Newsletter December 2008
Number 37
President : The Earl of Normanton
Vice Presidents: Orri Vigfusson and Hugh Miles
Registered Charity No: 1051068
Dear members and friends,
I hope that you did not miss our summer newsletter too much. Pressure of other work during the year, much of which you will read about here, led us to the decision not to publish. I hope this issue will bring you up to date with our many activities.
Foremost among these is the progress toward the foundation, with others, of the Wessex Chalk Stream and Rivers Trust (WCRST).
At the 2008 AGM two resolutions were passed enabling us to both change our name to ‘The Wessex Chalk Stream and Rivers Trust’ and to unite with our neighbours in the establishment of the new trust.
Unfortunately, for technical reasons only, the Charities Commission would not allow us to follow this route which has caused some delay.
Never the less we have made great progress in this aspiration.
This whole concept and the enormous amount of work that has got us this far is thanks to John Levell who continues to earn the admiration and gratitude of all our colleagues in the initiative. John reports fully in this issue.
Also in this issue is a report from The Environment Agency at Blandford by D J Gent.
In his report DJ briefly tells us, among many other things, about the Avon Salmon Group and the development of a new Salmon Action Plan. Or is it a review of the old ones?
I hope not the latter because frankly, in my view, the 1997 plan and it’s successor in 2004 have not simply not succeeded.
You are represented on the Avon Salmon Group by Pete Reading,, Jon Bass and me. Also represented are the Avon & Stour Rivers Association, The Mudeford Fisherman’s Association, Natural England, Wessex Water plc; and Bournemouth & West Hants water plc, The Environment Agency host the meeting and their local and regional fisheries technical staff attend, supported by other expert personnel as deemed appropriate at the time.
Latterly much of our time has been spent on the development of the new plan. This process began in June with the commencement of an open and comprehensive consultation process to which all stakeholders and interested parties were invited to take part.
There were two parts, the first was in letter form, supported by an appendix inviting preliminary views on the design of the plan, to which we responded.
The second followed later and was a draft of the plan and, again, our detailed response was submitted.
We have emphasised the need for pro activity to restore the Avon’s salmon, suggesting a five year target of sufficient returning spawners to achieve a rod catch of 550 salmon p.a., an average of the mid 70’s and 80’s. We ask for exactitude and accountability in monitoring and reporting. We have asked for open minds in the consideration of every option to improve smolt production, including artificial propagation, for restoration and compensation for marine losses. Also to guard against encroaching disease risks. Gyrodactylus salaris has reached France. There is more.
I fear that the ultimate plan will be constrained by national and regional influences to conform with the EU Water Framework Directive national model which allows just eleven plans nationally. I will be pleased to e mail you a copy of the draft plan and our submissions to the Agency.
Brian Marshall. E mail: marshallb@talktalk.net
Annual General Meeting 2009
Please note that this will be held at the Brian Whitehead Centre, Downton at 7pm on Friday the 20th March 2009. As you will read elsewhere, this will be a pivotal meeting for the trust. Your attendance is very important to us.
TESCO Swap a Salmon Scheme
As I draft this newsletter returns are arriving from the increasing number of rivers whose anglers enjoy the benefits of this scheme.
Since the inception in 1993 anglers across the south and south west have returned many thousands of salmon including huge numbers voluntarily.
Those taking part will once again be rewarded by Tesco’s continuing generosity.
As you will see, Tesco also sponsor this newsletter and, as previously reported, support WSRT with substantial core funding.
We are sincerely grateful.
TESCO/WSRT Environmental Award and ‘Trout in Schools’ scheme.
Travelling around and presenting our posh brass plaques to the schools and community groups that have benefited from an award last year has been a remarkably uplifting experience.
We awarded in excess of thirteen thousand pounds of the funding so generously provided by Tesco Stores Ltd to a whole range of projects, which are listed and described briefly again below.
The grateful enthusiasm of the workers and planners and of course the many children who have the chance to learn more about our watery environment was a real pleasure to behold.
The many projects will not only improve the habitat for a range of plants and wildlife, but will hopefully spark an interest and appreciation of how fragile and important our aquatic environment is, amongst adults as well as youngsters.
It is worth doing another summary of the projects supported last year, most of which have now been completed;
Salisbury Cathedral School; a silted up pond has been excavated , landscaped and replanted with native plants, Not only a haven for wildlife but a valuable teaching resource. Amazing enthusiasm from both teachers and students.
Lorton Meadows Nature Reserve, Weymouth; construction of dipping platform, and enlargement and relining of an existing pond. Improved access for disabled.
Burgate School and Sixth Form Centre; relining of a pond and purchase of plants and educational equipment for a new bog garden. This site is a real pleasure to visit, and a significant haven for wildlife.
Kings Worthy Primary School, Winchester; Enlargement and relining of an existing pond, and provision of improved access for disabled and wheelchair users.
Piddlehinton Millenium Green; an ecological survey carried out, and purchase of a permanent information board for benefit and education of residents, children and visitors.
Barton Primary School, Isle Of Wight; excavation and relining of school pond, and purchase of water butts as part of water saving scheme.
Langford Trust Nature Reserve; purchase of materials to improve habitat on this lovely little fishery on the River Wylye at Steeple Langford. The work is now completed, and fish can be seen to be benefiting from river narrowing and revetments to produce more varied flow. New gravel riffles have also been constructed.
An excellent community project involving local volunteers, as well as some of our cash!
Ringwood School conservation area; purchase of water butts as part of a water saving scheme to provide water for bog garden and ponds in the conservation area.
If you know of a scheme or project that would benefit from an award, then please contact me via the WSRT website link.
The Trout in Schools initiative still continues, and there are new schools showing interest every year.
It is expected that the system at Salisbury Library will also run again, and my thanks to all the willing workers who have made the experience so valuable for the children, and adults for that matter who have had their awareness of the fishy and riverine world raised. I am keen to see the tanks used even more to show off coarse fish and invertebrates as well as brown trout. Thanks must go as always to Trafalgar Fisheries for their help in providing eggs and fry when necessary.
Pete Reading
Who also volunteers some Technical Advice!
Best swims for tigerfish; find a pod of hippos, which are very grumpy, and scare them off their resting place, which makes them more grumpy. The tiger fish are feeding on the baitfish attracted to the hippo poo. Catch a few baitfish while hippo stare at you menacingly. Drift a strip of fish downstream, but keep an eye open for hippo under the boat, and the odd croc.
Going back for more next year!
Cheers, Pete
Wessex Chalk Stream and Rivers Trust
We are now some way down the road to changing the face of river conservation within the catchments of Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset. On the 30th October, at a meeting at Somerley, I received instructions from the "Steering Group" for want of a better description, to incorporate the company and registered the charity to bring into being "The Wessex Chalk Stream and Rivers Trust". This is a different route from that we envisaged when we set out to establish the trust. I’m sure you remember that at our AGM back in March it was passed that the Wessex Salmon would change name and morph, or perhaps I should more correctly say evolve, into the new trust. This unfortunately has not been possible due to the procedures of Companies House and the Charity Commission. Establishing the new trust separately is slightly more long winded but will eventually provide us with the desired outcome. These are the first steps in putting in place professional representation for the rivers of Wessex and ensuring that in future they are afforded the protection and recognition that it is so essential they receive. Contained within the three counties we have some of the most precious riverine environments in the country and indeed internationally, their needs will be the first and foremost priority of the new body. The voice of the trust will be that of the users, it will naturally be governed by the people who have the rivers of Wessex in their blood.
The groups that have come together to create the new umbrella trust are the Frome & Piddle, Avon & Stour, Wiltshire Fisheries, Test and Itchen and of course our Wessex Salmon & Rivers Trust. The new body will not be involved in the day to day running of the individual rivers, the intention is to develop a body to take a strategic overview and develop a generic management strategy for the chalk streams and rivers within the three counties. The area encompassed by the rivers involved is not only the river valleys but the hills, downs and plains that are the catchments upon which the health of all our rivers depends. The recent review of consents undertaken by the Environment Agency under the auspices of the EU Habitats Directive has clearly illustrated the complexity of the natural systems that define our rivers. If instead of rivers we think water, in all of its forms and uses, we see the enormity of the task before us. We will have to fight the rivers corner for their own water against the claims made under the water consumer legislation and the land drainage legislation and the flood protection legislation and, and, and, I’m sure you get the picture. What will be different with the WCSRT is that the river will be the first and foremost priority, it will not be fourth or fifth or sixth in a hierarchical management structure as defined by administrators, bureaucrats and politicians.
The miles of river bank and acres of still waters that will be represented through this partnership make this a different scale to anything else that may be seen within the valleys. It will not be isolated reserves or demonstration sites; the intention is to provide the management structure and support to enhance the entire landscape. A landscape and environment that has through the generations of care afforded it by the historic owners and users been designated as of international environmental importance. We will have enormous advantages when it comes to discussing issues such as the impact of agriculture, aquaculture and social demands on the riverine environment. Our support comes from many who have the control and day to day running of much of the land involved. Soundly established research will be the driver but empirical knowledge will be our advantage, this group will be founded on having looked after it, fallen in it, drunk it, swum, crawled, lived and breathed it for generations. The first person who tells me its only anecdotal best hope I don’t have a hatch key to hand.
Empirical knowledge is now recognised in such exemplary research as the fly life project. Partnership projects of this nature across the catchments give us a work force and research facility second to none. To this end we would dearly wish to see the CEH facility down on the Frome safeguarded for such future partnerships. The unfathomable decision of NERC to withdraw funding from such a vital research facility and chalk stream data-base could not have come at a more critical time. The Defra decision to reduce funding to NERC has dealt us a blow at such short notice that future chalk stream research has been jeopardised and internationally important studies risk being lost. Chalk streams are found across northern Europe and should such a facility as CEH be lost it clearly points to our politicians being the persons who will have failed our rivers. It would have made an enormous difference if the NERC funding was based on a phased withdrawal over five years. The natural world such as rivers, moors and forests doesn’t react on a twelve monthly, bottom line. The case for the retention of CEH at Wareham is blatantly obvious to all but an accountant and a fool. Such a phased withdrawal would have allowed a realistic option to raise sustainable funding through other sources. Let’s hope the alliance between the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and CEH comes to fruition and the vital research facility is not lost to us. I’m sure any assistance that the new trust is capable of providing will be made readily available.
It is intended that the WCSRT will work closely with the existing agencies and ministries to formulate, determine and implement management policy across our rivers and lakes. Defra, local authorities and ever increasingly Europe all take decisions that have direct bearing on the well-being of rivers; it is at this level the trust must be active. The support from our stakeholders be it financial, political or practical, will be the teeth of the trust; as it is with such working examples as the Wye & Usk, Eden, Pembrokeshire etc. It will be your trust, looking after your rivers, rivers which are the finest in the land and only with everyone onboard will we make this trust the finest riverine representative group in the land.
John Levell
Award
You are unlikely to come across anyone with a greater passion for the health and well being of the Atlantic salmon than the Trust’s Chairman, Brian Marshall. His drive and leadership has been outstanding and have resulted in Wessex Salmon and Rivers Trust being acknowledged not only locally but nationally and internationally as well. It was Brian that took the bull by the horns and relentlessly pursued the powers that be in Europe to call a halt to the Irish Drifts net fishery. A massive challenge which we all owe - including the salmon - to Brian.
Salmon are in short supply but the likes of Brian are unique and it was particularly fitting that back in July at the Game Fair his tireless work was acknowledged when he received the CLA Game Fair Lifetime Achievement Award for angling - an award richly deserved. Congratulations Brian.
Final Score (so far?)
All the rivers and nets reported are now voluntarily 100% salmon catch and release.
River Hampshire Avon. Figures in brackets = 2007
Salmon Rods 67 (124)
Mudeford Nets Salmon 65 (55) Sea Trout 337 (242)
Knapp Mill Counter to mid November
Please see EA Preliminary report from Jon Bilboro below.
River Frome Salmon 33 Reported (41)
Sea Trout no report (268)
River Piddle Salmon 0 (0) Sea Trout no report (24)
Poole Harbour net Salmon 6 (2) Sea Trout 8 (8)
Preliminary & Partial Results;
River Test Rods: A Gossipy 350ish
Little River No report
River Itchen
Stanford Meadows :Salmon 66 (Total)
Lower Itchen : Salmon 173 ((217)
Corrections welcome for the next issue please.
R. Avon - Knapp Mill Counter update November 2008
There has been a steady run of fish through the counter over the last couple of weeks which has been made up almost entirely of Sea Trout (some good sized ones).
Up to the 12th November 801 fish have been detected moving upstream through the counters since the 1st February. This is not a run estimate as it does not include fish which have bypassed the counter through other hatches or gone undetected through the counter, particularly under the summer high flows. There will also be some down counts to subtract from this figure. The data cannot at this stage be compared with previous years run estimates.
Of the 801 fish, 381 of these have been identified as salmon or sea trout. 217 or 56% of these were salmon and 164 were sea trout.
The 2 new counters on hatches 11 and 12 are now up and running and have both recorded upstream fish. This means that there are now counters on 6 of the 10 hatches on the Great Weir meaning that fish are directed through the counters under a greater range of flow conditions.
Dudley Barker
Sadly our member and friend Dudley died on the 5th of June this year. He was an active member of both WSRT and The Salmon and Trout Association. We extend sincere condolences to his family and friends.
WSRT / CAC Charity Pike Match 22nd February 2009
We are very grateful to Charles Landells who has run this event so well since Phil Tibbit, the originator, died. Charles has advised us that he is unable to continue in this role. Arrangements for the 2009 Pike Match will differ from previous years.
We are delighted that Christchurch Angling Club have agreed to take a major role in the event. With their skilled and experienced coaching team we are able to extend the invitation to younger participants for the first time.
All those interested should contact Jon Bass, 24 Martel Close, Broadmayne, Dorchester, DT2 8PL. E-mail Address: jon.bass@virgin.net
FROM OUR VICE PRESIDENTS
Orri sends a message from NASF International.
‘Big Bucks Save Big Salmon’
2008 has been an incredible year for big salmon. Rivers in northern Iceland (noted for salmon numbers not size) all produced a huge number of large salmon with the Big Laxá Fishing Club reporting a 20-pounder almost every day.
Many fish have been caught over 30 lbs in Scotland’s river Tay and in the mighty Norwegian Namsen, and the Gaula in Norway has averaged two fish over 35 pounds almost every day of the season. Incredibly, the Alta in Finmark has produced 15 salmon larger than 50lbs and no less than 70 salmon over 40lbs! One monster salmon that did not slip through the commercial nets weighed 37,5 kilos or 82,5lbs! This magnificent creature was captured in the Alta fjord of Norway.
These great salmon have thrived and put on great body mass in the sea because of the NASF high seas salmon-netting moratoria. They have been able to roam in their natural feeding grounds without being intercepted by commercial netsmen. But this of course has cost, and continues to cost, big money.
NASF is currently meeting all of its financial obligations but we are not immune from world’s financial crisis and worrying times are ahead, as it will no doubt affect support for salmon conservation.
Every year NASF International pays commercial salmon fishers NOT to exercise their netting rights. We pay netsmen in Greenland and the Faroe Islands, we pay for the Trondheim nets in Norway, we pay for nets on the west coast of Scotland and estuary nets on the Dee, and the Towi/Cothi in Wales, and pay for estuary nets in the Bay of Biscay in the Pyrenees Atlantic region. Furthermore, NASF has funded the setting up of a major new foundation in Norway www.reddvillaksen.no .
The choice is a stark one. We either continue to pay our agreed obligations or all of these netsmen will go back to making their living through the netting of Atlantic salmon, and once more we’ll see a drastic reduction on returning salmon stocks.
NASF final payments are made in December each year and our teams are actively working to raise the necessary additional funds despite the financial crisis. Fortunately more and more salmon fishers realise the situation and are supporting us with private donations which are so important. Dreamstore is taking a lead in the UK to support NASF and the Migratory Salmon Foundation stands ready to receive charitable contributions from UK citizens and corporations. At present some of NASF accounts are temporarily frozen but at this stage we have every reason to believe this will not affect our ability to complete all payments due in 2008.
We are also received many donations for exciting fishing trips that will be auctioned in our forthcoming salmon dinners/receptions which will be featured on the www.fishandfly.com website.
NASF is very reliant on private donations so that it will be of enormous help if anglers feel able to continue their support during what is bound to be a difficult period for all of us. Despite this financial crisis NASF remains steadfastly determined to protect the Atlantic salmon from interception at sea and with the support of anglers and river owners
world wide we can do it.
Orri Vigfusson
Monitoring the effects of hot weather on the Avon or: -
a demonstration of ‘Sods Law’ in action.
This article describes a temperature monitoring exercise at six river sites in 2008. WSRT previously part-funded a study that explored a variety of human activities and impact upon the Avon temperature regime (Solomon, 2005). That study showed a natural downstream rise in summer temperature accelerated by some inputs/abstractions. Another study noted that radio-tagged adult salmon appear to rest in relatively cool locations so for some time WSRT has had concerns over high summer water temperatures causing problems for adult salmon. However, reports of deaths from high temperature stress (in parallel with low oxygen concentration) are thankfully rare but could become more frequent as our climate becomes warmer. The question is: as evidence of Climate Change mounts can we halt, reduce or modify river warming to the benefit of salmon in the future?
Water temperature responds to air temperature on a daily basis though water temperature ranges are smaller and modified by exposure to wind, water depth and effects of direct sunlight/shade. In small streams such as those coming off the New Forest rapid cooling and warming over short distances have been demonstrated. This is where tree-shade alternates with open grazed areas and large temperature changes are noticeable along the streams on hot days. An interesting question is whether the presence of dense river weed on the main river has an overall warming or cooling influence in hot weather. Cutting weed alters the river depth and velocity patterns, so the effects of weed removal can cause both direct and indirect changes in absorption and reflection of the suns heat. Throughout 2008 we experienced above average river flows, dense weedgrowth developed and there were few summer days when water temperature rose in response to hot weather. This gave little scope to compare daily water temperature changes between sites with contrasting weed cover.
In June a series of possible monitoring sites were visited to check river conditions and decide where to place our temperature loggers. Plans for EA weed-cutting areas/dates went into a state of flux as the high flows coincided with exceptional weed growth. The abnormally high water levels caused the weed-cutting programme to be extended and expanded. This expansion included weed-cutting between Breamore and Burgate in mid-July to reduce a serious flood risk to nearby houses, so we moved some loggers to take advantage of this change. Further up the catchment we hoped to monitor temperature differences between the Wylye (South Newton) and Upper Avon (Avon Bridge) as these rivers have had contrasting weed growth in recent years, whilst the rivers are of similar size and flow at these sites. Unfortunately, the weed growth was so prolific on the Upper Avon a series of cuts was needed leaving no dramatic difference in weed cover between the Wylye and Upper Avon in late July when we had a few ‘hot’ days.
Despite these problems some useful data were collected for assessment. Points to mention are:
At each site the loggers were placed in the main flow and not in direct sunlight. They were in the river for about a month and this included the 6-7 days of warm weather experienced in late July. Loggers were operated in pairs, one recording every 3 minutes the other at 15 minute intervals. This gave a cross-check for each logger and reduced the risk of total data loss from a site if one logger went missing.
Before placement in the river loggers were exposed at the same instant to a high temperature ‘spike’ to compare performance, this was repeated after recovery from the river to check and measure possible ‘drift’ in logger accuracy. The internal timers remained accurate, small changes in temperature accuracy were noted for some loggers (within the manufacturers specification) and results can be adjusted to account for this.
At the four sites monitored below Downton it was confirmed downstream warming is detectable over distances as short as 3km, even in a cool summer.
These sites also confirmed how the day/night fluctuation in river temperature gets smaller as you go downstream.
No measurable change to this daily temperature pattern was detected after a 50% weed cut between Breamore and Burgate.
Equivalent sites on the Wylye and Upper Avon show matching daily temperature ranges in a cool summer at a time when both rivers had low weed cover.
Next steps: further checks and data analysis are planned. In summer 2009 the plan is to select temperature monitoring sites which provide a strong contrast in weed cover but are as similar as possible in all other aspects. Temperature changes become slower and smaller as you go downstream, therefore longer weedy/weed-free reaches are needed on the lower river to generate temperature differences. This may restrict monitoring sites to the middle and upper reaches of the Avon to avoid complications associated with parallel channels of different character leaving and rejoining the main river. Some periods of hot weather during the monitoring would also be very useful!
Acknowledgements
WSRT would like to thank Mattie O’Hare (Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Edinburgh) for the loan of five temperature loggers, Rasmus Lauridsen/Francois Edwards (Queen Mary University, London) for priming and downloading data from the loggers. An additional five loggers were funded by WSRT. Useful discussions on parallel temperature studies in the Avon catchment were held with Jon Bilborough (Environment Agency), Steve Colebrook and Neil Punchard (Wessex Water), Samantha Broadmeadow (Forestry Commission), Terry Langford, John Jones and Peter Shore (all University of Southampton), Hugh Dawson (CEH). WSRT are grateful for river access advice from: Wilton Fly Fishing Club, Salisbury & District Angling Association, Hale Park Syndicate, Ringwood & District Angling Association, Christchurch Angling Club.
Reference
Solomon, D.J. (2005). Anthropogenic Influences on the temperature regime in a chalk river. Environment Agency Science Report SC040025/SR, 43pp.
Jon Bass (WSRT)
Salmon and Trout Association
It has been widely reported that the Salmon & Trout Association will no longer be one of the angling and fisheries organisations which will be dissolving to form a new organisation - the Angling Trust - in January 2009, which will represent angling interests. Whilst this is true, it is important to understand that with the S&TA having been granted charitable status in May this year, the Unity legal due diligence process which followed advised that the new proposed structure would not sit comfortably with the Charity Commissioners. This resulted in the Association having to withdraw from merger talks, however it does wish to stand alongside Unity, offering its services to bring a charitable slant to fisheries lobbying, which it believes provides the best possible way to influence 21st century decision makers. Still very much game anglers but now with the recognition that the work traditionally undertaken by the Association on behalf of its members has always been for the public benefit, not just fishermen.
It is believed that the S&TA is the first truly lobbying country sports organisation to become a charity. Several others are research based operations, or use angling as a means to meet social objectives, but none seek to influence national decision makers in quite the same way as does the Association. This is a unique position, which anglers across all disciplines should embrace and appreciate for the enormous opportunities it offers.
In the words of Paul Knight, the S&TA’s Chief Executive; "It is important to recognise that the S&TA received charitable status for the work it has done on behalf of game anglers since 1903, not for what it intended doing in the future. Therefore, with the exception of some peripheral activities around angling development, we continue to operate as it has always done; game anglers influencing the management and conservation of the aquatic environment, fish and all other water dependent species, alongside a strong education ethic and a burgeoning scientific department. Nothing has changed on that front, and neither have the issues the we can address as a charity, even the most controversial ones e.g. defending angling against the antis or river access!"
The advantages of charitable status are considered significant. Gift Aided subscriptions produce a further 28% income for the Association’s work, while funding for S&TA projects becomes more attractive to potential sponsors, especially ticking their corporate responsibility boxes. But the real difference is that well balanced arguments, supported by peer-reviewed science, attracts a different response from decision makers - they genuinely listen, rather than perceiving us as a single interest organisation out for our own ends.
Paul Knight concludes; "These are exciting times for S&TA. The scientific work we are preparing both to support and take part in over the next three years will have direct relevance to the problems facing anglers and fishery managers, at the same time bringing genuine benefits for everyone with a love of, for whatever reason, our aquatic habitats, and the myriad of species which depend upon them for their existence. That, plus education programmes to help ensure the protection of these precious natural resources for future generations, are compelling reasons for continuing to support the Salmon & Trout Association, which is never taken for granted, but hugely appreciated."
John Slader
Notes from over the Water
A Special Anniversary Message to Wessex Salmon and Rivers Trust. Noel Carr of FISSTA writes:
Greetings to Wessex Anglers from your colleagues in Ireland. May we again thank the WSRT for your continued support for the conservation of our wild Atlantic salmon as we now experience the impact, two years today, of the Government announcement to end salmon drift netting in Ireland.
Many of us expected more immediate results but now realise that it requires much more hard work to achieve increased returns to our waters. We strive for abundance and hope for the best in an ever changing climate.
Yes, it is two seasons since that historic watershed when we hailed your Chairman Brian Marshall for pursuing his own campaign under the EU Habitats Directive.
You may remember that our elation was short lived when we learned that over 120 of our rivers were to be closed to angling and the rod licence fee doubled for the second time in four seasons from 28 euro's in 2003 to the present 134 euro's.
It was another case of victims paying for the sins of the perpetrators.
There is no doubt that the generous financial package of 30million euro's. divided between 1500 driftnets men has resulted in a bonanza for some who, at the top end, claimed almost 200,000 euro's - and there could have been more than one licence in the family. Throughout 2007, as the scheme developed, information from our anglers in the fishing communities confirmed that controls were inadequate to ensure the money was not squandered on people who would gear up later under the cover of a draftnet estuarial license.
Sadly, this is what happened. In estuaries where draftnetting was retained the system is now in place for draftnetting to become the new drfitnetting; albeit single stock. Numbers are likely to exceed driftnetting quotas of 60,000 plus for future seasons.
This is part of the reason the 2006 and 2007 catch returns figures from the Department have yet to be published. Estimates from our clubs suggest we have caught over 30,000 by rod but killed only half, of, having released the balance, while only 9,000 were caught commercially from the draft nets in 2007.
So what is our beef? You may well ask, as this commercial figure is very low having been up to 30,000 in past years, but the information (over a year late at this stage) is not officially available for us to scrutinise as yet.
We suspect the reason it is so low is that a high percentage of the draftnet fishermen applied for compensation money in 2007. Thus they had to cease fishing as no licences could be issued to them.
In 2008, between May and July, the changing of the guard took place as new applicants, including some old driftnet recipients of the compensation fund; to which we subscribe with a doubling of our rod license; were granted new draftnet licenses where old holders had been paid to cease.
This possibility, along with August netting, was unwisely suggested in 2005 as being acceptable to anglers and we have feared both measures coming to pass ever since. So you can well understand why we in FISSTA are angry?
How did we let this happen, even though we appealed for vigilance and many, but not all, agreed with us?
FISSTA will continue to fight these unsustainable allocations to nets men but sadly the die is cast on a system that will take whatever fish we gain from the recovery that renders our efforts useless.
It is for others to defend their positions on both issues in the coming months as we count the costs in fish numbers lost.
There is good news. Our long campaign to reform the administration of angling into one body, (National Inland Fisheries Board) instead of the present eight boards has been successful. Sadly, this long awaited decision was included in budgetary terms to save money rather than to ensure efficiency in the management of scarcer resources as the credit squeeze hits our economy.
Our greatest concern after the fish exploitation increases are the dramatic drop in anglers. Almost half of the 30,000 registered anglers in 2007 have now gone to other disciplines as rivers close and rod licence fees were again doubled.
We are pressing our Government to drop the fee and cease their campaign for the transfer of the sport to the elite few but we will not hold our breath.
We have lobbied hard to Government to invest in protection and development, especially habitat enhancement, but the best we can hope for this year is that we will be able to retain the inadequate level of service in place at present.
Many do not agree with the Government that we are in a better position now, whilst commercial netting exploits the numbers faster than our work can replenish them.
True, the mixed stock fisheries are almost gone, but water quality and sea lice from fish farms are very big killers of the migrating smolts. While the NASCO led SALSEA project has found the funds to research sea mortality of salmon, there appears to be no plans to confront known dangers to our fish in the North Atlantic until SALSEA reports back in 2010 onwards. In the meantime, we may lose a great deal we have gained from the ending of the driftnets.
FISSTA have never completed any report without acknowledging the huge debt we owe to the vision and practical rewards we receive in fish from your Vice President Orri Viffusson of the NASF and Bill Taylor of ASF in their Greenland and Faeroes commercial agreements with the fishermen.
But for these deals, our rivers would never see those leaping bars of silver heading to their spawning grounds. Yet none of the 8m euro SALSEA programme will assist this most vital part of our conservation programme. Indeed, some have chosen to attack the very people that strive to fundraise, so that these payments arrive in time to Greenland and Faeroes to prevent the salmon from being hoovered up in the North Atlantic.
I do not know how much longer our governments will continue to ignore the real and invaluable work being done while we all sit back and enjoy the fruits of these deals.
Hopefully, they will stay in place long enough to recover to abundance as we also hope that 2009 brings something long overdue for you.
Yours in salmon.
Noel Carr
From Niall Green - Salmon Watch Ireland (SWIRL)
The Need for Vigilance
The ending of mixed stock fishing (or drift netting) for salmon in 2007 was a necessary pre-condition to the launching of concerted efforts to restore the Atlantic salmon to abundance in Ireland. The inland management measures that have been introduced by the government, in conjunction with the closing of the mixed stock fishery (such as the closing of poorly performing rivers, mandatory catch and release on marginal rivers and the controls on catches generally) are not perfect but at least they are a part of a comprehensive shift to river by river single stock management of salmon and their exploitation. Their introduction and the science behind them have transformed Ireland from being the pariah of Atlantic salmon nations to being the showcase of best practice.
However, we still have a long way to go. Inland we still have major problems with consistent pollution of rivers, growing problems of water abstraction and ill considered; and often illegal, alterations to water courses.
In the inshore area there is now virtually incontrovertible evidence of the damage that sea lice, emanating from badly managed salmon farms, do to migrating salmon and sea trout smolts.
The issues described above are a large part of the decision taken in 2007 not to liquidate ‘Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now‘ but to transform it into an organisation dedicated to salmon conservation and the influencing of policy in that area. Our strategy is to support anglers, angling associations and owners in their efforts to protect and develop their local salmon resource. Their vigilance and actions at local level are a vital component in re-establishing salmon abundance.
Niall Greene
North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) and SALSEA (Salmon at Sea)
A major and unexplained reason for the decline in salmon stocks (which is most acute in the southern parts of Europe, including Ireland, and in North America) is increased mortality at sea despite enormous reductions in marine fisheries for salmon. In 2005 NASCO adopted the SALSEA (Salmon at Sea) Programme to investigate the reasons behind the increased mortality of salmon at sea. The programme involves freshwater, estuarine and marine research spanning the life-cycle of the salmon. Further details can be found at www.salmonatsea.com. In Europe the SALSEA-Merge project was launched in 2008 and involves marine surveys by Irish, Faroese and Norwegian vessels to investigate the migration and distribution of salmon at sea and the factors influencing them. The project involves a partnership of 20 public, private and NGO partners with an estimated budget of 5.5 million euro's. The Irish Marine Institute and its research vessels are leading partners in the project and Dr Ken Whelan of the Institute has been one of the driving forces behind its initiation. A major sponsor of SALSEA is the European Commission through its Seventh Framework Research Programme. Funding from the Total Corporate Foundation will support the Faroese marine surveys. SALSEA-Merge is a unique partnership of geneticists, ecologists, oceanographers and ocean modellers who have pooled their talents to address a vital issue. In addition to the SALSEA-Merge project, there is also a parallel research project taking place in Canada and the US.
(In 2007 WSRT contributed funding of £3,000 toward the inclusion of Avon salmon into the SALSEA genetic data set.)
WILDLIFE FILM MAKER EXCELS
Everyone who has seen any of the breathtaking wildlife films made by WSRT Vice President Hugh Miles will not be surprised at the delight generated by watching the recently released film and book ‘Catching the Impossible’.
We can do no better than quote John Levell’s web site comments.
"I've just enjoyed a truly memorable evenings fishing, I'd go so far as to say the most remarkable I've been privileged to be party for a long, long time. I’ll come clean and let you all in on the secret of my superb venue, I’ve just watched the first three of Hugh Miles’ amazing series ‘Catching the Impossible’ In capturing the essence of what makes us seek the magic of our lakes and rivers this series reaffirms his remarkable talent. I must warn you it is a terrible time waster, my delight on opening the package and finding the book and DVD cost me an entire evening. It totally reinforced the reasons I get involved in the politics of protecting and fighting to preserve our rivers and lakes."
More information can be found at;
www.catchingtheimpossible.info.
To order the book and the DVD of programmes 1 to 3 visit;
www.calmproductions.com
Ed.
Wessex Water- Low Flows and the draft Water Resource Management Plan
Background No one involved with the River Avon is likely to be unaware of the concern about low flows, despite the good flows this year, and many members of the WRST and WFA have been very involved in Wessex Waters Low Flow Investigations. However for those less involved, here is a quick overview before updating on the progress this year.
2000
Funding was refused for a plan to reduce abstraction from the Wylye area so in a ‘Statement of Intent’ a plan was developed to test reductions from the Chitterne source between 2003 and 2006.This was extended to 2009.
March 2005 Wessex Water’s AMP5 low flows study started. ‘Investigations’ on the effects of abstraction on ecology and ‘Solutions’- which looked at alternative water supplies in case the existing abstraction licence were to be reduced.
March 2008 Wessex reported the results to the Environment Agency (EA), Natural England and stakeholders (including WSRT and WFA).
EA reviewed the results and advised on their proposed abstraction licence reductions - 23.5 mega litres per day (which would support a town of about the size of Weymouth).
May 2008 Wessex Water published its 25 year draft water resource management plan for consultation.
August 2008 Wessex Water published its draft Business plan for the period 2010-2015- known as AMP5 or PR09.
The Low Flow Investigations were the largest study of its kind in the SW of England and included the development of a ground water model which can predict river flow rates for various conditions of climate and abstraction. The work was driven by both the Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (CAMS) and the Habitat regulations, as described by Richard Archer previously in autumn 2007 newsletter. The conclusions drawn supercede those of the CAMS studies.
2008 Update
Although the studies taught us a great deal more about the river and its ecology, they could not define a level at which a clear change in ecology occurs due to abstraction or flow, given the backdrop of varying water quality, channel shape, river management and climatic variation. The EA therefore proposes to apply the precautionary limit set by Natural England for river SSSIs (ie. no more than 10% reduction in natural summer flows, in the head waters). This will mean 23.5 million litres per day less water abstracted from the Wylye and Bourne catchments, in addition to the large reduction already being tested at Chitterne source in the Statement of Intent programme.
Meeting our daily customer supply demands with less water is only one issue for the next 25 years. Providing a secure supply and coping with increasing nitrate levels is similarly challenging. In the draft Water Resource Management Plan, Wessex propose further customer water efficiency drives, metering of all properties on change of ownership and to improve the water transfer network. This ‘Integrated Grid’ would take about 8 years to construct and will enable more water to be taken where there is a licensed surplus available, for use in areas of deficit. Once it is commissioned, abstraction from the Wylye and Bourne can be reduced. These proposals are also in our draft Business plan, along with further phosphate reduction and investigation in the River Avon.
OFWAT , who determine what the water companies can invest and charge, will comment shortly and we will then prepare the final business plan for April 2009. If the Integrated Grid proposal is not accepted, then these reductions in licensed abstraction will have to be covered by other means, such as new sources.
Reports are available on both the low flows studies and the draft water resource management and Business plans, on the Wessex Water website in late November. Please visit www.wessexwater.co.uk/ if you would like a closer look. An update will be posted at the end of the month.The EA have asked for further monitoring in the Avon tributaries until the new solution is constructed and the abstraction rates are reduced. This may mean 10 years more carefully targeted monitoring in the Avon system. Investigations into the benefits of further reductions in phosphate level are also proposed and together with Environment Agency data, these surveys will help build a better picture of how the Avon works and thus how it can be better protected in the future. It helps studies such as the salmon eggbox trial on the Wylye & Till and the Strategic framework for restoration of the River Avon which is currently underway through the Wessex Chalks Streams Partnership. The results are being communicated through a series of presentations to conferences and in journals and the studies are contributing to important work on the effect of temperature changes on the river life, especially salmon.
Low Flows Project Manager, Wessex Water plc.
The Environment Agency: Wessex South Report:
Enforcement
Bailiffs have worked hard in the first six months of the season on Rod and Line enforcement. To date, we have checked 5,074 licences and issued 187 offence report forms.
Our bank side evasion rate stands at around 3.1%, a figure that is proving difficult across the Area to reduce due to a few who will always try to avoid licence purchase.
So far this year, Court appearances have resulted in £5,651 fines with £5,750 costs.
With regard to net enforcement, we now have a full complement of staff trained to operate in our harbours and close shores. They have been active in salmonid enforcement and have seized a number of nets from Poole harbour and its feeding rivers. However, to date, no offenders have been identified. We appear to have been "saved" by the weather that, with plenty of water in the rivers, has allowed the fish free migration and hence less time retained in the harbours. There has been some great partnership working with all credit to the Royalty Fishery, Police and Bournemouth and West Hants Water who have been very successful at Christchurch.
Monitoring
We are in the last month of the National Fisheries Monitoring Programme and at present have completed 80% of this years programme. Surveying the remaining sites on the R.Avon is now dependant on river conditions which are exceptionally high for this time of year.
Data entry and analysis should take place in Nov/Dec and report in the New Year.
We are in the 2nd year of the Transitional Waters Monitoring Programme (Poole Harbour) and our Autumn sites are planned for the end of October.
Redd counting is planned this winter to asses the success of both enhancements and gravel cleaned sites on the River Avon catchment.
The Knapp Mill counters are now in their 3rd year of continuous operation and have recently been expanded to include resistivity counters on two more of the hatches on the Great weir. This will enable a greater proportion of the run to be detected and also create more flexibility for hatch operation (helping to reduce bank erosion in the top weir compound). Numbers of Salmon recorded to date are down on last year, however a contributing factor to this is that it has been another high flow summer meaning that a greater proportion of the run will have bypassed the counters and not been detected. This will be allowed for in the end of year estimate when a true comparison can be made.
Knapp Mill Counter update November 2008
There has been a steady run of fish through the counter over the last couple of weeks which has been made up almost entirely of Sea Trout (some good sized ones).
Up to the 12th November 801 fish have been detected moving upstream through the counters since the 1st February. This is not a run estimate as it does not include fish which have bypassed the counter through other hatches or gone undetected through the counter, particularly under the summer high flows. There will also be some down counts to subtract from this figure. The data cannot at this stage be compared with previous years run estimates.
Of the 801 fish, 381 of these have been identified as salmon or sea trout. 217 or 56% of these were salmon and 164 were sea trout.
The 2 new counters on hatches 11 and 12 are now up and running and have both recorded upstream fish. This means that there are now counters on 6 of the 10 hatches on the Great Weir meaning that fish are directed through the counters under a greater range of flow conditions.
Projects update
STREAM
This EU LIFE funded collaborative project is now entering its final year ; the final large scale restoration project at Amesbury is well underway with several hundred tonnes of gravel spawning riffles, bank reprofiling and the placement of large 'whole tree' flow deflectors successfully completed in the reaches upstream and downstream of the A303..
Angling Participation Projects
The Agency continues to be involved in and support a number of angling coaching activities, with the Wessex Angling Scheme in Christchurch, The Youth Angling Project at Langford Lakes,and Fun2Fish in Bournemouth. Highlight of the year was the 'experimental' Freshwater Festival weekend event at Moors Valley Country Park with Christchurch Angling Club successfully leading this initiative.
River Frome
The habitat enhancement work on the Frome at Bockhampton is well underway with installation of gravel riffles, channel narrowing using faggots and large woody debris, and bank re-profiling to create a wet margin, due to be completed by mid October. A new experimental technique of re-profiling the existing gravel substrate to improve physical variety and potentially have significant ecological benefits will be carried out at this site.
River Stour Habitat Enhancement Project 2008
The River Stour between Crawford Bridge and Shapwick had been heavily engineered during past land drainage and flood defence work. As a result, natural pool riffle sequences with areas of low water velocity were lost, and flood discharge patterns altered.
The aim of the project was to increase numbers of coarse fish within this reach by improving flood refuge habitat. Specifically, the work aims to reduce downstream washout of juvenile coarse fish during large flood events on the Stour.
This was achieved by creating three large areas of low velocity flood refuge habitat. The three fry refuge bays were created at existing sites of cattle drinks. A number of different fry bay designs, were employed in order to evaluate their effectiveness in terms of fish refuge.
Eels
The Wessex (Blandford) eel project aims to assess the state of current stocks, identify pressures and impacts on eel populations, produce a stock recovery plan and implement specific actions.
The three year programme will include: analysis of historic eel data; identification of factors limiting eel populations. Project outputs will include: Production of an Eel Action Plan; installation of eel and elver passes; targeted monitoring of eel populations.
The phase one of the project will assess eel population status, identify factors impacting on eel populations and produce a plan of actions for the area. Estimated cost £10K.
Louds Mill Fish Passage Project
In September we completed the project to install a Larinier fish pass at Louds Mill Gauging Weir on the River Frome in Dorchester.
The project to design and build the fish pass has been led by the Environment Agency, in partnership with the Frome, Piddle and West Dorset Fishery Association (FP&WDFA). Principal funding for this project has come from the Environment Agency’s Water Resource Capital budget with a financial contribution from the FP&WDFA. Initially Environment Agency National Salmon funds were used for the pre-feasibility study.
Barbel introductions to Dorset Stour
Following last years stockings we will be introducing a further 3000 1 year old barbel into the Dorset Stour between Wimborne and Blandford Forum. These fish have been reared at our Calverton Fish Farm and will be marked in batches of 1000 so that upon recapture we can distinguish between the locations and years they were stocked. This information could help us to better understand how fish displace post stocking and where habitat features maybe lacking.
This project is aiming to re-introduce barbel to this section of the Stour and is being undertaken in-conjunction with river habitat improvements for other coarse fish species. This is the 2nd year of a 3 year stocking programme and is being carried out in partnership with the Barbel Society and local angling clubs.
Coarse fish introductions to Upper Dorset Stour
We will be stocking, from our Calverton fish farm, a further 1 year old 2000 chub, 2000 bream and 1000 roach into the upper Dorset Stour after last year’s pollution incident and resulting fish mortality. We know from angler catches that the fish we introduced last year have stayed within the affected section and these additional fish will help to rebuild a solid population structure.
Avon Salmon
We are undertaking a review of the Hampshire Avon Salmon Action Plan (SAP). The document is currently in the early stages of being drafted and is being developed in consultation with the Avon Salmon Group who's membership represents salmon fishery interests, owners, angling clubs, Natural England and the relevant water companies. The draft SAP review will be completed for consultation at the end of December and will include a full Strategic Environmental Assessment. It is our aim to have the SAP review finalised and published by the end of March 2009, so that its actions can be fed into the Water Framework Directive's River Basin District Plan for the South West.
Wild River Idea!
The FRB team in Wessex Blandford is planning to classify the River Ebble, Wiltshire as a Wild Fishery Protection Zone.
The EA were approached by a number of riparian owners who wanted to see more protection for the wild trout in the river. The River Ebble, part of the Hampshire Avon catchment is one of the best trout chalk streams in terms of its overall habitat quality and the health of its wild breeding trout stocks. These characteristics make it an ideal candidate for designation as a Wild Fishery Protection Zone. This would mean that trout stocking would not be consented.
The decision whether to classify is being taken after consultation. Local fisheries and/or conservation interests have been asked for their views about this proposal. A cessation of any stocking would mean that the none of the adverse consequences of stocking on wild brown trout would occur. These include genetic changes in population fitness, competition and predation. In addition, anglers would be assured of a pure wild trout fishing experience and any owners letting fishing could offer this particular type of fishing experience with the support of an official classification. It would be made subject to a review after a number of years.
D J Gent, Fisheries Team Leader, Blandford
John Levell on some Anomalies, inconsistencies and contradictions.
Why in high flow years when fish can run straight through the barriers of the lower river have we suffered one of the worst salmon seasons on record in the middle and upper beats?
Why do conservation bodies all over the world strive to widen the genetic bandwidth of threatened species to cope and adapt to a changing environment yet we restrict our threatened salmon to the narrowest bandwidth possible?
Why do regulatory authorities allow reserves for the preservation of alien species that directly impact on the SAC species yet demand ecological impact assessments on every strategy undertaken by riverine interests? Cormorants are now breeding successfully at Blashford Lakes Nature Reserve!!! Crassula helmsii is now growing on both sides of the valley with direct links to the SSSI/SAC.
Stocking salmon doesn’t work yet all R. Test fish are deemed of Scottish origin??
You can’t stock diploids for fear of upsetting wild trout yet the seatrout of the Avon experienced record highs as recently as five or six years ago. Since we stopped stocking diploids seatrout numbers seem to have collapsed so it looks as if we introduced the T&G strategy policy just in time?? It must be due to my predecessor having stocked as many as 2000 two pound browns a year during the 30’s; wow, that was close! That Gregor Mackenzie chap has a lot to answer for, he was the dastardly bounder who stocked those Thurso salmon during the 30’s that brought about the collapse of the Avon salmon during the 50’s 60’s and 70’s.
Why is it that at a time chalk streams are under greater threat than at any time in their existence the government through NERC (National Environment Research Council) withdrew funding to CEH, the chalk stream research specialists?
How is it so many barbel anglers can look so fed up about catching six pound chub?
The Hampshire Avon South of Salisbury is classified in good ecological status under the fish classification criteria used to assess rivers under the WFD proposals. Why is it then that I haven’t caught a salmon this year? Why do roach make hens teeth look commonplace? Where are the grayling that historically used to populate the carriers of this section with big two pounders and even threes being regularly landed?
How is it I see anglers using luncheon meat at dusk, during the summer, what happened to the eels that used to make that impossible? Where are the anglers who used to travel the length of the country to fish the hallowed banks of the Avon? It looks as if the criterion is certainly going to protect the river I know!! It’s difficult to make a case to invest in a river if the official classification of that river states it’s in good order.
Why was it I only had to look at a fishing rod this season and it rained?
How come the that under the WFD the acceptable levels of sediment target is set at 25ppm which the chalk streams of Wessex meet, yet we are told we have compacted gravels and certainly dramatically increased turbidity in recent seasons.
Why was it that when I threatened to report a member of the travelling community, I apprehended fishing our stretch, to the EA for fishing without a licence he seemed less than impressed? In fact he was downright rude about their chances of prosecuting him.
How it is carp anglers can cast 200 meters across our lakes to the far margins with greater accuracy than I can cast my float ten feet in front of me? Do I or don’t I fence our river to stop Mark Vincent’s cows doing the breast stroke up and down Blashford Pool? It’s odd that when the cows used to paddle across the shallows above Gypsy Hole salmon always cut in the loosened gravel? When we fenced the carriers the water disappeared under an unbroken bed of Apium nodiflorum not to be seen again for nine months!
Why was it the best fishing I had this season was the result of a fish farm escape??
We are told each tributary of the Avon may have a genetically distinct salmon population in need of protection, yet they all appear to spawn down hear at Somerley during low flow years. Strangely enough genetically distinct populations might be expected if the sampled population resulted from a limited broodstock. Does this mean I have to divorce Anne as she’s Welsh??
I was going to add "and downright lies" to the title but would probably have ended up getting everyone sued.
..........and Budgie asks
Why is it that if an angler stands in the next swim and throws bricks in the water I am within my rights to ask him to stop, while carp anglers are allowed to "spod" with impunity?
Meet Tony Andrews, Executive Director: The Atlantic Salmon Trust
The first salmon I ever saw caught was a 33lbs fish, taken by a Mr Jake on the Hampshire Avon just downstream of Ringwood. It was a magnificent, unblemished spring salmon, the kind of fish that in the late 1950s, was a feature of the Avon. For a boy of twelve it was a fish to fire the imagination and a lifelong passion for fishing and everything associated with clear water and swiftly flowing rivers. For me it had all started in the New Forest nearly a decade before that, on the Dockens Water at Ogden’s Purlieu, where I caught my first trout on a worm from under a tree root. Life would have been entirely different had I not been lucky enough to have a father who took me fishing.
Throughout my various careers, first with the Royal Marines, then St Andrews University, followed by twenty six years abroad with the British Council, five years with the Scottish Countryside Alliance, and now the Atlantic Salmon Trust, I have been influenced by opportunities to go fishing. Memories of the countries we lived in are associations with grayling from the Upper Volga in the searing heat of a Russian summer, Nile perch from the River Benue in a dead low dry-season river, Dorado off the coast of Muscat, jack pike from the drains of the Sava near Belgrade, and red snappers from the reefs of Pernambuco in Brazil. Long leaves back in Scotland ensured that my core interest of trout, sea trout and salmon was maintained. In 1984 an opportunity to own a stretch of the South Esk came my way, and it was this that encouraged me to get involved in salmon management, and ultimately in joining the AST.
The Atlantic Salmon Trust is now 40 years old and established as an important non-government organisation promoting and funding salmon and sea trout research. I started work in May 2008, immediately getting involved in the innovative SALSEA (salmon at sea) project. The AST is a major player in this NASCO-led international project, at the end of which we should have a much clearer picture of where salmon and grilse from particular regions go to feed at sea. This data should be invaluable for stocks assessment and management.
By working closely with the UK government and devolved administrations, the AST is part of the consultation process. From Net Limitation Orders in England and Wales to working within the Scottish Tripartite Working Group, resolving the conflict between farmed and wild fish, and many other issues affecting management of migratory fish, the AST is an influential participant.
Sampling of salmon DNA from Scottish eastern and northern rivers for Rivers and Fisheries Trusts Scotland (RAFTS), funded by the AST, is providing important new data for fisheries managers, which should enable them to respond quickly to specific threats, thereby ensuring that stocks remain viable. The new data should provide applications for people managing salmon stocks, and how they can be exploited sustainably along our coasts and in our rivers. An important issue for salmon conservation organisations is how governments of the Atlantic salmon countries keep pace with this new knowledge. Ideally, their policies should respond to the new science to enable us to manage our salmon stocks sensitively and effectively. In this context the application of the precautionary principle has never been more valid.
The report on the SALSEA (salmon at sea) project was a highlight of the 2008 North Atlantic Salmon Organisation’s (NASCO) conference in Asturias, Spain. The AST contribution is acknowledged by all parties and NGOs within NASCO, who also recognise the seminal influence of the AST’s role in the early stages of the project. The work of Dick Shelton and Jens Christian Holst in designing specialised trawling gear and undertaking the first cruises in the Northeast Atlantic, are particularly appreciated. With SALSEA as NASCO’s biggest ongoing commitment, the next two years will also focus on habitat (2009) and aquaculture (2010), both of which are priority areas of salmon research and habitat restoration for AST.
Sea trout abundance has reduced in recent years, and scientists want to know why. There are now research groups in the Moray Firth area, the Celtic sea trout project in the Irish sea, the Sea Trout Group of the Scottish Western Highlands and a group led by Dr Ronald Campbell of the Tweed Foundation and Simon Johnson of the Wild Trout Trust researching east coast sea trout. Future projects include stocks assessment, an emphasis on sea trout, research to help salmon aquaculture become sustainable and less damaging to wild fish stocks (especially sea trout), using DNA mapping to persuade government to reduce mixed stocks exploitation, and updates on existing research in areas such as catch and release and fish counters.
We need the AST to reach a much wider audience than previously. We are keenly aware of public interest in migratory fish as environmental indicators. The fact is that the need for information on the salmon goes further than the angling and scientific communities, and one of the AST’s tasks is to disseminate that information.
Current fishy issues of concern to RFERAC’s.
From Chris Klee, Chairman: South West Committee
A time of change.
It is a time of considerable change within the Environment Agency with a new Chairman, Lord Chris Smith, a new Chief Executive, Paul Leinster, (previously the Operations Director) and a new Head of Fisheries, Mat Crocker who has been Area Environment Manager in Bridgwater for the last 4 years. We wait to see what difference this will make to the agency and will seek to ensure fisheries get a fair deal.
Organisational changes are also occurring, from the changes in the monitoring programmes for fish and invertebrates, needed to comply with Water Framework Directive requirements, to a move away from regional to national centres for regulation, including abstraction licensing. This latter change is in response to the financial squeeze on the EA and it raises fears that those issuing the licences will be more remote from local EA fishery staff and less attentive to river association or angling club views. We on RFERAC have warned this must not happen as it could result in mistakes being made and inadequate protection being given to the environment.
There is currently a mass of new regulation affecting fisheries, much of it welcome, in the pipeline. This includes:
1 Powers to limit fishing for eels and elvers and to replace cumbersome Net Limitation Orders for salmon
2 New bylaw making powers, e.g. to change close seasons or to restrict the killing and removal of coarse fish
3 New emergency bylaw-making powers, for example to ban fishing during extreme drought conditions new live fish movement controls
4 and powers to improve passage for all species of fish over barriers such as weirs and to prevent fish being entrapped into water intakes.
These changes will be achieved through a bewildering combination of new law (the Marine Bill), EU and National Regulation or National Order made under existing legislation. A useful EA leaflet explaining these changes is available from Paul Lidgett 01454 205624 or paul.lidgett@environment-agency.gov.uk There will be Defra consultation on these new powers, starting in November/December for eels and fish passage and several RFERAC members have agreed to give advice to the EA on its response to Defra.
Eel management plans.
Eel management plans have been prepared to meet EU regulation aimed at restoring stocks that have shown a sharp decline since the mid 1980s.What little data exist show the South West currently fails to meet the target for the number of eels running back to the sea which must equal 40% of the numbers that would run without man’s influence on habitat and cropping. Good work has been started on allowing eels to migrate in some rivers, for example in the Somerset Levels where new weirs at Greylake and Oath have had special eel passes installed and cameras show good numbers of elvers and eels passing through, but much more needs to be done. The EA is currently assessing the state of all barriers on the Avon and will have to introduce measure to improve eel passage where necessary. Surprisingly, the draft plans talk of reducing the take of yellow and silver eels but not, at this stage, the harvesting of elvers. It is believed there is sufficient elver recruitment to estuaries and the lower reaches of rivers to allow the target escapement to be achieved (even with the existing elver catch), but not enough to cause density dependent migration to the farther upstream reaches. Future regulation may ban the export of elvers outside the EU and require, by 2013, that 60% of elvers caught must be offered for restocking, probably in continental waters rather than here.
Hydroelectric schemes.
The rising number of applications for small hydroelectricity developments on SW rivers is of concern since most pose some risk to fisheries, particularly to migratory species. The EA set conditions, via the abstraction licensing process, and try to ensure all intakes are screened and that the residual flow is at all times adequate for the needs of fish. This is not always easy and draft national guidelines on how to set the conditions are causing controversy because of fears from fisheries scientists that they do not offer sufficient protection for fish. Incidentally, I have recently visited an Archimedes screw turbine on the Dart and seen results of good research into the effects on fish passing through this slow moving type of turbine. Smolts and medium sized fish pass through untouched, though long bodied fish like eels and kelts are slightly more at risk and a rubber bumper has been fitted to the leading edge to reduce the potential for harm. Upstream migration is virtually unaffected since there is no weir and the flow, fed to the turbine via a long leat, takes a low proportion of total river flow. It is a better option than most schemes.
Impact of in-river aquaculture.
The CEFAS research into the effects of in-river aquaculture on wild salmonids was reported, at long last, to our November RFERAC. The authors stated the research showed that salmon were affected by several components of the effluent from in-river trout farms and the fieldwork was carried out on the Test and the Hampshire Avon. Most worrying was the finding that smolts, held in cages below a trout farm then moved to saline water, showed both physiological impairment and raised mortality. This was a limited experiment, the design of which has been heavily criticised by trout farmers, but at the very least it demands follow-up research, particularly to determine if there is an effect on the whole river population of salmon. Our Committee were unanimous in calling for more research to be funded.
WSRT Members and readers are always welcome to contact me with concerns at 01761 462716 or via my e mail at cjklee@mbzonline.net
Chris Klee, Chairman SW Regional Fisheries, Ecology & Recreation Advisory Committee to the Environment Agency.
Dorset Stour, a recovering river
Not so very long ago, I remember somewhat cautiously approaching EA Fishery officers with the germ of an idea regarding the potential for some stocking of barbel into the middle reaches of the Dorset Stour.I knew the river quite well, had in fact caught some big barbel out of the stretches in question in the eighties, and had always been bemused by the fact that they were not prospering as well as they should.
The heavy dredging in the seventies and early eighties in the name of flood defence had, of course, had a major effect on the river, and it is not difficult to link the removal of probably millions of tonnes of gravel with the almost total destruction of the river as a salmon fishery.
To my mind, the barbel spawning sites had probably gone the same way as the salmon redds and similar habitat, but the way the river was mending itself, linked with the considerable work already being done by the Agency to improve habitat on the most damaged stretches, meant that there could be scope for a helping hand in terms of replenishing barbel stocks.
In my role as Research and Conservation Officer for the Barbel Society, I took the chance of proposing to the Agency, and to local Clubs, that with a pooling of resources in terms of cash, we could buy some little barbel for the river. My argument was that the historic loss of spawning habitat had made it impossible for the barbel to maintain a self sustaining population, but if a sufficient number of stocked fish were to survive, a very impoverished river could become a viable and valuable fishery. The EA would have improved and developed a major fishery!
I was delighted to find that the Stour was acceptable as a candidate for stocking, since the barbel populations had been present for long enough for them to be considered native, and the river was judged to be in a state of recovery, which meant that any habitat problems were being addressed.
I was even more delighted to receive a counter proposal which involved the cash from the Barbel Society and clubs being spent on habitat enhancement alone, but with the EA in return providing the stock barbel free, from the Agency fish farm at Calverton near Nottingham.
The plan was starting to come together, and I still find it hard to believe that the local clubs were persuaded by me to part with enough cash to produce a fund of over five thousand pounds for habitat work.
As I write, the second batch of barbel have been stocked; 3000 healthy little fish that I helped to mark with elastomer tags that will last for life and hopefully give us some information on how well they survive and how far they travel from the three stocking sites. A further 3000 are expected next year. The clubs have fairly advanced plans for fry refuges and in -stream work that will enhance a programme that the Agency have been carrying out for some years.
The BS has just paid for tonnes of gravel to top dress stone croys that are producing much needed diversity into the flows on the dredged stretches, and this habitat improvement work will of course, be of benefit to all species of fish and other wildlife. These stone croys, linked with downstream bays excavated and reprofilled at the same time, are a cheap, effective and permanent enhancement , I think. Their value is to be monitored in the coming years by sampling, and it may be that next year a limited amount of targeted electro fishing can be used to check out the survival of those first 6000 barbel, though they have been spotted in the shallows this summer.
A bit of an idea and a cash injection of a couple of thousand from the Barbel Society has meant that a partnership between the Society, fishing clubs and the EA has grown into a substantial habitat improvement project, boosting the excellent work the Agency was already doing to reverse the damage done a quarter of a century ago. 9000 barbel and five thousand quid sounds a lot, and it must make a difference, but it would be good keep the work going for as long as it can be afforded, and my powers of persuasion last!
The lower river at Throop, for example, is now demonstrating a serious decline in terms of barbel numbers, and the population appears to be dominated by a very few, big old fish. Male barbel can live to twenty years old and not exceed four pounds in weight, and the big females that we are catching now may be over thirty years old.
It may be that the huge amount of gravel taken out of Throop in the eighties has so severely limited spawning sites that the barbel are struggling to sustain themselves.
There is still a lot of work to be done.
Pete Reading: Chairman: The Barbel Society
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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.