Perhaps those who did fish in conditions posing a threat to salmon stocks might click on the attached link and reflect somewhat. WUF have the report but so far silence though I understand at least one person in charge believes WYE salmon can survive higher temperatures than other Atlantic salmon rivers!!!
http://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/346488.pdf
Looks like we could get some substantial rain next week if the Met office gets it right.
A fish yesterday to Dave Palmer from the Golden mile's Handcocks stream on a small Willie Gunn.
2 fish reported at the Rectory, about 10lbs each to Alex and Zac Mitchell. Be like Piccadilly station up there today I suspect.!
Shy 'local angler' was there as suspected 12lb fish from the head of Rectory pool.
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See below the EA reply to a letter from WSA raising issues re the wild swimming issues on the Wye.
make of it what you will but....
Dear Stuart,
Recreational use
of the River Wye
Thank you for your
letter 2nd June 2017, and further to my email on the 6th
June 2017, I apologise for the delay, I am now in a position to respond to the
issues raised in your letter.
The harmonious and
respectful shared use of the river by all users has long been the objective of
the Environment Agency, even before we became the navigation authority in 2002.
We have to accept that as all users are made up from and will therefore reflect
wider society, there will be, on occasions, regrettably, unacceptable behaviour
by individuals. We have invested a great deal of time and effort to try and
ensure these instances are rare, and the majority of the feedback we have received
from all user groups is that the situation is continually improving. I won’t
list all the initiatives here, as I believe you are aware of them, but if you
would like more information on any of them please do contact me.
Wild swimming
appears to be a growing activity. We have policies outlined in our Navigation
Plan, indicating our aim is to support and encourage all sensitive recreational
use of the river. The more people that use and understand the river, the more it
is likely that the river will be given the due consideration it deserves from
all users and beneficiaries in its catchment.
We are aware of the
proposed SARA event, and in line with the position outlined above, we have been
liaising with the organisers to try and facilitate a way forward that is
acceptable to all users. We have encouraged them to engage with owners. We have
also included the proposal in our Calendar of Events on our website:
This calendar includes
all river event proposals that we are made aware of. Inclusion does not,
however, imply that an event has received our approval. Events are included so
that any potential conflicts can be resolved between user groups. Normally this
resolution occurs naturally but we are always willing to try to facilitate and
support where this process proves to be contentious.
Our powers and
responsibilities with regard to navigation are clear cut. As you rightly say,
the Wye Navigation Order 2002 provides the regulatory framework for our
management of navigation activity on the river. Our powers and responsibilities
relate to the use of “vessels” to navigate the river and consequently the Order
does not provide powers for us to regulate the activity of swimming. Nor does
the Order provide any clarity as to whether there is or there is not a public
right to use the river for swimming. We cannot comment further on that, as we
are not the arbiter on such matters.
Consequently, in
response to your question:
“Are the fishery owners expected to simply
accommodate such events or should we expect the authorities to address our
concerns giving due account to the law?”
Owners can expect us
to fulfil our obligations under the legislation we are responsible for
implementing. In line with our policies,
they can also expect us to try to help resolve issues on the river between
users even if we don’t have the ability to control them. As outlined above,
that is exactly what we’ve been doing with the proposed SARA event.
Turning to your concerns about the potential for wild swim events and
others to adversely impact on designated species, I have received advice from
colleagues. In summary, and having trawled through the relevant scientific
studies and papers on such matters, there is no evidence that either wild
swimming or canoeing is likely to have any significant impact on protected
species. Associated activities that might involve trampling gravels or
disturbing nesting sites do, however, have the potential to cause adverse
impacts. Hence why all the information and guidance we produce highlights these
risks. We also have signs in place now at many of the most popular launch sites
highlighting this issue. Likewise the Canoe Hire Approval Scheme that is
promoted by Canoe England requires Hire companies to inform their customers of
this issue and to provide them with appropriate guidance.
I’m sure you would accept that all activities on and around the river
have the potential to adversely affect the protected species. Our aim is ensure
the relevant users across all activities are aware of the risks and are
provided with guidance that enables them to ensure those risks are well managed.
We are not complacent on this matter and we accept there is always more that
could be done to further reduce the risk. We keep our initiatives in this
regard under review and we are willing to listen to any proposals that enable
use of the river to take place with reduced risk to protected species.
I hope this letter satisfactorily answers your queries and explains what
we are, and what we are not able to regulate in relation to your concerns. I
can assure you, we will continue to try and facilitate harmonious use of the
river and I would be very happy to meet you if you would like to discuss our
approach to these matters further.
Yours sincerely
Dane Broomfield
Waterway Manager
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