Environment Agency calls for partnership work to protect salmon and sea trout
|
Author: |
National Press Office |
|
Date published: |
12-Aug-2008 |
|
Keywords: |
salmon, strategy, fish pass |
A new strategy through to 2021 to help protect the iconic salmon and sea trout from the complex environmental challenges they face was launched today (Tuesday) by the new Environment Agency Chairman Lord Chris Smith.
Officially opening the
“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.”
Work to protect these fish, which attract tourism and act as indicators of a healthy environment, has already improved stocks in some rivers and has helped increase salmon numbers in
Lord Smith continued: “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.
“It is a privilege to open the
The strategy sets out a number of key aims the Environment Agency wants to see achieved by 2021, which includes:
- improving the quality and increase the availability of good quality 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.
Paul Knight, Director of the Salmon and Trout Association, said: "The Salmon and Trout Association very much welcomes the Environment Agency's new strategy, especially the inclusion of sea trout. 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
The work at Blachford, carried out by the Environment Agency’s workforce, involved removing the existing 7m long stone upper weir and replacing it with a ‘pool and traverse’ fish pass for fish to swim up. 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 ascend in the first day it was used.
The ‘Better sea trout and salmon fisheries strategy’ is available for download from the Environment Agency publications catalogue - link on the left.
|
Doc reference: |
76/08 |
|
Contact: |
