ISSUESRod catch dataExploitationHabitat Degradation & PredationOther Issues

• Exploitation. A number of respondents expressed concerns over exploitation of salmon at sea, with particular reference to the Irish drift net fishery. By-catch of salmon in coastal waters was also raised as an issue. Other respondents were also concerned by rumoured ‘cuts’ to enforcement staff on the Ogmore.

Irish Drift Nets. Salmon stocks in England and Wales are exploited in a number of fisheries other than those operating under the jurisdiction of the Environment Agency within National waters. These include the distant water fisheries at Faeroes and West Greenland, and other fisheries such as those operating off Ireland (drift nets) and in homewaters in other parts of the UK. Tagging studies have provided information on the levels of exploitation for English and Welsh stocks in many of these fisheries.

Many respondents expressed particular concerns with respect to the fisheries operating off Ireland. Provisional estimates of the levels of exploitation for this fishery, prior to the introduction of new fisheries regulations in 1997, vary substantially between stocks in different English and Welsh regions, and from year to year. Exploitation rates were low (1%) for stocks in the north east of England, higher ( 5-10%) for rivers on the west coast and in Wales, but highest ( 10-20%) for stocks from south coast rivers. More recent unpublished data suggest that levels of exploitation have been significantly reduced following the introduction of management measures in Ireland in 1997.

Before realistic pressure can be put on the Irish Government to close their drift net operations, similar approaches must be made to the UK Government to close, with suitable compensation to netsmen, those operating off the North East Coast. The number of drift net licences issued for the north east coast fishery has already been reduced by 51% since 1993. In some cases, fishermen have been paid to give up their licences early and, in December 2000, the Government offered up to £750, 000, subject to matching funds from interested parties, to launch compensation arrangements designed to accelerate the phase out of mixed stock fisheries on a voluntary basis. Negotiations continued in 2001, but to date no agreement has been reached regarding a possible accelerated phase out. The Agency continues to make representations to the UK Government to press for the phasing out of all mixed stock fisheries and also continues to support the control measures currently in operation, including NASCO quotas and buyouts by the NASF (CEFAS & Environement Agency, 2001)

By-catch by coastal fisheries. Additional concerns were raised by a number of respondents relating to the taking of salmon and sea trout as by-catch from the sea-fish net fisheries within inshore waters. The impact of these fisheries remains unquantified.

The Agency is currently working with the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee (SWSFC) to protect migratory salmonids in the marine environment. However, there have recently been moves by local funding authorities to constrain the expenditure of the SWSFC; this could have implications for collaborative working between EAW and SWSFC. The Agency have supported SWSFC’s case to maintain an adequate level of expenditure, however this has yet to be resolved.

Illegal exploitation. A number of respondents also expressed concern over rumoured plans by the Agency to cut enforcement on the River Ogmore.

The Agency has recently undergone a reorganisation following, amongst other drivers, the Government’s quinquennial Financial Management and Performance Review. This reorganisation has resulted in the formation of Environment Management Teams who will be responsible for all environmental outcomes in their area. The Ogmore falls under the jurisdiction of the Neath, Bridgend and Port Talbot Team. Within each of these teams, we have placed fisheries resources to deliver specific parts of the fisheries programme, which includes enforcement. In addition to Environment Management Teams we have a Specialist Enforcement Team which has a wide range of functions concentrating on fisheries and waste enforcement. We have not sought to reduce the number or commitment to fisheries enforcement through this reorganisation, but to provide greater flexibility in the way we work. Enforcement will still be a high priority, and the resources put in will be based on risk to the environment and what is available.

Other comments received related to the relatively small penalties currently imposed for illegal fishing. Respondents felt that magistrates should be encouraged to apply the maximum penalty permitted to offenders. The Agency is currently seeking to introduce fixed penalties for minor fisheries offences, as recommended by the recent Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review.

ISSUESRod catch dataExploitationHabitat Degradation & PredationOther Issues

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