INTRODUCTION

The National Salmon Strategy, launched by the National Rivers Authority in February 1996 and inherited by the Environment Agency (NRA, 1996) sets out four objectives for the management of salmon fisheries in England and Wales:

1) Optimise the number of salmon returning to home water fisheries.
2) Maintain and improve fitness and diversity of salmon stocks.
3) Optimise the total economic value of surplus stocks.
4) Ensure beneficiaries meet necessary costs.

These objectives are designed to preserve fish stocks for the future whilst protecting sustainable exploitation and recognising the economic value of the fisheries.

A basic principle of the Strategy is that it will be delivered locally following consultation with local interest groups. Consequently, Salmon Action Plans (SAPs) will be produced for each of the “principal salmon rivers” in England and Wales by the year 2003. On the Ogmore this process started during 2001 with the production of the Ogmore SAP Consultation Document. The Ogmore SAP Consultation Document:

• Set a conservation limit for the river
• Identified the factors affecting the salmon population.
• Suggested methods of addressing these limiting factors and
• Invited feedback from local stakeholders and interest groups

The SAP itself sets out clearly what is required to be done in the next five years or so, how it is to be achieved, who is to be involved, when it will be delivered and how much it will cost. An important element of this Action Plan is that it reflects the feedback received during consultation. Moreover, the SAP will be the means of monitoring progress and reviewing the approaches of salmon management on the Ogmore.

The Ogmore Salmon Action Plan is the final plan in a series of 8 to be produced under Ministerial Directive for what are considered to be the main salmon rivers in South West Wales. The other rivers for which Salmon Action Plans are being produced are the Tywi, the Teifi, the Taf, the Cleddaus, the Tawe, the Nevern and the Rheidol.

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