g"Agreed to be the lead partner in a National Lottery Heritage Fund project ‘Back from the Brink’ which, if successful, would include action to tackle to improve habitats including resolution of habitat connectivity and to inspire people to discover, value and act for Wales’ threatened species
h We have been 'Back from the Brink' before if I remember correctly. Will the end be 'How the Wye was won' I wonder. Seen that before somewhere too!!!!
WALES –
TACKLING THE
‘SALMONID EMERGENCY’
SUMMARY REPORT
(VERSION 24.1.20 – SUBMITTED TO WFF and LFG
sub-groups)
INITIAL STATEMENT
Introduction
This plan is a response to the request
from the Welsh Government Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs
for a ‘Plan of Action for Salmon and Sea trout’. This follows her confirmation
of new restrictions on rod and net fisheries across Wales which will come into
place in 2020.
In compiling this Plan, Natural
Resources Wales (NRW) has sought and received contributions from all
stakeholder groups, consisting of all key NGOs, representative bodies, Local
Fisheries Groups, fishery owners and some anglers. The Plan will be regularly
reviewed and will be a central part of future communications on matters
relating to salmon and sea trout stocks.
The Plan indicates that Welsh
Government, NRW and our partners and stakeholders understand the current severity
of the status of salmon and sea trout stocks and the multiple factors affecting
them, and that together we will take steps to address and resolve these.
Restoring our stocks to the
abundance last seen 30-40 years ago will not happen overnight. Action is needed
both to address the easily recognised pressures on stocks today, such as the
adverse effects of inappropriate land-use, but also emerging and new pressures
such as the impact of climate change on habitats.
This plan therefore seeks
remediation of adverse pressures where it is in our direct capability to do so.
Ongoing influence will also be brought to bear on pressures arising outside our
immediate jurisdiction that are identified as pressures on our stocks. We also need
to adapt our strategy as pressures emerge, develop and change.
Success will see our stocks
flourish once again, achieving the targets we set for ourselves but importantly
also contributing to better socioeconomic outcomes. We can contribute to
achieving many of the wellbeing goals for Wales: -
·
a resilient Wales with healthy functioning
ecosystems that support social, economic and ecological resilience and the
capacity to adapt to change. For example, climate change, which drives us to
ensure that our sensitive upland streams are prepared to buffer the worst
effects of a warming climate;
·
a more prosperous Wales through increased uptake
of valuable recreational angling;
·
a healthy Wales with more people enjoying the
opportunity to experience healthy populations of fish in our rivers.
NRW commends a shared vision for
salmon and sea trout in Wales: -
“To protect,
through the application of best-practice science and management, the
sustainability of our natural resource of wild salmon and sea trout stocks in
Wales.”
We will achieve our vision and underlying objectives through
deploying the resources available to us in order to fulfil our statutory
duties, delivering against the statutory guidance that we receive from Welsh
Government, and whilst proactively seeking further resources to tackle the many
challenges that exist to stock sustainability.
It is very important to note that NRW works with a range of
partners, with whom many objectives and priorities are shared, and who also deliver
outcomes for our rivers. This Plan has been discussed with them, and we will continue
to regularly communicate with them and all stakeholder groups across Wales in
future.
Salmon and sea trout are important species to fishermen, not
least because of the opportunity for healthy recreation and the socioeconomic
value that arises from well-run fisheries. However, they are also important to
society as a whole for whom the presence, or absence, of these iconic fish is widely
regarded as a potent indicator of environmental health and quality.
In the past, stocks were more resilient to environmental
challenges and were able to sustain significant mortality in rod and net
fisheries. However, as the range of pressures has increased and new challenges
have emerged, threatening the survival of fish in both the marine and
freshwater environments, the status of stocks has progressively declined.
Declines are generally ongoing, threatening the future of our populations of
fish as never before.
The importance of
salmon and sea trout in Wales
Both species are protected in law. Salmon are a species
designated under the Habitats Directive, supporting classification of six
rivers as Special Areas of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive, whilst
sea trout are recognised in the national Biodiversity Action Plan and trout are
features of several SSSIs (sites of special scientific interest).
However, all river populations are performing poorly: all 23
salmon stocks in our ‘principal salmon rivers’ are ether ‘At Risk’ of ‘Probably
at Risk’ of failing to achieve their management targets until at least 2024. and
most are in ongoing decline. Over two-thirds of our sea trout stocks are
similarly classified.
Fishing in Welsh rivers is economically important, currently
supporting over 700 full-time equivalent jobs and producing an annual household
income of about £20 million, with scope for more. There is therefore an
opportunity to grow the fishing economy back to former higher economic levels.
The recreational opportunities also provide scope for health and wellbeing
benefits, and therefore support our shared wellbeing goals.
Most of the actions previously taken to protect and restore
fish populations, and many of those required in future, can lead to broader environmental
restoration and enhancement outcomes – they therefore represent an important investment
in the sustainable management of natural resources.
The Plan of Action
This document summarises the ongoing actions and the new actions
needed to address the range of pressures affecting our fish populations. There
is general agreement amongst partners and stakeholders on the identity and, in
most cases, the nature of these pressures that – sometimes in isolation but
often cumulatively - adversely impact upon our stocks.
This is a summary paper – a more comprehensive technical
annex is also available (REFERENCE
WHEN AVAILABLE.
Action required
The wellbeing of our stocks depends on favourable conditions
at sea and in our rivers. Together with our stakeholders, we have reviewed and
identified the pressures damaging our stocks. It is clear that there is much to
be done.
Marine environment
The marine life of salmon and sea
trout begins when smolts leave the river to enter estuaries and, from there,
coastal waters and the high seas. Through our national and international
partnerships and engagement we have supported action to eliminate targeted
fishing for salmonids at sea, however marine survival continues to fall.
We must maintain our engagement
to better understand all elements contributing to mortality at sea, from
predation in estuaries to pelagic fishery bycatch, and to damage to feeding
areas arising from climate warming and intensive fishing for prey species, so
that we may identify and prioritise any actions we can take to ameliorate
these.
Freshwater
environment
The need for restoration of
constraints to salmonid stocks in the freshwater environment is well understood.
Work has been underway in Wales by NRW, its predecessors and by Afonydd Cymru
and the family of rivers trusts, for several years. However, all parties agree
that much remains to be done if we are to optimise river environments
Together we need to invest, and
then maintain features such as fish passes and riparian zones, so that the
maximum number of wild smolts may be sustained and migrate safely to sea. Repairing
a century or more of inappropriate development cannot be achieved overnight.
It is also essential that water
quality is protected through effective management and regulation of all factors
that place it at risk, so that soils and other damaging materials arising from
inappropriate land use, largely agricultural activities, do not enter rivers.
The two principal pressures that damage habitats and fish
populations identified by all stakeholder groups are: -
·
the damage to many of our rivers arising from
agricultural pollution; and
·
the unsustainable predation on impoverished juvenile
salmonid populations by predatory birds.
NRW agrees with this, but also recognises other constraints
to effective stock resilience and to effective management. The over-riding
significance and implications of potential climate change in the marine and
freshwater environments is clearly a major concern.
Broadscale actions are needed by NRW, Afonydd Cymru and the
rivers trusts of Wales, and other key stakeholder groups if we are to secure
the shared outcomes we require.
It is of course noteworthy that, whilst river habitat
restoration delivers for fish, it also contributes to the wellbeing of other
flora and fauna that depend on good quality rivers. It is therefore an
important investment in the sustainability of our natural aquatic resources and
as such should be a valuable initiative for a range of other stakeholders.
Delivering action
NRW will deploy resources available to it, whilst seeking further
public resources to protect and restore aquatic habitats in order to deliver
public benefits. However, it is essential that we work with all stakeholders
and relevant partners to identify and build on shared interests so that
investment from all sectors is maximised to deliver shared outcomes.
Much work is already underway, and it is anticipated that this
Plan of Action will further raise the profile to encourage more timely action.
A broad range of work by NRW delivers outcomes that also bring
benefits to our fish populations. For example, remediation of the legacy of some
polluting metal mines will improve water quality in tens of kilometres of
upland rivers.
A summary of the Plan is presented in tables within this
document (Annex), and this will be more comprehensively set out in a separate technical
report.
This Plan of Action will be reviewed and adopted by all
parties in good time for implementation in April 2020.
Resources
Resources are critical if we are to make a difference, and
NRW has been anxious to make a powerful case for investment by Welsh Government.
NRW will continue to commit the same staff and project
resources to fisheries work in 2020/21, however, the full range of the challenge
recognised in this Plan must also be addressed.
CONTENT TO BE
CONFIRMED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
In the action tables below, we have indicated: -
o
the priority for each item;
o
the work items that will continue under current
baseline funding to NRW;
o
the work elements to be considered within a
5-year ‘pipeline’ for resourcing, CONTENT TO BE CONFIRMED
Additionally, NRW has: -
·
secured funding of £6.8 million for a LIFE+ partnership
project on the River Dee catchment, delivering significant benefits for
migratory fish through: fish passes and barrier removals at 10 major sites; improved
habitat connectivity; and improvements to land management and forestry practices.
The project partners are Dwr Cymru Welsh Water, Snowdonia National Park and the
Environment Agency.
·
agreed to be the lead partner in a National
Lottery Heritage Fund project ‘Back from the Brink’ which, if successful, would
include action to tackle to improve habitats including resolution of habitat
connectivity and to inspire people to discover, value and act for Wales’
threatened species.
NRW is also currently engaged in a range of initiatives that
can support our shared aspirations for healthy and sustainable fish populations:
-
Fish Habitat Restoration Plans
Reports compiling catchment-scale
information on physical constraints to fish population status. We intend to
complete these for 33 rivers (principal salmon rivers and further main sea trout
rivers) by March 2021. These will then represent an evidence base for seeking
funding to deliver solutions. However they will only be worthwhile if the pressures
they identify are resolved. When delivery is complete, then all known physical
constraints to achieving Good Ecological Status will have been resolved.
Water Framework Directive
(WFD) River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs)
The third WFD cycle (2021-2027)
plans will have greater ambition of scale and approach, prioritising whole
catchments for action. NRW will, following the requirements of the Wellbeing of
Future Generations Act and the Environment (Wales) Act, adopt a place-based
method to deliver SMNR (the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources) in a
suite of Opportunity Catchments across Wales. In these catchments we will focus
on supporting partnership delivery of multiple benefits for waterbodies and
well-being. Our recommended list will represent the strongest mix of opportunities
for integrated catchment management in each NRW operational area.
Area Statements and
Opportunity Catchments (OC)
The Area Statements reference
opportunities for catchment solutions. In Oct 2020 we will publish the list of
OCs within the draft RBMP3 consultation. Marine and estuarine waterbodies will
be included - a departure from the freshwater focus targeted waterbodies in
RBMP2. Area Statements are to be live documents, and future iterations beyond
March 2020 will refine the priorities for each catchment.
OCs are a vehicle to integrate
RBMPs and Flood Risk Management Plans by featuring in both plans. Opportunities
for nature-based solutions and natural flood risk management will exist in some
OCs, and whilst specific projects won’t be detailed in the RBMPs and FRMPs such
initiatives can be taken forward by place-based work programmes.
The outcomes we need
In short, we need to transform river quality so that it is
optimised for fish survival and production. The fish saved by new fishing
regulations must have the best chance of successful breeding and their progeny must
survive to maximise smolt output. Predation is a natural phenomenon, but this must
be sustainable and controlled when stocks are in very poor condition, as many
are now.
The outcome of investment in many of the proposed works
needs to be assessed in order to learn what works and what does not, and to
demonstrate progress. Existing fish monitoring and assessment work will
generally suffice, however some enhancement is required and will be included in
this Plan.
It is important to note that successful optimisation in this
way will deliver benefits for other business areas including Natura 2000 site
condition, and WFD target outcomes.
Future partnership
and resources
A high priority during 2020 will be the development of a
costed 5-year investment plan to continue delivery of solutions to
environmental pressures. This will cover, but not be restricted to, matters
such as restoration of river habitats.
NRW cannot deliver on the ambition of this plan alone, and
we therefore need to build on existing partnerships with Afonydd Cymru and
their family of rivers trusts, fisheries bodies, fishery owners and water
utilities amongst others.
However, we also need to identify and work with new partners
who also have an interest, and a stake in our river environments and the flora
and fauna they sustain. We will work to establish these relationships. There
are strong private interests in a flourishing fisheries resource, and it is
therefore right that relevant private funds should also consider contributing
to the costs.
Ownership of this
Plan
The Plan will be reviewed annually by NRW and our valued
partners, notably the Wales Fisheries Forum. This will be a fully transparent
process that will be shared with all stakeholder groups and partners.
Annex
NOTE – GREEN SHADING REFERS
TO EXPANDED OR NEW COMMITMENTS, ACTIONS SUBJECT TO RESOURCES
“PIPELINE” REFERS TO
FUTURE WORKS – SUBJECT TO ANNUAL BUDGET PROVISION
Ref
|
BUSINESS REQUIREMENT
|
LEAD & PARTNERS
|
DATES, RESOURCES &
PRIORITIES
|
1
|
EVIDENCE
|
||
ISSUE: Understanding the
status of stocks by delivery and regular review of cost-effective salmonid
resource monitoring
|
|||
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
|
Monitoring of salmonid stocks:
·
Maintain the Dee Salmonid Stock Assessment
index monitoring programme;
·
Continue to monitor juvenile spatial
distribution and temporal change for multiple uses;
·
Consider new whole-catchment census approach
to juvenile census;
·
Consider future scope for fishery-independent
stock assessments;
·
Review adult stock assessments – as committed
in the NASCO Implementation Plan;
·
Maintain and seek opportunities to expand fish
counter network to provide further appropriate index monitoring.
|
NRW
NRW
NRW
NRW
NRW; EA; CEFAS
NRW
|
Ongoing: NRW and EU - HIGH
Ongoing - HIGH
2020 - MEDIUM
2020 - MEDIUM
2020 – 2024 - HIGH
2020 – 2024 (implementation subject
to resources) -MEDIUM
|
Ref
|
BUSINESS REQUIREMENT
|
LEAD & PARTNERS
|
DATES, RESOURCES &
PRIORITIES
|
2
|
EXPLOITATION MANAGEMENT
|
||
ISSUE: Maximise spawning
escapement by ensuring exploitation does not damage stock recovery prospects
|
|||
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
|
·
Undertake annual salmon and sea trout stock
assessments to determine need for stock protection and scope for relaxing
measures.
·
Carry out mid-term review of new rod and net
fishing byelaws in Wales;
·
Carry out preparatory liaison, followed by
statutory consultation into new rod fishing byelaws on the Severn in Wales;
·
Carry out review of rod fishing byelaws for
the Wye and Usk prior to their expiry in December 2021;
·
Review cultural significance and
socio-economics of net and rod fisheries in Wales and recommend new policy.
|
NRW
NRW
NRW; LFGs; RIVERS TRUST
NRW
NRW; WG
|
Ongoing - HIGH
2025 - HIGH
2020 – HIGH
2020 – HIGH
2020 – 2021
MEDIUM
|
Ref
|
BUSINESS REQUIREMENT
|
LEAD & PARTNERS
|
DATES, RESOURCES &
PRIORITIES
|
3
|
ENFORCEMENT
|
||
ISSUE: Effective enforcement
of all legislation for fisheries
|
|||
3.1
|
·
Carry out effective incident response in
relation to prioritised pollution and fisheries matters.
|
NRW
|
Ongoing
HIGH
|
3.2
|
Protection of fish in vulnerable locations:
·
estuaries and coasts:
o
develop local work plans;
o
engage with WG marine fisheries on joint
approach
·
In-river barriers and spawning sites:
o
Review risk associated with locations across
Wales;
o
Review risk associated with disturbance to
spawning fish caused by recreational access;
o
Prioritise patrols at sensitive times of year
and river conditions.
|
NRW; WG
NRW
|
Ongoing
HIGH
2020
HIGH
Ongoing
HIGH
|
3.3
|
·
Enforcement of all fisheries byelaws
|
NRW
|
Ongoing
HIGH
|
3.4
|
Develop new resources for collection of intelligence on illegal
threats to fish stocks:
·
Develop and implement training of all NRW
field staff for expansion of intelligence gathering;
·
Reinforce partnership working with the EA on
shared cross-border rivers;
·
Reinforce partnership working with WG on
estuary and coastal enforcement;
·
Refine proposals for River Guardian initiative,
identifying partners for catchment-based initiative.
|
NRW
NRW; EA
NRW; WG
NRW
|
2020 - HIGH
2020 - MEDIUM
2020 - HIGH
2020 - MEDIUM (implementation subject to
resources)
|
Ref
|
BUSINESS REQUIREMENT
|
LEAD & PARTNERS
|
DATES, RESOURCES &
PRIORITIES
|
4
|
HABITAT CONSTRAINTS
|
||
ISSUE: Sub-optimum freshwater
habitats – water quality, water quantity, agriculture, forestry, climate.
|
|||
4.1
|
·
Complete suite of catchment-based Fish Habitat
Restoration Plans.
|
NRW; AC
|
To be finalised in 2020 - HIGH
|
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.7
|
Reduce risk to water quality through:
·
Effective permitting and regulation;
·
Develop and implement improved agricultural
regulation regime
·
Work with farmers, their representatives and
all other relevant partners to protect river environments;
·
Application of best-practice approach to
forest management
·
Contribute to WG Woodlands For Wales Strategy;
·
Contribute to peatland protection and
restoration.
|
NRW
WG; NRW
NRW; FARMERS & Unions; AC
NRW
NRW; PRIVATE FORESTRY; W.
NRW; WG
|
ALL HIGH
Ongoing
SUBJECT TO WG ANNOUNCEMENT
DETAIL SUBJECT TO WG ANNOUNCEMENT
Ongoing
Ongoing – pipeline
future scale subject to resources
Ongoing – pipeline
future scale subject to resources
|
4.8
4.9
4.10
|
Improve physical habitat in rivers by:
·
Reducing barriers to river connectivity to
restore river functioning and fish migration (upstream and downstream);
o
Seek new Fish Passage Regulation;
·
Restore and maintain effective riparian zone management
to:
o
Exclude livestock from rivers
o
Intercept and reduce soil delivery to rivers;
o
Provide buffering from solar radiation
(Keeping Rivers Cool);
o
Restore allochthonous carbon supply to upland
oligotrophic streams.
·
Devolve Alternative Mitigation budgets to
Afonydd Cymru and rivers trusts
|
NRW; AC
WG
AC; NRW
AC; NRW
AC; NRW
NRW; AC
|
All ongoing – PIPELINE, HIGH subject to resources
HIGH
ALL ONGOING PIPELINE, HIGH
Scale subject to resources
Ongoing
|
4.11
|
Deliver objectives under the new Dee LIFE+ project:
·
10 fish passage improvements
·
improved habitat connectivity
·
improvements to land management and forestry
practices.
|
NRW; Dwr Cymru Welsh Water; Snowdonia National Park; Environment
Agency
|
2020 – 2024
Funding: NRW, WG, EU
HIGH
|
4.12
4.13
|
Address impact of relict mines by:
·
Implementing the Metal Mines Strategy for
Wales;
·
Delivering remediation of prioritised legacy
metal mines.
|
NRW; WG
NRW;WG
|
15 year strategy – HIGH – pipeline
Subject to resources
PIPELINE- HIGH
|
4.14
|
Address issues affecting flows and hydrology:
·
Continue the Restoring Sustainable Abstraction
Programme;
·
Implement review of time-limited abstraction
licences;
·
Regulate previously exempt abstractions;
·
Secure environmental improvements through the
water company price review process;
·
Continue effective engagement with water
utilities on water resource and drought plans;
·
Ensure permitting of any hydropower schemes
(including marine tidal energy) do not harm fish populations.
|
NRW
NRW
NRW
NRW; WATER UTILITIES
NRW
NRW
|
NRW – ongoing
HIGH
|
4.15
4.16
4.17
|
Consider adaptation to threats of climate change:
·
Continue to support existing PhD on climate
effects on salmonids in freshwaters
o
Mapping of future safe thermal habitats across
Wales;
·
Determine range of habitat adaptations to
buffer streams from warming climate in summer and winter;
·
Implement appropriate riparian improvements
and upland water retention initiatives.
|
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY; NRW
NRW; CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
NRW; AC
|
2018-2020
NRW; university studentship –
HIGH
2021-2021
subject to resource - MEDIUM
Subject to resources - HIGH
|
Ref
|
BUSINESS REQUIREMENT
|
LEAD & PARTNERS
|
DATES, RESOURCES &
PRIORITIES
|
5
|
PREDATION BY FISH-EATING BIRDS
(FEBs)
|
||
ISSUE: unsustainable
depredation of depleted and vulnerable salmonid stocks by predatory birds.
|
|||
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
|
Review position on predation on salmonids by:
·
Implementing the recommendations of the NRW
external advisory group on FEBs leading to development of new policy on FEBs,
concentrating on the balance of conservation designations and legal
protections;
·
Maintain dialogue with public bodies in
England and Scotland to benefit from emerging learning and practices
regarding FEBs;
·
Support initiatives to map sensitive locations
where predation occurs;
·
Deliver reduction in damaging impact of
predation on depleted stocks of salmonids.
|
NRW AND RANGE OF PARTNERS
NRW; EA; MARINE SCOTLAND
NRW; rivers trusts
NRW; RIVERS TRUSTS
|
2020 –
HIGH
2020 - MEDIUM
2020 –
MEDIUM
Subject to outcomes above -
HIGH
|
Ref
|
BUSINESS REQUIREMENT
|
LEAD & PARTNERS
|
DATES, RESOURCES &
PRIORITIES
|
7
|
NEW AND EMERGING POTENTIAL
PRESSURES
|
||
ISSUE: Need for vigilance to
identify new pressures
|
|||
7.1
7.2
7.3
|
·
Review and consider emerging factors that may
damage salmonid populations, including impact of agricultural biocides and
pharmaceuticals and their possible synergistic effects, and microplastics;
·
Review and consider emerging threats from fish
diseases and parasites, including review of studies on Gyrodactylus salaris and Saproloegnia
and the NRW and WG contingency plans;
·
Continue horizon-scanning work to identify new
pressures.
|
NRW
NRW; WG
NRW
|
Ongoing - MEDIUM
2020 - MEDIUM
Ongoing - MEDIUM
|
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