Post by wnion on Jul 31, 2006 7:34:09 GMT -1
National salmon strategy 10 years on. A public consultation for the ‘king of fish’
Author:
Head Office Press Office
Date published:
28-Jul-2006
Only 2% of salmon rivers in England and Wales definitely had sustainable fish stocks when the Environment Agency launched its National Salmon Strategy ten years ago.
Today, the figure stands at 16%, and estimates suggest that it could be as high as 35%.
"A decade on from the launch of the National Salmon Strategy, we’re seeing sustainable salmon stocks in many rivers as a result of environmental improvements and a tightening of game fishing controls," Environment Agency Fisheries Manager Godfrey Williams said.
"New regulations we’ve introduced such as the spring salmon measures - that prohibit the killing of salmon before June - encouraging greater use of catch and release and limiting net fisheries, have made a positive impact.
"Fisheries associations and clubs have also introduced voluntary controls, with the percentage of catch-and release angling rising from 24% in 1996 to 55% ten years later."
The following changes are evident in England and Wales game fishing:
In 1996 anglers bought 22,773 annual salmon licences and after several years of decline, this rose to 23,123 licences in 2005.
Over the same period, the number of short-term licences fell from 12,508 to 9,949.
The number of salmon net licences issued also decreased, from 557 to 345 - this was mainly due to increased regulation and the phasing out of net fisheries.
The declared salmon net catch fell from 32,680 fish in 1996 to 16,811 in 2005.
The comparable rod catch figures are 17,444 and 19,457, so anglers now catch more salmon than netsmen.
"The Tyne and Wear are examples of rivers where pollution has been cleaned up and good stocks of salmon support increased fishing. Salmon stocks in other big river systems are also showing clear signs of recovery - the Mersey, the Yorkshire Ouse, the Trent, and the Tees," Mr Williams said.
"Since 2003 the Environment Agency has spent more than £1.5 million on projects to directly improve salmon river habitat and to address obstacles to migration. Most of these initiatives are with other partners, so that the total investment has been at least three times this amount. Communities in several river catchments are also taking their own positive steps to support their river environment and fisheries, establishing rivers trusts and projects, using grants and working on improvement programmes.
"However most salmon fisheries across England and Wales remain degraded. Our aim is to have the majority of salmon rivers supporting sustainable stocks within five years, so there is still much work to be done."
With anglers spending an estimated £500 million annually on salmon and trout fishing in England and Wales, and the fishing rights for these species having a capital value of about £750 million, it's vital that anglers and fishery owners have a say on the future of fisheries management.
As a result, the Environment Agency is holding a consultation with those who have an interest in "the king of fish" regarding the National Salmon Strategy for the next ten years.
The Environment Agency's 2004 Salmon Stock Conservation Review confirmed that exploitation is not the only reason that salmon stocks remain low. The Review identified other factors including land use associated with agriculture and diffuse pollution, together with siltation, damaged river habitat, low flows and barriers to migration. Climate change also affects salmon, with reduced survival at sea a possible example of this.
New regulations have included:
The spring salmon measures in 1999 that prohibited the killing of salmon before June.
Encouraging greater use of catch and release in the remaining season.
Phasing out net fisheries, such as the north east coast drift-net fishery.
Many other Net Limitation Orders and rod and net byelaws.
In the future, salmon management in Europe will be closely linked with the Water Framework Directive and its six-year planning cycle. Seventeen of the 63 principal salmon rivers/estuary in England and Wales have special protection under the Habitats Directive. The Severn estuary may also be designated under the Directive.
For details on how to contribute to the National Salmon Strategy consultation, visit: the Environment Agency's website, and go to the Fisheries Management Homepage.
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/fish/165773/?version=1&lang=_e
Doc reference:
96/06
Contact:
shelley.frosdick@environment-agency.gov.uk
Author:
Head Office Press Office
Date published:
28-Jul-2006
Only 2% of salmon rivers in England and Wales definitely had sustainable fish stocks when the Environment Agency launched its National Salmon Strategy ten years ago.
Today, the figure stands at 16%, and estimates suggest that it could be as high as 35%.
"A decade on from the launch of the National Salmon Strategy, we’re seeing sustainable salmon stocks in many rivers as a result of environmental improvements and a tightening of game fishing controls," Environment Agency Fisheries Manager Godfrey Williams said.
"New regulations we’ve introduced such as the spring salmon measures - that prohibit the killing of salmon before June - encouraging greater use of catch and release and limiting net fisheries, have made a positive impact.
"Fisheries associations and clubs have also introduced voluntary controls, with the percentage of catch-and release angling rising from 24% in 1996 to 55% ten years later."
The following changes are evident in England and Wales game fishing:
In 1996 anglers bought 22,773 annual salmon licences and after several years of decline, this rose to 23,123 licences in 2005.
Over the same period, the number of short-term licences fell from 12,508 to 9,949.
The number of salmon net licences issued also decreased, from 557 to 345 - this was mainly due to increased regulation and the phasing out of net fisheries.
The declared salmon net catch fell from 32,680 fish in 1996 to 16,811 in 2005.
The comparable rod catch figures are 17,444 and 19,457, so anglers now catch more salmon than netsmen.
"The Tyne and Wear are examples of rivers where pollution has been cleaned up and good stocks of salmon support increased fishing. Salmon stocks in other big river systems are also showing clear signs of recovery - the Mersey, the Yorkshire Ouse, the Trent, and the Tees," Mr Williams said.
"Since 2003 the Environment Agency has spent more than £1.5 million on projects to directly improve salmon river habitat and to address obstacles to migration. Most of these initiatives are with other partners, so that the total investment has been at least three times this amount. Communities in several river catchments are also taking their own positive steps to support their river environment and fisheries, establishing rivers trusts and projects, using grants and working on improvement programmes.
"However most salmon fisheries across England and Wales remain degraded. Our aim is to have the majority of salmon rivers supporting sustainable stocks within five years, so there is still much work to be done."
With anglers spending an estimated £500 million annually on salmon and trout fishing in England and Wales, and the fishing rights for these species having a capital value of about £750 million, it's vital that anglers and fishery owners have a say on the future of fisheries management.
As a result, the Environment Agency is holding a consultation with those who have an interest in "the king of fish" regarding the National Salmon Strategy for the next ten years.
The Environment Agency's 2004 Salmon Stock Conservation Review confirmed that exploitation is not the only reason that salmon stocks remain low. The Review identified other factors including land use associated with agriculture and diffuse pollution, together with siltation, damaged river habitat, low flows and barriers to migration. Climate change also affects salmon, with reduced survival at sea a possible example of this.
New regulations have included:
The spring salmon measures in 1999 that prohibited the killing of salmon before June.
Encouraging greater use of catch and release in the remaining season.
Phasing out net fisheries, such as the north east coast drift-net fishery.
Many other Net Limitation Orders and rod and net byelaws.
In the future, salmon management in Europe will be closely linked with the Water Framework Directive and its six-year planning cycle. Seventeen of the 63 principal salmon rivers/estuary in England and Wales have special protection under the Habitats Directive. The Severn estuary may also be designated under the Directive.
For details on how to contribute to the National Salmon Strategy consultation, visit: the Environment Agency's website, and go to the Fisheries Management Homepage.
www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/fish/165773/?version=1&lang=_e
Doc reference:
96/06
Contact:
shelley.frosdick@environment-agency.gov.uk
