Wednesday 19 July 2017

Well the threat of severe rain and thunderstorms proved to be another damp squib with not enough water to drown a rat so conditions remain very much unchanged.

You may recall some time ago a plea was made for anglers to log sighting of Cormorants or goosanders and chicks and send them in to Chris James of Hereford anglers in an attempt to collate information re numbers leading to a full river count in the autumn.  There was, one has to say unsurprisingly -little response.

see below email and  reply from WSA re this matter.

Yet another matter WUF seem uninterested in pursuueing.  No grant money I suppose!!



  


Sent: 18 July 2017 18:06
To: Stuart Smith <stuartsmith@wyesalmon.com>
Subject: Re: WSA Game Angling Dayout

HI again stuart  is it possible to forward this via the wsa  so as to get some sort of feedback. Regards phil



Hi Stuart ,I know I emailed you sometime ago ref bird predation on the upper wye and spawning grounds , I feel compelled to tell you of a incident yesterday while fishing the white swan water on the ithon,  in a half mile stretch myself and a friend counted 44.  Yes 44 gooseander  now these fish are having such an easy time feeding as the water is so low ,   the week before I fished the teme  at hambridge  and counted 18. , I am left so frustrated with wsa for not commenting on this which is now becoming an epidemic , I speak to other fishing pals and they are encountering similar events , regardless of how much work. Or money which is going to or has been spent on improving the spawning grounds , all we are doing is going to be a complete waste of time and give false hope to all salmon anglers , WHEN are we as a body going to tackle this issue  because regardless of how many fish make it back ultimately  all we are doing is  feeding this  plague , I have fished these areas for many years and have never seen anything like it and left to feel so frustrated , almost gutted to see the devastation ,  are we as anglers or as a body to  scared to mention this for fear of offending  the likes of the RSPB ?  Of which I am a member ,  but there has to be a balance and some redress , before its to late ,  I have to say I feel sick to pit of my stomach , with the way this issue is being ignored , PLEASE PLEASE stuart  get this subject on the agenda before it is to late.   Regards 


Phil,

You are right, this is a very real problem that many of us have found almost impossible to deal with. I can assure you it is not for the want of trying. We are currently working with Hereford anglers and Angling Trust on the issue and are planning with those two groups to carry out a whole river count of both Goosanders and Cormorants later in the year to present a case to NRW/EA for an increase in the numbers on the culling licenses. As a volunteer organisation we struggle to find volunteers to lead all the initiatives needed to protect our salmon. We would be happy to discuss the issue further with you if you feel you could offer some leadership on this matter. In the short term I will however…….

Copy your email [anonymously if you wish] to NRW/EA/AT/WUF for comment

Put your text on our website and facebook pages.

Ask Geoff Franks to put it on his gillies blog

Raise it at the next Wye Local Fisheries Group [LFG] meeting November

Please be assured we are not afraid to upset RSPCA/RSPB or anyone else but this is a subject that has little popular support outside the angling community…………..your average member of population sees these vermin as warm blooded, fluffy, cuddly birds. We however MUST find a way of moving it up the agenda. If you feel you would like to help please let me know.

Regards

Stuart Smith
WSA








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