Just had the EA provisional catch return results through. These figures are provisional and based on 90% of the returns in the EA database, in addition no data quality checking has been done yet. See below
You will need to add the two sets of figs to get a total for Clwyd catchment. C&R rates looking very good indeed(about 75% for salmon and 85% for sea trout).
Well down on 2010 and it looks to have been a poor grilse year (repeated in other regions and countries), but generally a better MSW year so the average weights are up which means the egg deposition figures won’t be quite as bad as the numbers would suggest (but it’s a concern the grilse were scarce particularly as 2010 was a really good grilse year.
· Elwy Salmon 74 caught 56 released (2 to 16lb)
· Elwy Sea trout 267caught 233 released (14 oz to 6lb)
· Clwyd Salmon 29 caught 22 released (2.5 to 15lb)
· Clwyd Sea trout 458 caught 382 released (14oz to 10lb)
The Celtic Sea Trout Project (CSTP) is a European Union, Interreg IVA-funded, Ireland-Wales collaborative project on the status, distribution, genetics and ecology of sea trout around the Irish Sea. This note briefly outlines progress in 2011 for the many helpers and participants in angling clubs, river trusts and other organisations. More detailed technical accounts will be available in due course.
Sampling
The CSTP is reliant upon effective field sampling to collect data and material such as scales from fish for the scientific analysis. For example, the genetics and microchemistry analysis, that will tell us about the mixing and distribution of stocks, requires a baseline of measurements to be made in all the principal rivers around the Irish Sea which are likely to contribute to sea trout stocks. River sampling of juvenile trout for the genetics was the focus of the CSTP scientific team’s work in 2010 and was completed in 2011, using a large scale electro-fishing programme, taking samples from around 80 rivers.
Sampling in the sea
Marine sampling of sea trout is a key part of the project because it has not been done before in the Britain and Ireland. We want to know, amongst other things, where they go, what they feed on and how fast they grow. This is a challenging task but the CSTP team has made good progress. We have had to develop new methods for trawl sampling and have used them successfully in surveys from Dublin to the Solway coast, via the Isle of Man. Shore sampling along the coasts of Wales, England and Scotland has proved more difficult; but the collections are still sparse and the marine sampling, including trawl sampling off Cardigan Bay and South Wales, will be intensified in 2012. Shore sampling in Ireland has yielded good results and this programme will be expanded in 2012.
Sampling in rivers
A major part of the sampling programme is the collection of scales for analysis of life histories, and growth rates. For this purpose we need to know which rivers they came from and, apart from fish traps of which there are only three across the whole CSTP area (Tawe, Dee and Lune), the sampling of adults in rivers has to be done by angling. This part of the sampling programme has required extensive communication with angler groups and distribution of thousands of sampling kits and scale envelopes. Several talks on the CSTP were given during the winters of 2008/9, 2009/10 and 2010/11 to clubs and associations across Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England. We aim to collect scales from at least 300 adult sea trout from each of the selected rivers over the project.
The scale sampling to date has had mixed fortunes, bearing in mind the target of 300 (Fig 1). The participation has been very good with over 1,600 anglers sending in 3974 sets, of which 2,322 came in 2011; so a big THANK YOU for all of those. Some rivers have done particularly well, such as the Border Esk, the Irish Dee, Argideen, Castletown and Currane, and on others some of the shortfall has been made up with other forms of sampling. We will continue the sampling in 2012.
Sample processing and data analysis
Genetic analysis at University College Cork and Bangor University has been completed to establish a baseline of genetic variation and has shown remarkably strong structuring, with patterns that appear to reflect the ancient glacial history of the Irish Sea. This information will be used to assign marine sea trout to their regions or rivers of origin, in order to learn how they distribute themselves at sea.
Scales from the past two years are currently being read and analysed and are being used to derive the ages, spawning history and growth rates of individual fish throughout their lives in rivers and sea. .The bulk of this time-consuming work will be done by summer 2012. Other tasks on sea trout marine feeding, marine distribution modeling and fisheries analysis will be completed during 2012. The other work includes dissecting organs and tissues from 2000+ adult fish, microchemical analysis of the inner ear bones, measuring and weighing 5,000+ fry, and scale reading and analysis of the large historical collection of scales that the CSTP has brought together. So, coupled with the year round sampling, the scientists are fully occupied.
Figure 1 Rivers, with more than 10 samples at Jan 2012, ranked by scale sample size.
Sampling by anglers in 2012
The prize draw for the champion scale samplers will be held in Carmarthen 21st March 2013, but the CSTP needs the continued support of anglers in 2012. Scales can be taken easily once you have the basic kit which we provide. CSTP project team members are available to present talks to your club if required. Contact us through the CSTP website. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING ASSISTANCE.
The Celtic Sea Trout Project (CSTP) is a European Union, Interreg IV-funded, Ireland-Wales collaborative project looking into the status, distribution, genetics and ecology of sea trout around the Irish Sea (http://www.celticseatrout.com/about/programme.htm). This note briefly outlines progress in 2010 for the many helpers and participants in angling clubs, river trusts and other organisations. More detailed technical accounts will be available in due course.
Project management
Two fulltime Project Officers were appointed under contract in May 2010: one each in Ireland and Wales, to run the sampling and data handling tasks that support the rest of the CSTP. Contractors were also appointed by August 2010 to undertake certain of the specialist tasks (fisheries analysis, life history analysis ad modelling, and hydrodynamic modeling). Formal launch meetings were held in Wales and in Ireland.
Sampling
The CSTP is totally reliant upon effective field sampling to collect data and material from fish (tissues, gut contents, gonads scales etc) for the scientific analysis. For example, the genetics and microchemistry analysis, that will tell us about the mixing and distribution of stocks, requires a baseline of measurements to be made in all the principal rivers around the Irish Sea which are likely to contribute to sea trout stocks. River sampling of juvenile trout for the genetics was the focus of the CSTP team’s work in 2010 and was 95% completed in full using a large scale electro-fishing programme, taking samples from around 80 rivers. Some preliminary marine sampling was also carried out.
A major part of the sampling programme is the collection of scales for analysis of life histories, and growth rates in sea trout. This is particularly difficult because, apart from fish traps, of which there are only three across the whole CSTP area, the sampling of adults in rivers has to be done by angling. Moreover, scale reading and analysis are labour-intensive and time-consuming which limits the numbers of samples that can be dealt with. Accordingly, we have restricted this part of the programme to 25-30 rivers, selected to cover the Irish Sea and where angling catch has historically been large enough to provide the samples. This part of the sampling programme has required extensive liaison with angler groups and distribution of sampling kits and scale envelopes. Several talks on the CSTP were given during the winters of 2008/9 and 2009/10 to clubs and associations across Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England. We aim to collect scales from at least 300 adult sea trout from each of the selected rivers over the two main years of sampling (angling seasons 2010 and 2011). A feature of the scale sampling programme is the need to collect samples from the full size range of sea trout in these rivers to reflect the overall population structure.
The collection of scale samples in 2010 has not gone as well as the juvenile sampling and the returns to date fall well short of the indicative annual target of 150 fish /river (see Figure 1, which includes a small number of samples taken in 2009). Only the Nith and Border Esk in UK and the Argideen, Castletown and Currane in Ireland reached the target levels and most others achieved less than 20%. This was not due to fish shortage because catches were comparatively high last year. A major effort will be made in 2011 to raise awareness and to promote scale sampling by anglers, which will include a valuable incentive scheme.
Data analysis
Samples taken in last year’s surveys are being processed at the moment. Genetic analysis at the Universities of Cork and Bangor is now in full swing, and a first look at the base line description should be possible in March 2011. Scale data are being coupled with the extensive and catch statistics to describe variation in the complex life histories of sea trout and to develop analytical approaches that will enable the impacts of environmental pressures to be investigated. Other tasks on marine feeding and distribution modeling and fisheries analysis will start in 2011.
Sampling by anglers in 2011
The CSTP needs the continued support of anglers to collect the required scale samples in 2011. Scales from sea trout of all sizes across the full angling season are requested and can be taken easily once you have the basic kit which we provide. CSTP project team members are available to present talks to your club if required. Contact us through the CSTP website www.celticseatrout.com .
Not such a great year I’m afraid guys. Not a bad result on the Clwyd, but both the Conwy and the Seiont struggled. We did not get the conditions we had last year and the angler effort seems to reflect that. I will add some more detailed analysis later.
We thank you all for your continued support throughout another year and wish you all the very best for the coming year with the hope of many tight lines and continued anticipation of the days to come. We will continue to work towards gathering evidence of the damage being caused to our fisheries as a result of illegal fisheries activities, but can do little without your active and continuing. Remember if you see or suspect illegal fisheries activity report it on this site by clicking on the report an incident tab above, all information is helpful and contributes to the gathering of an overview of the level of illegal activity. If you actually witness poaching taking place call the 0800 80 70 60 number and report it but please remember to confirm your call on the report an incident tab. Please remember to click in the North or South Wales box, so the incident is reported to the right team. WE HAVE TO PERSIST AND KEEP PUSHING FOR BETTER ENFORCEMENT; IF WE DON’T WHO WILL?
Many of Europe’s freshwater fish and molluscs are now threatened species, a new EU study shows.
The European Commission called for urgent action to preserve the diversity of Europe’s wildlife. Pollution, overfishing, habitat loss and alien species are blamed for the decline in species.
The latest findings are based on a study of some 6,000 species for the European Red List – an assessment of threats to wildlife.
The list of Europe’s threatened species includes 44% of all freshwater molluscs, 37% of freshwater fish, 23% of amphibians, 19% of reptiles, 15% of mammals and dragonflies and 13% of birds.
The Commission says 467 plant species are also under threat, including wild varieties of crops such as sugar beet, wheat, oats and lettuce. Such species are “vital for food security yet are often neglected in terms of conservation,” the Commission says.
The Commission has urged the 27 EU member states to adopt sustainable farming and forestry methods to halt biodiversity loss.
Nature’s ‘goods and services'”The well-being of people in Europe and all over the world depends on goods and services that nature provides,” said EU Environment Janez Potocnik. “If we don’t address the reasons behind this decline and act urgently to stop it, we could pay a very heavy price indeed.”
There are some notable successes however for wildlife conservation in Europe.
The EU’s Natura 2000 conservation network of protected wildlife areas aims to give endangered species a better chance of survival. Corsica’s Centranthus trinervis plant and the land snails on Madeira are showing signs of recovery, the Commission says.
A biodiversity expert at the environmental group Friends of the Earth, Paul de Zylva, says the thriving otter population in the UK is also a success story – a sign that the healthy fish they prey on are abundant in once-polluted rivers.
But many of Europe’s water species are suffering, often because their natural habitat is disappearing, he told BBC News.
“Our water resources are a symbol of whether we are getting environmental policies right,” he said.
Threat from aliensInvasive species from other parts of the world often spread through Europe’s rivers, he said. Among them are Chinese mitten crabs, Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed. Rivers disperse plant seeds across borders – one reason why co-ordinated European action is necessary, he said.
It is vital for the EU to provide the right financial incentives for farmers to boost nature conservation when a revised Common Agricultural Policy takes effect after 2013, he said.
The Natura 2000 network was expanded this month, taking in an additional 18,800 sq km (7,259 sq miles) – most of that being marine areas.
The UK has added some biodiversity hotspots in the Atlantic, including reefs off Rockall Island.
In the Mediterranean, marine habitats of endangered turtles and monk seals have also been added to the list of more than 26,000 European conservation sites.
Here at the campaign team, we are delighted to announce, the continuation of the Season Extension Trials for the Rivers Clwyd, Conwy and Seiont for 2011.
Anglers may ONLY apply for an authorisation by registering on this website or by supplying their name, address and license number via the contact point for each river (as described on the registration page) to register on their behalf and by the appropriate closing date.
Celtic Sea Trout Project scale sampling update and reminder August 2011
Dear all,
I hope you are having a good sea trout season and that you might have found time for some scale sampling. We have had a few back, so thank you to all who have sent in samples. As last year we are expecting that many of you will have samples that you’ll send in at the end of the season and that is fine.
We are gradually processing previous samples and a couple of you (Alan and Dyfed) who turned up at the CSTP stand at the EA’s Brenig open day were able to see their scales mounted, projected and read, so there really is a result from your efforts. The meaning of it all will arrive as we accumulate the total samples, but each scale turns out to be interesting window on sea trout lives.
I have not fished in rivers this year, yet, but have had 16 sea trout in the sea at a “secret spot” on Anglesey where they seem to congregate. I use small Tobies and Dexter wedges; not pretty fishing, but most takes are 30-50m offshore and it gets the results for the project. The CSTP marine sampling teams around the Irish Sea are gradually building up the marine samples, so we need the river-specific information from the anglers too
I have never seen so many sea trout moving in coastal waters before and this year is looking quite good. I understand that in most rivers the catches are also at good levels. You may be able to confirm or comment on that?
All the more reason then to take advantage of the fish abundance to collect the samples, because it is much harder in lean years. Can I urge you to collect when you can, please. There is plenty of time yet this year, abut 50-60 % on average of the annual rod catch in N Wales rivers comes during August-October. So get out there, please! I attach the angling incentive scheme and the sampling details which I think everyone will have had already. And please pass on any of this to anyone else you feel might be willing to help.
If you need more scale sampling kits or packets or want to return scales (NB no big rush – see above) please contact Dr Carys Davies (contact details on the attachment) who is coordinating the sampling in England and Wales. Next winter we’ll sort out some feedback meetings for those that want them, let me know if you have specific meetings that might be appropriate.
Once again many thanks for what you’ve done so far and good luck in the last half of the season.
Members of the Dolgarrog Angling club found and reported to the Environment Agency an illegal net set across the the river by poachers. Having sought more details and clarification of wheat happened, I received the following reply from a prominent and reliable member of THE CONWY VALLEY FISHERIES & CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION.
” You asked about the net at Dolgarrog unfortunately this was removed although
I think they reported it only to be told there would be a follow up within
48 hours – so they removed and destroyed the net as waiting for an EA
bailiff who turns up two days later is not a lot of use. ”
We believe a second net has since been discovered.
It is because of these incidents, and this is not an isolated example, that we are asking all anglers to use Campaign “REPORT AND INCIDENT” tab to report and record all such incidents. We know that many have lost faith in the 0800 80 70 60 number, but we ask you please still to use it and then go to the Campaign web site and confirm your report. That way, we as well as the Environment Agency get a copy and we are able to build a case for better enforcement. It is up to us to prove the case by recording incidents. You can also report “suspected” illegal activity, or warn of pending illegal activity if you hear about it. Every piece of information, no matter how small, helps. Great oaks etc…
POACHING salmon in the River Conwy is rife, according to local anglers, and could be losing the economy thousands of pounds every year.
A number of people contacted the Weekly News following last week’s story on how Conwy mussel man Geoffrey Hughes had his fishing nets stolen.
The nets, worth around £1,000, have never been recovered.
One local fishermen, who did not want to give his name, said: “I believe Geoffrey’s nets have been cut to size and are being used in Dolgarrog, as it’s the most narrow part of the river to illegally net salmon.
“A lot of these people who are doing this are jobless, and they sell the fish to hotels for cash in hand.
“It goes on at night, and the water bailiffs who are supposed to be protecting the river never seem to catch anyone.
“They are causing so much damage.”
Allan Cuthbert, founder of the Campaign for the Protection of Welsh Fisheries, commented: “Now is the time that poachers start using these stolen nets to illegally steal salmon and sea trout from our rivers.
“Both these fish species provide a massive contribution to the Welsh economy, especially the rural areas, and they are also registered as endangered, yet Environment Agency Wales has insufficient funds to provide adequate protection from illegal activity, despite being obliged to do so under EU regulations.
“There’s an awful lot of apathy in Wales, and it’s a crying shame as Scotland is making millions out of salmon fishing, and we should be doing the same here.
“I understand there are only six water bailiffs in the whole of North Wales policing the hundreds of miles of rivers, and they work in pairs so effectively there’s only three.
“Fish numbers are going down horrendously, there should be a call to arms before it’s too late.”
An Environment Agency spokesman said: “We investigate all reports of illegal fishing and carry out regular patrols in the area.
“We use the information we receive to target our enforcement activities.
“Illegal fishing damages salmon and sea trout stocks, impacts on local fishermen and harms the local economy.
“We also warn hotels and other fish retail outlets that buying salmon and sea trout from an unknown source is illegal.
“Only fish with official Environment Agency tags, caught by licensed netsmen, can be bought and sold.
“If any hotelier receives fish from an illegal source they can be prosecuted.
“If anyone sees any illegal fishing or witnesses the sale of untagged fish they should call 0800 80 70 60.”
As you can see from the article below, copied with gratitude from the North Wales Weekly News today (7th July), 1200 yards of nets have been stolen from a boat in Conwy. Apparently this is not unusual at this time of year as the poachers need nets to get on with their illegal netting of our rivers. In view of the quantity of nets stolen, please keep a watchful eye for illegal nets across your river or estuary.
Please, if you do spot an illegal net, LEAVE IT ALONE: DO NOT REMOVE IT OR MAKE IT KNOWN TAT YOU HAVE SPOTTED IT. Walk away, note the exact location of the net and call 0800 80 70 60 immediately, tell them what you have found and exactly where and request immediate action. DO NOT GO BACK TO WATCH THE NET YOURSELF. When calling ask for an incident number and also ask that they feed back to you exactly what happened.
Yes, leaving the net in place may result in the loss of a few extra fish, but leaving it means that the EA can watch it and then apprehend the poachers, and that will save a lot more fish in the long run.
Please also go to the report an incident tab on the Campaign web site and report the incident again. That way we have a record and we can build up a picture of the amount of poaching going on. Without this information our hands are tied: we can hardly call for more funding for enforcement if the records don’t show the extent of the problem.
The Angling Trust, has launched a new web site for anglers to record sightings of cormorants, goosanders and mergansers throughout the UK: www.cormorantwatch.org The new site is easy to use and will gather vital data to help persuade government of the need for action to protect fisheries.
The Angling Trust succeeded in persuading the Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon to carry out a review of the licensing procedures and he has stated that he is prepared to take “bold decisions”. As part of this review, the Trust needs data on the abundance of cormorants to convince the government to take decisive action.
Anglers can record sightings and activity of cormorants anywhere in the UK, directly onto a Google Maps driven micro-site at www.cormorantwatch.org Users will also be able to scroll around the map and zoom in to view details of each recorded cormorant sighting and watch the real picture of cormorant predation in UK waters build up week by week.
The Trust’s aim is to persuade DEFRA to simplify licensing procedures and allow greater controls on cormorant numbers. It is hoped that this data will also be factored into a wider pan European study on cormorants.
Angling Trust Chief executive Mark Lloyd commented “This is a moment when anglers need to stand up and be counted. If people don’t record sightings of cormorants and other fish eating birds on this site, then the politicians and civil servants will not have the information they need to make decisions which could affect the future of fishing for the next generation. It takes less than a minute to record a sighting. All anglers who see one of these birds in the next few months must make the effort to visit cormorantwatch.org and put a pin in the map, whether they are a member of the Angling Trust or not.”
Please find attached below the EA Fish Stocks Summary documents for North Wales. They provide a summary overiew of the estimated fish stocks for each catchment in North Wales. The documents provide an important insight in terms of how the Environment Agency assess, make decisions and plan for the future of our fisheries.
As always we welcome your comments, and if you would like us to convey any thoughts/questions to the EA please let us know. Please email: admin@cpwf.co.uk
NIGEL MILNER SHOWING DYFED JONES HOW TO READ THE SCALES FROM A SEA TROUT DYFED HAD CAUGHT THE PREVIOUS SEASON
The day was organised by the North Wales Environment Agency’s Fisheries Technical Team in partnership with Welsh Water. The stated objective of the day, was to focus on “fishing in sustainable habitats as a theme and promoting fish species, sustainable fishing and fisheries in the future”. The day was open to all comers and included presentation from the EA and their partners, stands which members of the fisheries team promoted with enthusiasm together with stands by RSPB and the Country side Council for Wales. There were also presentations on pike and grayling fishing as well as river habitat work and how it impacts on our fisheries. Part of the lake was also netted off and stocked with trout to allow juniors to try their hands at fly fishing, albeit that a few more senior members of the angling fraternity felt obliged to try their hands!
The event was far less formal than last year’s “invitation only” gathering, which was both well attended and structured. Clearly a great deal of effort and genuine enthusiasm was put into this year’s day, for which thanks are due to the organisers, most of whom were also participants. It was especially pleasing to be able to look at the scales of sea trout I had caught the previous season, thanks to Nigel Milner, of the Celtic Sea Trout Initiative, who provided the microscopes as well as instruction as to how to “read” the scales. (Please remember to support this initiative throughout the coming season.) The stands were interesting and informative as well as educational, especially the enforcement team, who were exceedingly keen to show off some of their covert intelligence gathering gear. The optimism of all participants could not however detract from the underlying pessimism as a consequence of the current financial turmoil. Sad but there you go. I am lead to believe that the exceedingly poor attendance was as a consequence of lack of publicity; publicity being restricted because of the proximity of the event to the Welsh elections and the potential for such advertising to impact on the election. I have no idea of the logic involved but it does seem so obtuse as to be correct!
It is worth remembering that this event is part of the Local Fishery Advisory Group calendar, and as such is very much involved in the process of the great and the good of the angling community and the Environment Agency working together to increase angler awareness, education and participation. A laudable aim if ever there was.
Lets us hope that this event will become an annual event and that next year there is a combination of the structure of the previous event with the breadth of this year. It would be nice to have a more formal morning session, with a fixed programme of presentations followed by an afternoon free to wander amongst the stands and chat with the fisheries staff and management. My plea would be for wider advertising as well as formal invitations, with a request that those wishing to attend confirm their proposed attendance so that a reasonable assessment of numbers can be made. I am sure that angling related web sites as well as the many forums would be please to assist in the process and that may feel the angling community even more involved.
I hope this item does not sound over critical: that is not the intention; it is however related in the hope that the event will continue and become an annual get together to which the angling community will look forward with anticipation.
Thank you to all those that worked so hard to make the day a success and here’s to seeing you again next year.
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