Following a recent meeting with NRW by various member association across Wales the following letter has been sent to NRW on behalf of those listed at the end of the letter.

Peter Gough

Senior Fisheries Specialist

Natural Resources Wales,

Monmouth Office

Hadnock Road,

Monmouth.

NP25 3NQ

Re: NRW decision on closure of hatcheries & cessation of stocking

We the undersigned organisations representing clubs and some 33,742 anglers fishing the rivers of Wales write to register in the strongest terms, our opposition to NRW’s decision with regard to banning properly regulated stocking initiatives on Welsh rivers.

We consider NRW’s decision particularly irresponsible given the recently published 2014 season assessment of salmon stocks indicating that in all 23 principal salmon rivers stocks are classified as either ‘at risk’ or ‘probably at risk’ of remaining so in 2019 with the trend in all classified as ‘uncertain’. Similarly the assessment of sea trout stocks indicating in the 28 principle sea trout rivers, 12 are classified as either ‘at risk’ or ‘probably at risk’ and 7 ‘probably not at risk’, meaning two thirds of sea trout stock levels in principle river are uncertain.

The scientific advice based on 214 papers produced by your team in November 2014 to support the decision to close hatcheries is without merit. The majority of the papers cited do not concern themselves with the environmental impact of hatcheries on rivers. Where they do, there is no clear evidence of their threat to natural river environments. We therefore contend this advice was based not on scientific analysis of threats, but on a simple requirement to find in favour of closing hatcheries. We will not speculate on what drove this decision making process.

We also find no evidence of harm in the papers offering ‘additional evidence’ as supplied by Peter Gough to us recently. In fact one paper challenges the results of most of the previous research ‘due to a lack of consistent methodology and small sample size without consideration of environmental effects’, the other two papers are more concerned with hatchery practices to improve the outcome, neither supports the fact that stocking is harmful.

We note there are three basic conditions under which hatchery operations can play a role in river conservation, these being (i) recovery (ii) mitigation (iii) enhancement. Given the “at risk” status of 23 significant Welsh rivers, please would you write to confirm why the use of hatcheries to assist “recovery” from at risk status has now been rescinded. Would you further provide to us, clear written confirmation in the form of NRW working papers, indicating you have considered and then discounted the need for hatcheries to assist in the recovery of “at risk” rivers (as opposed to assisting mitigation strategies).

NRW’s actions in relation to the banning of hatcheries, lack scientific evidence and popular support amongst anglers and those directly involved in fishing on Welsh rivers. In this respect, the decision is undemocratic, unscientific and indicative of government involvement in contributing to the decline of Wales’ once great fishing assets.

We ask you to reconsider this ill-conceived and politically motivated decision.

We further ask that you pass copies of this letter to your Chairman & CEO’s for their comment.

Yours faithfully

Stuart Smith

On behalf of

Wye Salmon Association [WSA]

Campaign for Protection of Welsh Fisheries [CPWF]

Welsh Salmon & Trout Association [WSTA]

River Wye Gillies Association [RWGA]