The Anglers’ Conservation Association (ACA) has today written to David Miliband, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, demanding immediate action to ease the passage of migratory fish through the Tees Barrage and the construction of a new fish pass at the Barrage.
Eleven years after it was built, only provisional approval is in place for a fish pass which is widely recognised to delay fatally the migration of salmon and sea trout. While these fish attempt to find the woefully inadequate fish pass to allow them to access the river to spawn, seals now effectively resident in the pool immediately downstream of the barrage eat a large number and injure many others.
Using the Freedom of Information Act, the ACA has gained access to the files of DEFRA, the Environment Agency and British Waterways and they make appalling reading for anyone concerned with salmon and sea trout migration on the Tees. While the nearby River Tyne has recovered into the finest salmon river in England and Wales, the Tees has lagged far behind. If an adequate fish pass were built, there could be enormous economic benefits for an area which is in great need of an injection of income from visiting anglers. Instead, the recovery of the river is being held back by bad design and the utter failure over many years of the various regulators, owners and government bodies supposedly dealing with this.
It is quite clear from the internal assessments, legal advice and other papers the ACA has obtained, that all parties privately recognise that the current fish pass does not work. As early as October 2003, Environment Agency fisheries experts are on record as stating that "if further monitoring is carried out this is likely to show that the fish pass is totally inefficient." In December 2003, DEFRA stated that "neither British Waterways nor the Environment Agency appears to have been taking the problem on the Tees very seriously".
Two years ago, in 2004, DEFRA stated to the Environment Agency that:
"British Waterways appear to be continuing to avoid the key issue; that the fish barrage [sic] represents an unacceptable barrier to fish movements and the fish pass is not working effectively … it is disappointing that we appear to be no further forward in any assessment of whether the fish pass works effectively or not. Potentially yet another survey will only confirm anglers’ claims … that the fish pass is not effective. As a result we will then need to agree a new fish pass with yet another monitoring programme."
The same assessment could easily be made today and is quite at odds with the earlier public statements of the parties to this fiasco.
The ACA acts for several member clubs and fishery owners on the Tees and is now investigating what legal action can be brought against any of the parties concerned for the clear damage to the salmonid fisheries upstream of the Barrage that has been caused. The ACA has also written to all the parties demanding the immediate revocation of provisional fish pass approval and plans to design and build a new fish pass that works effectively.
ACA Executive Director Mark Lloyd said:
“it is depressing to read these government files and to see how much money has been wasted on meetings, letters and repeat studies when the best thing for the environment, for anglers and for the local economy would have been and still remains to build a proper fish pass that works. The Environment Agency - the regulator – and British Waterways and English Partnerships - the current and former owners of the Barrage – are all part of the wider ‘DEFRA family’. While the EA, BW and EP have spent tax-payers’ money bickering like children and failing to deal with the core problem, the Tees will continue to suffer. The Minister must bang some heads together and order a new fish pass now.”
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Environment Agency Wales have been following up reports that Chinese mitten crabs were being caught in the Dee Estuary by commercial fishermen as a "by catch" as they netted for flat fish. Further investigations have been carried out and the capture of an adult mitten crab in the Greenfield area indicates that this alien species has become established in the estuary.
Mitten crabs cause a huge amount of damage to the tidal and lower freshwater sections of rivers as they burrow into riverbanks causing them to collapse and silt up. Further pressure is also put on our wildlife as these crabs out compete native species.These crabs must spend the juvenile part of their life cycle in freshwater but must return to the sea to breed. Although mitten crabs can be eaten - and are indeed a delicacy in Asia – they can also cause problems for human health as they can act as a host for a parasitic lung fluke that can cause infection via undercooked meat.
The crabs can grow to at least 80mm and live for 5 years.Although well established in Continental Europe and London, it is thought that this species was originally carried to the United Kingdom from Asia in the ballast water of commercial shipping. Exactly how these creatures got into the Dee Estuary isn’t known but it is possible that they spread from the Mersey Estuary where they are known to be established.
Huw Jones, Technical Officer in the Fisheries & Biodiversity Team at Environment Agency Wales said:
‘The appearance of this species is of concern to Environment Agency Wales and we will be working closely with partner organisations to monitor their spread. If anyone sees evidence of these creatures they can contact the Environment Agency on 01248 484076.’
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Years of painstaking work by the Environment Agency and fisheries groups to boost salmon stocks on a Devon river is starting to pay off.
The River Axe in East Devon once boasted a healthy population of salmon, but stocks crashed in the 1980’s and early 1990’s as a result of agricultural pollution and excessive erosion that caused salmon spawning beds to become smothered with silt.
The Agency tried to reverse the decline by re-stocking the main tributaries of the Axe with salmon fry, but survival rates were low and the slump in salmon numbers continued.
More recently the Agency has concentrated, instead, on raising and releasing smolts into local tributaries. Smolts are larger than fry and have a better rate of survival. These young fish have a small fin on their back (adipose fin) that is clipped before release so that they can be easily identified on recapture.
Encouragingly, these fin-clipped salmon are now returning for the first time to the Axe in good numbers. After just a year at sea, the smolts grow from a few inches in length to adult fish weighing 3 – 6 lbs. Young salmon returning to their home river for the first time to spawn are known as ‘grilse.’
The Agency has a fish trap on the Axe to monitor salmon numbers. It is also used to capture a small number of wild salmon for use as ‘brood stock’. Eggs are stripped from hen fish and taken to a hatchery. After hatching the young salmon fry are later moved to a rearing pond in East Devon where they turn into smolts and are kept prior to being released into the Axe.
‘We were becoming concerned as over the past three years the number of migrating salmon caught on the Axe has been low. Last year no female fish were caught which meant no brood fish were obtained. This year, in contrast, we’ve recorded our second best return of salmon since we started the project,’ said Dave Brogden for the Environment Agency.
‘The return of the first of these fin-clipped salmon is very exciting. It is a real milestone and shows that after years of preparatory work the Agency’s rearing and re-stocking policy is starting to pay off. It is great news,’
A number of additional measures have been introduced over the years to help revive salmon stocks on the Axe. These include improvements to and maintenance of gravel beds to encourage spawning and the removal of obstructions such as weirs within the river system to help migratory fish move upstream.
The Agency has been helped in its work by the Axe Vale Rivers Association (AVRA), an umbrella body for riparian owners, that has provided support and contributed to the re-stocking programme. It has also been assisted by the Axe Flyfishers.
The revival in salmon numbers is among the spin-off benefits of the Axe Catchment Project, an EU-funded initiative that has brought together a range of organisations and interest groups to improve the quality and potential of the Axe and its tributaries.
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Environment and Fisheries Minister, Ben Bradshaw, confirmed in Parliament yesterday that the Government will use regulations under the Regulatory Reform Act and the Water Framework Directive to implement the key recommendations made by the Salmon ad Freshwater Fisheries Review Group.
The S&TA (Salmon & Trout Association) welcomes this announcement. Changes to the law are urgently needed to improve the freshwater environment and conserve fish stocks. They will give a boost to angling throughout England and Wales.
S&TA and the Atlantic Salmon Trust (AST), on behalf of the Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust (FACT), worked closely with MP Martin Salter, the Parliamentary Liaison Officer for Angling and Shooting, who played a major role in the House of Commons yesterday during both Defra Questions and the ensuing Fisheries debate.
During a strong speech to MPs, Martin Salter detailed all the concerns of angling and fisheries interests, and the reasons why new freshwater fisheries legislation is urgently required. The minister responded by confirming that all those concerns (detailed below) would be addressed through the proposed regulations.
S&TA director, Paul Knight, said,
“We very much welcome this announcement by the Minister and the assurance he gave to Parliament that the key recommendations made by the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review Group will be addressed in the new regulations.
We need updated legislation and efficient policies to conserve our water environment for healthy fisheries, with subsequent benefits for all other water wildlife. Efficient, sustainable management of our fish stocks will ensure that the 3.5 million English and Welsh anglers can continue to contribute enormously to the social and economic well being of our two countries.”
Knight continued,
“perhaps now Defra will reconsider the cut in grant in aid imposed on the Environment Agency’s Fisheries Department this year and provide the resources required to grasp the opportunities provided by the Water Framework Directive to protect our rivers and lakes, and the management and enforcement programmes vital for the future health of fisheries.”
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The unusually warm weather has certainly prolonged the fishing this
year with both the Old Lake and Temple Lake still producing some
excellent catches for those who have braved the wet conditions.
Regular Richard Dalmas from Eastleigh, Hants was one such angler who
was rewarded last week with a brace of Temple thirties which included
a new lake record. Supported by a 24lb 4oz mirror, Richards brace of
mirrors weighed 37lb 8oz and 31lb. Richard fished deep water peg 8
fishing a Shoreline Bait Services boilie to the island margins.
The larger of the two mirrors carries tag number 143554, this fish was
stocked from the King George on the 7/8/04 weighing 33lb 5oz. However
it was 18 months until this fish was caught having put on just over a
pound, However this year has the big mirror caught 5 times gradually
increasing its weight from 34lb to its present 37lb 8oz.
Richards other thirty, a 31lb mirror was caught on similar baits and
tactics. This fish carries tag number 187990 and was stocked on the
14/12/05 weighing 24lb from Claremont Lake, one of our rearing lakes.
This is the third mirror stocked around 24lb from Claremont to break
through the thirty pound barrier in less than 11 months. Richard can
be contacted on 07810871872.
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On 4 December 2006, a man from Hucclecote, Gloucester pleaded guilty at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court to one charge relating to fishing for elvers using illegal equipment.
The charge was brought by the Environment Agency under Section 25 and 27 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fish Act (1975). Mr X was fined £100 and ordered to pay a contribution towards costs of £250.
For the Environment Agency, Kiran Cassini told the court that on 27 April 2006 a number of Fisheries Bailiffs were patrolling the River Severn with members of the Gloucestershire Constabulary. They were looking out for people fishing without a licence and using unlawful equipment.
Mr X was spotted by the patrol at approximately 10pm at Maisemore Weir. He was using a dip net, which was anchored to the riverbank with a rope and the net was supported using a plastic container as a float. Modifications to dip nets like this are not permitted by National Bylaws.
The patrol approached Mr X and told him he would be reported for fishing for elvers using a fixed engine – a fixed engine is a legal term for a fish trap. Mr X ’s net was then seized by the Fisheries Technical Officers.
Speaking after the case, Al Watson, an Environment Agency Team Leader, involved in the investigation said;
"People who use illegal methods can have a serious impact on elver stocks. They also cause great upset to people who stick to the rules. We will continue working with the Police in 2007 to establish a level playing field for all and to protect eel stocks. "
In mitigation the court was told that Mr X had used the rope and float because of the tide and fears for his personal safety.
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Fisheries officers from the Environment Agency will be releasing thousands of fish into the River Don to restore stocks killed by a pollution incident in July.
Around 10,000 roach will be brought from the Environment Agency’s Calverton Fish Farm at Nottingham and released at locations in the Kilnhurst and Conisborough area.
Restocking of the rivers will further improve ecology of the regions rivers, where water quality continues to improve year on year. This follows an earlier stocking when 2,600 dace and 1,400 chub were released earlier this month.
Fisheries Team Leader Pat O’Brien said: “We have a three-year programme which targets rivers and stillwaters that would benefit most from restocking, but we need to re-prioritise this programme to stock those rivers in greatest need.
“Restocking is only one part of our recovery plan for the River Don and we are in active discussion with angling groups to ensure we give the river the best possible support to restore the fishery to its full potential and encourage anglers back onto the riverbank.”
In July this year, intense rainfall caused sewage from storm overflows to enter the River Don at Sheffield and Rotherham. Oxygen levels in the water collapsed and Environment Agency officers worked against the clock to save hundreds of fish.
Further restocking of rivers in the region is planned for 2007.
Source: The Environment Agency
Contact: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
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