Restrictions proposed to safeguard salmon in Welsh rivers
The future of some of Wales’ most important fisheries is at risk unless action is taken to reverse the decline of fish stocks in the country’s rivers, according to Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
Wales’ fishing industry is estimated to be worth more than £100m and to support around 1,500 jobs, with the overall value of angling-related tourism being even higher.
But fish stocks have reached unprecedented lows in Welsh rivers in recent years, NRW said.
In particular there are concerns about the numbers of salmon returning to rivers, and NRW says there are not enough adult fish spawning to sustain stocks or to prevent further decline.
In August, NRW launched a consultation on catch controls for rivers wholly in Wales but this excluded the cross-border rivers with England.
Now it is extending the consultation to include the Welsh parts of the cross-border rivers, the Dee and Wye.
The Environment Agency, its counterpart in England, will be carrying out an identical consultation on the English parts of the Dee and Wye, ensuring that integrated solutions are rolled out on the two rivers.
Ceri Davies, NRW’s executive director of evidence policy and permitting, said: “The decline in the number of salmon migrating back into most of our rivers is now so serious that we need to give more adult fish the chance to spawn to aid the survival of the species in Welsh waters.
“Organisations such as the Wye and Usk Foundation have made fantastic efforts, restoring connectivity and habitats, improving water quality and fisheries.
“These measures, along with the past catch controls, have helped produce some encouraging signs of recovery.
“On the River Dee, we have already asked anglers to voluntarily release the salmon they catch, but we now feel it’s time to introduce further controls.
“We have been discussing how fish stocks can be improved with local fisheries and interest groups across the country for more than two years and we are now keen to seek views from the wider public on our new proposals.
“A briefing on the status of our salmon and sea trout stocks in Wales, including the Dee and Wye, and our proposals, as well as information on how people can have their say, can be found on our website.”
NRW is proposing measures to ensure released fish have the best chance of survival, including the use of barbless hooks, while bans on treble hooks and use of bait are also being proposed. The proposals include: Mandatory catch and release of salmon on the River Dee;
Mandatory catch and release for sea trout before May 1 on the River Dee;
A maximum 60cm length limit for sea trout, in line with all other rivers in Wales, to help protect larger predominantly female sea trout on the Dee;
Method restrictions (bait and treble hooks) so that released fish have an improved chance of survival. These will apply to both the Dee and the Wye.
These measures will not affect the 10-year catch controls that have been in place on the Wye since 2012 and are not due to expire until 2021.
The new byelaws would be in place for 10 years, with a comprehensive review into their effectiveness after five years.
Mr Davies added: “After carefully considering wide-ranging views and evidence, we have concluded that we cannot continue to take salmon while stocks are in such a parlous state
“We have not taken the decision to call for these changes lightly and we realise that these measures on their own will not resolve the complex issue of declining salmon stocks.
“However, they should help address the reluctance of some to respond to our repeated pleas over the past few years to release all fish.
“This practice is the norm for responsible anglers on all of our rivers, and we thank those who have elected to do their bit for the sustainability of our stocks.”
The consultation began on November 13, 2017 and runs until February 5, 2018.