Post by Hoppy on Sept 4, 2006 21:13:09 GMT -1
New fish pass gives Tamar salmon a boost
Salmon and sea trout have been given a boost with the completion of a new fish pass on an important tributary of the Tamar near Ashwater in Devon.
The Environment Agency has completed a special £50,000 series of pools at Ashmill Weir on the River Carey so that salmon and sea trout can reach the spawning areas above the large weir.
Anne Voss-Bark MBE, chairman of the Tamar and Tributaries Fisheries Association officially opened the new pool and traverse fish pass today (September 4) by unveiling a commemorative plaque at the weir. **Photographs are available by request, please contact the press office 01392 442008.**
'Ashmill Weir has been an obstacle to salmon and sea trout for many years and also a favourite poaching spot as the fish were held up below it. Improving the weir was a key action in our salmon action plan for the Tamar,' explained Lesley Newport from the Environment Agency.
The Tamar salmon action plan pinpoints the main problems limiting salmon stocks on the river, sets a target conservation limit and then focuses on the work necessary to meet that target. The conservation limit is the number of salmon eggs needed to ensure that enough salmon survive in the river to sustain the population. The Tamar just met its target of 11.5 million last year.
'We have already seen adult salmon and their nests above the weir, so we are really pleased to have been able to build the fish pass and it is excellent to see the fish are using it. We are very grateful of the landowners and riparian owners who have helped us carry out this important environmental improvement work,' said Lesley.
In recent years the Environment Agency has been focussing on the River Carey to improve fish habitat and reduce the impact from farm pollution to help ensure the area is top class for salmon.
Salmon and sea trout have been given a boost with the completion of a new fish pass on an important tributary of the Tamar near Ashwater in Devon.
The Environment Agency has completed a special £50,000 series of pools at Ashmill Weir on the River Carey so that salmon and sea trout can reach the spawning areas above the large weir.
Anne Voss-Bark MBE, chairman of the Tamar and Tributaries Fisheries Association officially opened the new pool and traverse fish pass today (September 4) by unveiling a commemorative plaque at the weir. **Photographs are available by request, please contact the press office 01392 442008.**
'Ashmill Weir has been an obstacle to salmon and sea trout for many years and also a favourite poaching spot as the fish were held up below it. Improving the weir was a key action in our salmon action plan for the Tamar,' explained Lesley Newport from the Environment Agency.
The Tamar salmon action plan pinpoints the main problems limiting salmon stocks on the river, sets a target conservation limit and then focuses on the work necessary to meet that target. The conservation limit is the number of salmon eggs needed to ensure that enough salmon survive in the river to sustain the population. The Tamar just met its target of 11.5 million last year.
'We have already seen adult salmon and their nests above the weir, so we are really pleased to have been able to build the fish pass and it is excellent to see the fish are using it. We are very grateful of the landowners and riparian owners who have helped us carry out this important environmental improvement work,' said Lesley.
In recent years the Environment Agency has been focussing on the River Carey to improve fish habitat and reduce the impact from farm pollution to help ensure the area is top class for salmon.