Salmon and sea-trout strategy launched

Paul Eccleston, The Telegraph 12 Aug 08;

A new long-term strategy has been launched to help improve stocks of salmon and sea trout.

The Government wants to forge partnerships with landowners, anglers and river authorities to protect the fish and to ensure the best conditions for them to thrive.

The strategy, drawn up by the Environment Agency after a lengthy consultation period, was launched by new chairman Lord Smith as he formally opened the Blachford Fish Pass near Ivybridge, Devon.

"These special fish are very valuable as they bring social, economic and environmental benefits to local communities.

"Their sensitivity and need for a good quality environment means we need to work together with our partners to address the complex factors affecting them, he said."

Work to protect the game fish, one or both of which appear in more than 100 rivers in England and Wales, has helped increase salmon numbers by 40,000 in the last 10 years.

There is a growing acknowledgement that as well as being good indicators of healthy rivers, people enjoy seeing them in their wild state.

Sea trout and salmon fisheries also generate millions of pounds per year to local economies.

The main aims of the strategy include:

# Improving the quality and increase the availability of good habitats
# Promoting and realising better land management practices
# Working with partners to remove or reduce impacts of barriers affecting fish migration
# Reducing the exploitation of at-risk stocks
# Making the most effective use of resources by working to the strength of our partners
# Establishing sea trout and salmon as widely recognised environmental icons

Lord Smith said the work at the Blachford Fish Pass, where the existing 7m long stone upper weir was replaced with a 'pool and traverse' fish pass for fish to swim up, was a good example of the co-operation that was needed.

At least 15km of spawning grounds has been opened up by the new fish pass and as many as 50 sea trout and salmon were seen to move up it on the first day it was used.

"The Better sea trout and salmon fisheries strategy will help us focus our work over the next decade to be more efficient and effective. It's not just about us - we need everyone with an interest in our rivers to work in partnership, to help bring more sea trout and salmon into more rivers, bringing more benefit," Lord Smith said.

The strategy was welcomed by Paul Knight, director of the Salmon and Trout Association, who said: "We have been consulted at all stages during the evolution of the strategy, which is an excellent example of the Environment Agency involving partners in a major project.

"It is fitting that another partnership, the Blachford Fish Pass on the River Yealm, should be chosen for Lord Smith to launch the strategy. Opening up new spawning and juvenile areas to migratory fish is an essential part of managing and conserving fish stocks.

"The Environment Agency has joined forces with local fisheries and environmental interests to make this happen, helping improve the river's salmon and trout populations."