See below the DRAFT minutes of the recent Wye Fisheries Group.

Meeting Minutes

12.30pm Friday 14th November, 2014 at the Royal Hotel, Ross-on-Wye

Attendees (and affiliation):

David Revill – Chairman, Riparian Owner, Steve Barker - NRW

Dane Broomfield – EA

Lionel Burrows – Ross AC, Salmon & Coarse Peter Gough – NRW

Charles Hopkinson – Riparian Owner, Salmon Seth Johnson-Marshall – WSFOA, WUF

Stephen Marsh-Smith - WUF, Riparian Owner, Salmon, WSFOA

Tony Norman – LAFA, WUF

Mick Palfrey – H&DAA, Coarse & Salmon Alfred Pope – Riparian Owner, Salmon Chris Rees – NRW

Stuart Smith - WSA Al Watson - EA

1.   Introduction and Apologies

·      Apologies were received from Patrick Darling (WSFOA, Riparian Owner), Lynn Cobley (Ingestone Fishery, RWGA) and Michael Clyde (NRW).

2.   Minutes of last meeting and matters arising

·      Accepted with no matters arising.

3.

(a) Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru/Natural Resources Wales Update

·      A presentation was given outlining the new NRW internal structure, which had reverted to catchment-based teams.

·      Personnel for the senior positions down to Operations Manager have been appointed.

·      All other appointments were originally to be in place by the end of December 2014 although it was thought unlikely that this target would be achieved.

·      The new structure had brought legacy CCW & EAW roles together although FC duties were still to be integrated fully. The Welsh Inland Drainage Boards (IDBs) would be coming into NRW too.

·      It was thought that the dispersal of NRW fisheries staff into geographically-based teams would be beneficial as now fisheries would have an influence on all aspects of NRW work, rather than being a separate group being called upon occasionally.

·      EA were looking at how NRW worked.

·      It was noted that Natural England did not attend the LFG yet many issues & initiatives that were headed by them affected the river.

·      Another recent change in NRW is that all enforcement is now in one team reporting to one manager. Fisheries enforcement staff would focus only on fisheries matters. This is already giving greater flexibility across Wales.

·      Responsibility for Brecknock was currently with the SE area although this could change.

·      NRW team leaders would be responsible for re-establishing contact links with fishery interests.

·      It was confirmed that NRW were the applicant for the derogation for FC to use Synthetic Pyrethroid. The briefing notes would be sent to be distributed with the minutes. ACTION: PG/SJM (done)

(b) Environment Agency Update

·      EA’s restructuring had been geared more towards delivering an affordable structure. Of the former 3 tiers of management, the ‘regions’ had gone leaving head office and the ‘areas.’

·      If an area couldn’t fulfil a particular need (e.g. flooding), other areas could assist.

·      Areas were now based more around catchments than county boundaries and new area under which the Wye came was ‘Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire & Gloucestershire.’

·      This was good news for the Wye as more EA staff would be working in its area.

·      A list of staff names and roles would be distributed after the meeting. ACTION: DB

·      While the two organisations were in the process of reorganising, it was inevitable that there would be some focus on their internal affairs. However, it was accepted there still hadn’t been enough communication between EA & NRW, although regular contact had been maintained at officer level.

·      A discussion followed in which dissatisfaction with the emergency line was expressed. This was continued in Item 9.

4. NRW Decision on Closure of Hatcheries and Future Delivery of Mitigation

·      Everyone in the group was invited to a separate meeting to go through the science and evidence of NRW’s decision. This meeting would be held before the end of the year.

·      Invitations to the meeting would also be sent to the WSFOA and WSA. SS would inform PG about who would be attending from WSA. ACTION: SS.

·      The emphasis of future discussions would be to look forward not back. A catchment group, consisting of relevant interested and active parties, will be established to scope and plan future alternative mitigation work. It is hoped that people will be motivated towards delivery on a catchment-based approach. This group would be small and made up of representatives from the organisations at the LFG, namely WUF, WSA, WSFOA. Mike Timmis would be contacted about who would represent WSFOA at the catchment group and about the meeting on hatchery closure. ACTION: PG.

5.

(a) Fisheries Management Update

·      A summary of 2014 electrofishing was given. 152 sites had been fished. Note that these are interim observations.

·      Duhonw –there have been some concerns over low fish populations in recent years, however evidence from 8 sites fished this year shows a better distribution and reasonable numbers of salmon.

·      Llynfi – poor results at 3 sites.

·      Trothy – poor at the 3 sites sampled. Low for trout and salmon absent at upper 2 sites with just 2 parr at the lowest site. It was pointed out that there had been zero salmon in all previous years.

·      Irfon – good, with the star site being on the Chwefru. The main stem of the Irfon between Abergwesyn and Llanwrtyd Wells was also very encouraging.

·      Aran – poor.

·      Monnow – 7 sites were fished from Pontrilas to Garway. Salmon were found at 6 of them.

·      Lugg and Arrow (Wales) – poor results, with no salmon.

·      Main Wye stem – generally pretty good with the upper Wye very good. The Tarrenig, Bidno and Marteg were good, along with all the Irfon tributaries.

·      390 trout had been through Osbaston (25-30cm) so far in 2014, although only 16 salmon so far compared to 53 last year.

·      A judicial review relating to one of the Severn Estuary putcher fisheries is scheduled for 20th November. A summary of the outcome will be provided to the group. ACTION: PG.

·      It was reported that marine survival of salmon was at its equal lowest point ever. It has been announced that the AST were re-focusing their attention onto marine issues.

·      The Swansea Bay tidal lagoon proposal is currently with the planning inspectorate. The parent company has announced its intention to expand operations with further sites in the Severn Estuary at Cardiff and Newport, although the Habitats Directive will still be a significant hurdle. Swansea Bay was the smallest of their proposed schemes. A summary of the modelling data from the parent company would be provided. ACTION: PG (done)

·      Stocking of fertile brown trout in rivers would cease from 1st January 2015 following final implementation of the Trout & Grayling Strategy.

·      The new fish movement regulations could be introduced on 1st Jan 2015. Anyone wanting more information should contact PG.

·      Some biological control trials were being carried out with regards Japanese knotweed.

·      Chris Bainger will be the EA’s fisheries contact and will be invited to future LFG meetings.

(b) Environment Management

·      The Nutrient Management Plan was continuing with an Action Plan submitted to Herefordshire Council in January 2015. A copy of this would be sent to be attached to the minutes. ACTION: DB

·      Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water (DC/WW) had been supportive and had acknowledged that they had to put forward schemes to reduce phosphates.

·      There was government funding for schemes to take more clean water out of the sewage system and into rivers, lowering P levels.

·      Defra were under no illusions how important NMP success was for the Wye. If it failed, then the EA had powers to apply to the Secretary of State for a “Water Protection Zone.”

·      It was confirmed that the EA have collected good evidence with regards this year’s Yazor Brook pollution and that they would disclose the outcome as soon as they were able. ACTION: DB.

·      12 incidents in the Wye catchment in Wales had been reported since June 1st, several of which involved use of pesticides.

·      A recent pollution from Dolyhir Quarry reported by WUF had tested EA/NRW cross border co- operation. Action is on-going.

(c) Wye Navigation Advisory Committee

·      The last meeting had been on the 16th September and had included a couple of incident reports and an update on licensing of Herefordshire hire companies. Powys were considering a similar scheme.

·      The next meeting will be on 10th March 2015.

6.  Catchment Partnership Update

·      This series of meetings was open to any stakeholder (including fishing groups, wildlife orgs, farmers and stat bodies) who could assist with finding solutions to issues affecting the rivers. Around 100 people had attended 4 or 5 meetings this year.

·      The process was gaining momentum. Cargills had been involved and had agreed to set standards for their suppliers. It was hoped that Tyrells would also become involved too.

·      Replication of the partnership would be desirable in the Usk catchment. Success of the process would be to deliver as much as possible of what stat bodies couldn’t afford to.

7.  Wye & Usk Foundation Update

·      The WHIP2 project, which had involved fish passes and advising farmers, would be coming to an end in March. A large fish pass at Dayhouse Weir on the Lugg had been completed in October, which it was agreed would be of significant benefit to fish populations.

·      In Wales SMS12 (European Fisheries Fund) was continuing, involving fencing, liming, and small fish passes. 16.5km of fencing on the Ithon had been completed and this river was already looking much better.

·      All Giant hogweed had been sprayed with focus now was turning towards Japanese knotweed.

·      Another project in the Trothy and Olway (MOAT) had just finished.

·      A large abstraction project was all but finished. An abstraction regime had been devised which was better for salmon migration and not so punitive on water companies, despite being told previously that it wasn’t possible.

·      The canoe access on the Glasbury to Hay section had been re-negotiated restricting launch times from 10am to 4pm (previously 4.30pm). Powys would be erecting signs at the Bont to this effect. Note! The revised sign at Glasbury shortly to be erected!

·      The upstream limit of juvenile salmon had increased on both the Lugg and Arrow, but not yet into Wales. An EF map of the catchments showed the benefits of improved connectivity was distributed.

·      The litter clearance had been going for 4 years and had 1 year left. The river from Hereford to Chepstow would be cleared early next year. The EA would be willing to help and Lynn Bulbeck should be contacted to arrange this. ACTION: TN

·      It was confirmed that trickle irrigation was still exempt from licensing but that efforts were being made to bring it within the system.

8.  Wye Salmon Association Update

·      90K juveniles had been stocked out from Abercynrig to the Sgithwen, Felindre, Maes Brook, Hay Dulas, Cwmrwn, and Bachway.

·      16 kelts were being held by the hatchery and would be returned to the river.

·      40K fin clipped juveniles would be introduced into SNR ponds from the 23rd November and after their release in May, the operation would cease.

·      The two SNR funds would be closed too. A contract release had been negotiated from the Crossgates pond and after 18th November, there were no financial obligations. A few hundred £ would be held back for making good the Nant Gwyn site.

·      WSA were trying to develop more fly fishing courses with schools but an OFSTED inspection had caused latest course to be postponed until next March. Otherwise the courses had been successful.

·      It was suggested that St Mary’s School in Lugwardine would be a good venue for the courses.

9.  Environmental Crime Update EA

·      Low reporting of incidents on the Wye has continued.

·      There had been a visit from Polish fisheries enforcement officers where there were 500 full time officers backed up by 2,000 volunteer bailiffs, all of whom were armed. In England & Wales there were 100 officers.

·      In Poland, there were prison sentences if caught fishing illegally, all anglers had to pass an exam on the byelaws (would need simplification if introduced here) and there were photo ID licences.

·      A voluntary AT bailiffing scheme had been set up 2 years ago in SE England with the idea of checking licences. However, this was the most dangerous part of enforcement work.

·      AW was now responsible for four fisheries enforcement officers but could draw on officers from other areas if required.

NRW

·      A chief constable had been appointed specifically for wildlife crime in Wales with poaching one of the 6 wildlife priorities.

·      A pilot project had just been launched on the Taff with a dedicated telephone number for all river users to pass on intelligence. Information on wildlife legislation had been simplified for members of the public. 2 arrests for salmon poaching had been made on the Taff in the last couple of weeks.

·      From 1st April to 20th October, 1 call had been received by NRW into illegal fishing on the Welsh Wye. 10 had been received by the EA in the same period, although 6 of these were by EA staff.

·      Everyone was reminded that Incidents must still be reported to the 0800 number. Problems with the reporting procedure wouldn’t be fixed via the LFG so it was recommended that those dissatisfied with the emergency lines should lodge official complaints with both the EA and NRW.

·      Severn Estuary patrols were continuing from the Severn Bridge to Llantwit Major.

·      8 lave net licences operating at Blackrock were issued their standard allocation of 14 tags (effectively a catch quota). Only 5 salmon were caught during 2014.

10.  Future Stakeholder Engagement Structure

·      There was nothing to add on this item.

11.  Predation

·      It was confirmed that the licences for the 3 areas on the Wye had been applied for with one area already having received its licence.

12.  AOB

·      A leaflet was passed around the table encouraging people to call in pollution incidents to the emergency line. A copy of the leaflet would be emailed to PG & DB for NRW & EA logo use approval. ACTION SJM (Done).

13.  AOB

·      TBC