Post by Hoppy on Nov 17, 2005 20:41:42 GMT -1
J FISHERIES SCIENCE
ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE TEXT:
CCW = Countryside Council for Wales:
EA = Environment Agency for England & Wales:
EAW = Environment Agency Wales:
FRAWC = Flood Risk Assessment Wales Committee (formerly Flood Defence Committee):
NRA = National Rivers Authority:
WAG = Welsh Assembly Government.
J.1.2. SCIENTIFIC AWARENESS.
The EA has an impressive record in undertaking, commissioning or associating with scientific research of a very high standard into a wide range of environmental issues, but very little of this knowledge filters down to the general public. There is a general need to improve public understanding of the underlying scientific basis to the EA’s policies for the regulation and management of fisheries and the aquatic environment.
J.2.3. SEA TROUT INVESTIGATIONS
There are still too many gaps in our knowledge about the neglected sea trout that represent major constraints to our ability to protect and manage the resource effectively. Almost nothing is known about the migratory and feeding behaviour of sea trout during the marine phase of their life history and nothing is known about either their inadvertent capture in marine finfish fisheries or the extent to which they are exploited selectively by various types of fishing gear. These uncertainties are particularly important to Wales (see B.2.).
ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE TEXT:
CCW = Countryside Council for Wales:
EA = Environment Agency for England & Wales:
EAW = Environment Agency Wales:
FRAWC = Flood Risk Assessment Wales Committee (formerly Flood Defence Committee):
NRA = National Rivers Authority:
WAG = Welsh Assembly Government.
J.1.2. SCIENTIFIC AWARENESS.
The EA has an impressive record in undertaking, commissioning or associating with scientific research of a very high standard into a wide range of environmental issues, but very little of this knowledge filters down to the general public. There is a general need to improve public understanding of the underlying scientific basis to the EA’s policies for the regulation and management of fisheries and the aquatic environment.
- The EA should prepare a digest providing a retrospective review of the results of past studies to date. This should be update on a regular basis. It should be presented in simple terms for the non-scientist.
- The EAW clarify the position relating to the very considerable investment of resources into the operation of fish-counting stations.
J.2.3. SEA TROUT INVESTIGATIONS
There are still too many gaps in our knowledge about the neglected sea trout that represent major constraints to our ability to protect and manage the resource effectively. Almost nothing is known about the migratory and feeding behaviour of sea trout during the marine phase of their life history and nothing is known about either their inadvertent capture in marine finfish fisheries or the extent to which they are exploited selectively by various types of fishing gear. These uncertainties are particularly important to Wales (see B.2.).
- The EA/EAW should promote, in partnership with others, a comprehensive programme of research into the movements and feeding behaviour of post-smolt and adult sea trout in estuarine and coastal waters to determine the extent to which mixed stock fisheries occur and the extent to which they are vulnerable to damage by commercial and recreational fisheries for other species of marine finfish.
- EA/EAW should commission a thorough investigation to determine the nature and extent of the illegal and inadvertent capture of sea trout by commercial and recreational net fisheries for other species of marine finfish in coastal and estuarial waters.
- EA/EAW should undertake an investigation to determine the nature and extent of damage caused to sea trout (and shad) by the materials and mesh sizes currently authorised for use by nets licensed to fish for salmon and sea trout.