A fantastic result, and I am sure that Adrian will generate similar results this year. My system at Ringwood was a rather Heath Robinson affair, with tubes and clamps and bits of string and rubber bands holding things together, but Adrian has taken great care to plumb in the system, enclose the tanks and make his set-up much more efficient and tidy looking. A wonderful effort, and so worthwhile for the staff, the children and the local community, which has clear links with the fishery that Adrian runs nearby.
This year we have replaced the circulating pumps with much more reliable models, which are self-priming and have an even bigger filter system. Our system is rather a deluxe version, compared to some I have researched, but we think that the bigger volume of water and filter surface is a real belt and braces situation, and success has now been consistent because of this. The real threats to success are deoxygenation and disease, but good husbandry and a big working volume minimise this possibility. We always recommend connection to mains water, with a cistern valve ready to kick in if there is a pump failure or power cut, and a daily flush with clean tap water is also a good habit. The chlorine is largely removed in the header tank, where aeration also occurs, but I suspect that a tiny bit of disinfecting is probably a good thing. I know that at one time, we had to run the system on tap water running to waste without any re-circulation at all, and the fish appeared to thrive on it.
The semi- industrial cooler units are our biggest expense, but are highly reliable, and the company that supplies them, Brandels of Rotherham, are extremely helpful and supportive. The need to keep lager, Guinness and wine cool from the one unit means that reliability is a foremost requirement. So, this year, with five units on stream in the local area, we are hoping for our most successful introduction of young people to the rearing of classroom trout, and we plan to continue through the Summer term for the first time with coarse fish, perhaps roach fry from the Avon brought in and grown on, or maybe carp eggs to fry stage. The need for the coolers will be dispensed with, with subsequent energy savings.
Our thanks for the continued success of the project to Tesco Stores, of course, who provide the funding, to Trafalgar Fisheries for the fish, and to all the staff and students of the schools involved.
Pete Reading
John Slader, WSRT Trustee, writes from his Salmon & Trout Association desk.
River Invertebrate Monitoring for anglers - a chance to get involved.
Many will remember the sterling work undertaken locally by Peter Hayes and Allan Frake in compiling the Millennium Fly Survey which highlighted a decline in abundance and occurrence of river flies, in particular Up-winged flies (Ephemeroptera) and Caddisflies (Trichoptera). The findings attracted both national and international interest.
The Salmon & Trout Association has been very active in taking the survey to a national level and also participating in the River Fly Partnership whose current Chairman is Paul Knight, Executive Director, of the S & TA. River Invertebrate Monitoring for Anglers is an angler led initiative, spearheaded by The Riverfly Partnership, which ensures that angling groups can take action to monitor and help conserve the river environment. Anglers, as guardians of the river environment, are in ideal position to monitor the health of the watercourses they fish, by using the riverflies they aim to imitate with their artificial flies. The Riverfly Partnership is working to further the understanding and conservation of riverfly populations and to protect the quality of watercourses. As reported in the autumn 2006 issue of Gamefisher (Salmon & Trout Association’s bi-annual magazine) The Riverfly Partnership will be celebrating the national launch of the "Anglers’ Riverfly Monitoring Initiative" at the Conference, at the Natural History Museum in London on Thursday 8th March 2007.
Alternatively if you would like to volunteer and participate in the monitoring initiative at a local level please contact Stephen Millington, S & TA Wessex Branch Treasurer, who has kindly volunteered to act as a local Co-ordinator. His telephone number is 07730-684776 or email: tmdaccountancy@btconnect.com. It will be necessary for volunteers to attend a one day local workshop for which there is a cost of £35. Don’t worry; this is not a test of your skill or knowledge in identifying every invertebrate that frequents rivers but is aimed at being a fun day which will give individuals the confidence to undertake basic fly life monitoring. It should however be recognised that longevity of the project is key to its success and it is important volunteers should appreciate this. There is flexibility in intervals between monitoring e.g. monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly and each monitoring survey will take a couple of hours.
By participating in the project not only will anglers, keepers or anyone else who finds themselves on the river find it interesting and informative but also they will be establishing a data set which could prove to be invaluable. Do please consider putting your name forward to Stephen.
BLUEPRINT FOR WATER Radical action needed for water
In 2006 the Salmon & Trout Association participated in an unprecedented coalition of environmental groups which led to the production of a ten-point plan of action to secure a healthy water environment for people and wildlife.
The group, which represents more than six million people, handed its Blueprint for Water to Environment Minister, Ian Pearson, in the House of Commons on Tuesday 28 November 2006 and will be watching closely to determine whether the Government is making progress on the 10 points of action which focus on the issues of water quality, water quantity and habitat.
The Blueprint launch was timed to coincide with crucial decisions on the EU Water Framework Directive and outlines the steps needed to slash the amount of water wasted in homes and businesses. It also calls for a huge increase in the currently low-level of fines for water pollution and the creation of a fund to help urban and rural communities restore river catchments.
In the press release that coincided with the launch Paul Knight, Executive Director of the Salmon and Trout Association, said: "Britain's four million anglers and the billions they generate for local economies, depend on healthy water ecosystems. Managing our water better has great benefits for wildlife, for fish and for jobs - we can no longer afford to misuse such a priceless resource."
Individuals can help make the campaign a success by writing to their local MP requesting they support the Blueprint by signing Early Day Motion 306. For further information, and for a copy of the Blueprint, details can be found at www.blueprintforwater.org.uk and click on "What you can do to help". Text for a standard letter is available from the site although it is desirable if writing to use your own words and, if possible, highlight local water problems. Do please take the opportunity to support this very important initiative.
John Slader
(WSRT, WFA, RFERAC, and SWRA, among others, have all written to respective MP’s and Ministers asking them to support the Early Day Motion. Ed.)
Tim Moore of Wiltshire Fisheries Association writes in the same context ‘The Low Flows Project’
This project is run by Wessex Water reporting to a technical steering group comprising the Environment Agency, Natural England and Wessex Water representatives.
Investigations commenced in 2004 in fifteen areas where abstraction for public water supply might be having an unacceptable environmental impact.
Phase 1 determined the scope of the investigations and Phase 2 reviewed all existing information including historic stream flow measurements and ecological data. The steering group concluded that in Phase 3 investigation should be concentrated on ten areas as, in four investigations, it was conceded that no further work was required. In one further case, the New Forest, investigation will now fall under the Avon Valley SPA.
In the ten areas combinations of ground water modelling, ecological, stream flow and ground water level monitoring etc was undertaken in 2006 as Phase 3 work.
Phase 3 research will continue until March 2008 with continued stream flow and ground water level monitoring.
Solutions proposed under Phase 3 include water use reduction, leakage reduction, effluent re-use for industry, abstraction from the Bristol Avon, ground water abstraction, river restoration, a new reservoir south of Yeovil and desalination. These will be costed and appraised at the end of Phase 3 as part of Wessex Water’s Resource Management Plan.
A key element for the Hampshire Avon catchment is the ground water model being used to assess potential abstraction locations and yields. This model is being developed jointly by Wessex water and the Environment Agency. The Wessex Salmon and Rivers Trust has agreed with the Wiltshire Fishery Association that an independent assessment of this model is needed and will be instructing consultants to review the model once the definitive Avon Ground Water Report has been produced by Wessex Water.
More information on the Low Flows Project is available from Wessex Water at;
http://www.wessexwater.co.uk/lowflowrivers/sub_lf2005.aspx?id=1737&adverts=no
Ireland: The Drift Net Ban. Different Points of View
Noel Carr: Secretary of The Federation of Irish salmon & Sea Trout Anglers writes:
The ban has been law since 22nd December as per the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme and other Conservation Measures for 2007. However, the back door has been left open and we are taking a stand now to drive some six inch nails into it before the season gets up and running. It is unbelievable that the Minister has allowed the door to be left open, but we have to be ever vigilant. The Foyle regulations are out since last week and a similar picture is emerging there-even worse as driftnetting is being permitted for 2007. The only place in Ireland and UK where driftnetting is permitted by both Governments. As this is a cross border institution since 1950’s.
Niall Greene: Chairman of Stop Now writes:
In my view there is a lot of scarce energy being spent on skirmishes when there are major battles to be fought. The division of the available surplus for 2007, between angling and commercial sectors, is not a major issue; but who makes that decision, especially in the years subsequent to 2007, is a HUGE issue. Neither is the question of the possibility of drift netting returning to the large estuaries much of a threat, as EU rules illustrate. In any event it is nothing more than a hypothesis and is not worth spending time and effort on just now.
The big issues have to do with whether the Government is willing to adopt a more collaborative and partnership approach with the angling, fishery owner, tourism and commercial fishing interests in scoping out policy, and in the practice of management for our inland fisheries. That is what the FGS report pointed to, but unfortunately the Government is, at best, only looking at a reform of some of the institutional changes recommended in the report. As a manifestation of the lack of a positive approach by the Government you could not have a better example than the grotesque arrangement of allowing the Regional Fishery Board CEOs to divide up the harvestable surplus in 2007. In the final form of the Tagging Regulations they are required to explain their decisions to the Minister but this will be post factum and make the decisions hard to reverse. The CEOs are to be advised by District Committees that include former drift net licensee representatives.
It is also unclear what additional protection services there will be in 2007, both as to quantum and to the nature of the services. No effort has been made to engage more effort from the angling and owner sectors.
But aside from all of the above, the glass is more than half full. The drift nets are gone, scientific advice (however imperfect) is being adhered to, threatened rivers have been closed with only very limited opposition, other than at some local flash points, and for the first time in decades there is a political focus on salmon management.
The big challenge for the angling community is for its disparate parts to come together, to agree on two or three key objectives and to muster their efforts behind achieving them.
Orri shares this letter to Dublin from the Guardians of the vital Arctic SalmonFeeding Grounds Moratorium.
Dear Minister Dempsey,
As representatives of the fishermen who formerly fished for salmon on the high seas feeding grounds and of the conservation organisations that support this moratorium in the waters of Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands, we applaud your government’s decision to end mixed stock salmon fishing in Irish waters.
Our interest groups in Greenland, Faroe Islands and Iceland all decided several years ago to forego our rights to fish for salmon commercially as a part of an interrnational drive to restore the stocks. As a result all commercial salmon fisheries have been halted in the vast feeding grounds around Iceland, Faroe Islands, Greenland and Canada.
In joining our efforts we believe Ireland has taken a major step forward from which we shall all benefit. By supplementing the international efforts to restore wild salmon numbers and closing a fishery that was removing so many salmon you and your Ministers have chosen the most immediate and effective method of increasing your spawning stocks and those of several of your European Union partners.
Our experience leads us to believe that if the commercial fishermen affected by the closure receive fair and generous compensation they themselves will help ensure that illegal fishing is kept to a minimum. In the long term, this is a key issue, as is helping our own fishermen find other jobs and better way of living. If this goes hand-in-hand with the introduction of effective enforcement measures and practical habitat improvement work by both the public and private sectors, we are sure that Ireland can look forward to a rapid rise in salmon numbers.
We are sending you this message from our meeting in Copenhagen because we wish to record our appreciation of the courageous step you and your Government have taken.
The reversal of former policies can never be simple or easy but this action by Ireland will clearly be an extremely important factor in the success or failure of Atlantic salmon restoration efforts in general. We very much hope it will encourage all the main stakeholders to consider what positive contributions they can make towards solving the salmon’s problems and spur them into taking the robust practical measures that are needed. In due course we shall all benefit from the restoration of robust fish stocks but we must be ready to explore new ways of managing the resource, to adopt all practical ways of conservation and habitat improvement and to forego our normal harvesting rights, at least for the foreseeable future.
SIGNED BY: Peter Olsen: Chairman: Association of Fishermen and Hunters Greenland, Holders of commercial salmon fishing rights in Greenlandic waters. Hans Andreas Joensen: Chairman of Faroe Salmon Fishing Vessel Owners´ Association Holder of the long-lining fishing rights for salmon in Faroese waters. Arthur Bogason: Chairman of the National Association of Small Boat Owners in Iceland and of World Forum of Fish Harvesters and Fish Workers. Uffe Ellemann-Jensen: former Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs and the current Chairman of Baltic Development Forum, Bill Taylor: the President of the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) Orri Vigfússon: Chairman of the The North Atlantic Salmon Fund, Casper Moltke: Chairman of the Danish Salmon Foundation.
Progress on the River Axe, reported by David Burford.
River Axe interests were very grateful for the heavy rains this autumn around the borders of East Devon, Somerset and Dorset.
The rods caught nine salmon up to 15lbs before the season closed on 31 October. This was mainly on the lower beats. But it took the repeated freshets in November and December for the salmon to move up-river in numbers. Then the intervention trap above Axminster, started to be more successful and it caught 13 salmon for stripping and breeding.
Axe salmon return It was particularly interesting that four out of the thirteen salmon were fin-clipped (31%). This indicates that these fish had been hatched and released as native Axe salmon, probably from a slower growing batch of parr, within the last two years.
This percentage is encouraging as it was only in the last two years that Axe bred salmon have been released into streams above the trap. Previously they were released far to the West in the Axe river system and may have felt less homing instinct to head for spawning grounds above the trap.
As they were probably one-sea-winter fish. Some of them were small and slim - even exceptionally so. In the early 1800s one name given to a particular native strain of silvery, slim Axe salmon was "Salmo Gracilis" - the slender salmon. I have a photo by Steven Wakeley of one of the fin-clipped hens which fits this description. I would be pleased to email a free copy to anyone interested. (Requests to burford@66woodside.freeserve.co.uk). The photo shows the effect of fin-clipping which can easily be missed by someone not knowing what to look for.
This fish was caught fresh-run and beautifully silver on 21 November. She had to be kept until 14 December before she was ripe for stripping. In spite of her low weight, only about 3½ lbs, she produced 2,800 eggs. Not a bad total considering!
Next summer, anglers on the Axe will need to look out for some other fin-clipped fish. These could be the front runners of the 10,000 native sea-trout which were hatched and distributed into the Axe last September.
Any reports of strays caught in other rivers will be gratefully received - and we will not charge you for your improved fishing!
David Burford
WSRT AUCTION: 16th March 2007
The popular annual auction which follows the AGM is a vital funding source for the Trust and we are always in need of lots. Fishing opportunities, tackle, art, books; anything saleable. If you are able to offer any items we would be very pleased to hear from you. Your help is imperative. Please contact John Slader - 01794-884736
We are grateful to Davis Tackle of Christchurch for their support of this newsletter.
Our membership is growing. Join in.
We are very happy for you to be reading this whether or not you have joined WSRT in their efforts to improve the lot of our rivers and all their inhabitants. But we want you to join us. It could not be easier. Just £10.00 per year and a stamp to send an application form which can be down loaded from our web site www.wsrt.org.uk
£100 will give you life membership. Or direct debit, with automatic renewal is also available. We look forward to welcoming you.
Wessex Salmon & Rivers Trust
Registered No: 1051068
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.