Stop salmon and sewin fishing now

I WRITE in response to Arwel Evans’ article in Monday’s Western Mail in which he argues that the proposed ban on bait fishing should not take place.

He concedes that salmon and sea trout stocks are “not in a good place at the moment and that we should all play our part in conserving stocks”. It is well known that these migratory fish do not feed after they have entered the river, so that their energy reserves will be seriously depleted by fighting against an angler intent on dragging them in to the bank, regardless of the means by which they have been hooked.

If, after being caught, they are then released back in to the river, their chances of being able to complete their risky and dangerous swim upstream to spawn will, at best, be seriously reduced.

If Natural Resources Wales and the anglers who pay for their rod licences really have the interests of these fish at heart, would they not be better advised to stop fishing entirely, for a season or two, and thereby avoid any risk to these magnificent creatures?

There are, I’m sure, many other factors that contribute to the reducing numbers of our migratory fish, but at least this one lies within our control.

As one who started fishing on the Teifi in 1954, I am sad to report that I have long since put away my fishing tackle because I would hate to think that I had been responsible for the

death of the last salmon or sewin.

I fear that unless action is taken now we face the prospect of having no salmon or sewin in our rivers in the future. This would make river fishing by whatever means a pointless exercise for generations of children and the privileged few alike.

Stop now before it’s too late. Ken Jones Newcastle Emlyn