A new £20,000 fish pass has been completed
at Maesteg. This uses an innovative design, incorporating
green oak baffles. This project, delivered as part of
the Welsh Assembly Government funded Fishing Wales initiative
will help to highlight the rivers Ogmore and Llynfi as
prime fishing destinations and boost the local economy
say Environment Agency Wales.
The fish pass has been constructed within the Llwydarth
Culvert near Maesteg. The twin pipes carry the Nant y
Cerdin under the A4063. In the past salmon and sea trout
at this location have had difficulty entering the tributary
to spawn.
The pass uses baffles, made from single
pieces of green oak, fixed to the base of the pipe culverts
(See photographs).This slows down the water flow and increases
its depth in the culvert, making it easier for fish, including
eels and elvers, to swim along its length.
The Nant y Cerdin is the main tributary of the Afon Llynfi,
which runs into the river Ogmore at Aberkenfig. The fish
pass will open up 6.5 kilometres of prime fish spawning
areas. It will be the first time in 16 years that fish
have been able to pass freely into the upper reaches of
the tributary. This will benefit local anglers and those
that visit the area.
The Agency has been working very closely with Coed Cymru
to identify sources of Welsh oak that are being managed
in a sustainable manner. The use of natural material such
as oak has significant environmental benefits including
using less energy to produce the raw material. Oak has
the specific benefit of being very robust and long-lasting
when placed in water.
This project is very good news for the Afon Llynfi and
Ogmore rod fisheries. The juvenile fish produced from
the Nant y Cerdin will help to increase the number of
adult salmon and sea trout returning to the Ogmore system
every year.
Environment Agency Wales uses funding from various sources,
including Grant in Aid from the Welsh Assembly Government
and European Objective 1 funds, to help develop Welsh
fisheries in a sustainable manner. This project was delivered
as part of the Fishing Wales Project which has secured
a £5.2 million investment in the development of
fisheries in Wales.
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Paul Hopwood - Piscatur non solum Piscator” (there’s more
to fishing than catching fish).
http://www.seatroutfishing.net/
