Below some information from the Wye juvenile survey.  It's not good news.
I wonder why none of this was mentyioned at the recent WUF Annual Meeting?????

Been unable to reproduce the map or data at the moment
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016 we completed the temporal salmonid survey programme, consisting of 24 sites in
Wales (annual). The Environment Agency completed a further 4 of the 8 Wye sites in
England (2 yearly). We use the Welsh temporal data to look at trends in juvenile salmon and
trout densities, and combine our data with the English data to give an idea of spawning
across the whole catchment. The surveying programme (and responsibility for the river) is
split between Natural Resources Wales, who are responsible for the Welsh Wye, and the
Environment Agency on the English side.

Key Points
Juvenile salmon densities across Wales in 2016 have been poor, with some catchments
showing significant absences of salmon fry. The Wye catchment has not seen these
unexpected absences, but the average density in the catchment for both fry and parr is less
than expected; roughly half when compared to 2015 and the 5 year catchment average; the
lowest for fry since 2007 and the second lowest in survey history. This decline is seen across
the whole catchment at all but two sites (Dernol W001 and Ithon W032d).
We recorded juvenile salmon at 19 of 28 Wye sites in 2016; the exceptions being the sites
on the Monnow, Lugg and Arrow catchments. Salmon were also absent from the Llynfi and
Einon sites, both of which have always had low and variable numbers of salmon and so an
absence is not unusual.
Just one of the 28 sites had a salmon fry classification of Excellent (A) and four Good (B),
and salmon parr classifications were lower again with none Excellent and just one Good.
We recorded juvenile brown trout at 26 of 28 Wye sites in 2016; the exceptions being the
sites on the Ithon at Dol y Dre and the Clywedog, both of which have only ever recorded
inconsistent and very low numbers of trout.
Just five of the 28 sites had trout fry classifications of Excellent (A) or Good (B). Again, only
five sites had trout parr and adult (>0+) classifications of Excellent (A) or Good (B) – all of
these were on the Lugg and Arrow catchments.
Salmon and Trout Classifications
The following maps show the results of the routine juvenile salmonid population surveys
from 2016 in Wales and England (raw data are given in the Appendix). Also shown are the
classification maps for the salmonid temporal programme in 2015, for comparison.
www.cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk www.environment-agency.gov.uk
www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk P a g e | 2
Juvenile Salmonid Summary
River Wye 2016
www.cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk www.environment-agency.gov.uk
www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk P a g e | 3
Juvenile Salmonid Summary
River Wye 2016
www.cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk www.environment-agency.gov.uk
www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk P a g e | 4
Juvenile Salmonid Summary
River Wye 2016
The symbols display the National Fish Classification Scheme (NFCS) grades which have
been developed to evaluate and compare the results of fish population surveys in a
consistent manner. The NFCS ranks survey data by comparing fish abundance at the survey
sites with sites across Wales and England where juvenile salmonids are present. Sites are
classified into categories A to F, depending on densities of juvenile salmonids at the site.
The following table shows the values and classification of NFCS.
Grade Descriptor Interpretation
A Excellent In the top 20% for a fishery of this type
B Good In the top 40% for a fishery of this type
C Fair In the middle 20% for a fishery of this type
D Fair In the bottom 40% for a fishery of this type
E Poor In the bottom 20% for a fishery of this type
F Fishless No fish of this type present
Catchment Population Trends
The graphs below show a simple comparison of average salmon and trout densities across
the Wye catchment since surveying began in 1985. NB – the data shown here are only from
fully quantitative surveys of sites in the current Welsh monitoring programme; this
traditionally focussed on good salmon spawning habitat and the Lugg, Arrow and Monnow
were only included from 1987. Not every site in the programme was done every year, and
no surveys were done in 1995, 1996 or 2001, and only the Irfon catchment was surveyed in
2011.
Salmon fry and parr densities have shown a statistically significant decline over this time, in
line with rod catches. However, analysis of the data from 2002 onwards – the date when the
current survey programme was set and has remained largely consistent – showed an
increasing trend up until, and including 2015. This upward trend has completely halted with
the inclusion of 2016 survey data.
Brown trout densities in the Wye catchment have shown a contrasting picture since 1985,
with fry densities remaining relatively stable but parr and adult (>0+) densities declining. It
should be noted that adult densities are always low and variable in these surveys, which are
targeting juvenile populations. Analysis of the data since 2001 suggests a more hopeful
picture, with the trout fry trend continuing upwards and the parr and adult (>0+) trend shifting
to be less strongly downwards. Unlike the salmon densities, inclusion of the 2016 has done
nothing to alter this trend.
www.cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk www.environment-agency.gov.uk
www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk P a g e | 5
Juvenile Salmonid Summary
River Wye 2016
0+ Trout >0+ Trout
www.cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk www.environment-agency.gov.uk
www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk P a g e | 6
Juvenile Salmonid Summary
River Wye 2016
The following table shows a simple comparison of the catchment average density of juvenile
salmon and trout from 2016, and compares this to 2015 and a 5-year average. NB – these
densities are calculated from the first run of all quantitative surveys and any semiquantitative
surveys of sites within the monitoring programme, and as such, numbers are
not directly comparable to those given in the graphs above which are based on fully
quantitative estimates only.
0+
Salmon
>0+
Salmon
0+
Trout
>0+
Trout
2016 average density
(per 100m2)
16.6 1.4 8.1 3.1
2015 average density
(per 100m2)
27.8 2.5 10.5 3.4
Percentage difference to 2015 -40% -47% -24% -8%
5-yr average density
(per 100m2)
32.1 2.8 7.8 3.2
Percentage difference to 5yr average -48% -51% 4% -1%
When compared to both the results from 2015 and the 5 year average, the 2016 catchment
density for salmon fry and parr is approximately half, this is also reflected in the trend
analysis. The decline in trout fry compare to 2015, albeit not as great as that of salmon, is
of some concern, despite it not being present in the trend analysis or picked up when
compared to the 5-year average density.
Wye and Usk Foundation Monitoring
As part of a wide scale juvenile salmonid monitoring programme in 2016, the Wye and Usk
Foundation surveyed approximately 250 sites in the Wye catchment. These were mostly 5
minute riffle (ME) surveys, with several additional semi quantitative surveys. These data give
us a good indication of juvenile salmon distribution throughout the catchment – see the map
below.

There are widespread absences of juvenile salmon in the 2016 data. The majority of these
sites with no salmon are within the Lugg, Arrow and Monnow catchments, where salmon
spawning is still in recovery; numbers are lower and distribution less consistent than
elsewhere in the Wye catchment. However, comparison with 2014 WUF surveys in the Lugg
and Arrow catchment does show a marked increase in zero counts of salmon in 2016.
Salmon fry are no less prevalent than parr in these 2016 results.
www.cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk www.environment-agency.gov.uk
www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk P a g e | 7
Juvenile Salmonid Summary
River Wye 2016

Further investigations
During the routine monitoring of fish that NRW carries out on rivers throughout Wales, we
have noticed a general decline in salmon fry (0+) numbers; and in certain rivers, notably the
Usk, Twyi and Clwyd, a near total absence of this age group in 2016.
These declines, coupled with the significant absences of salmon fry are unprecedented and
of immediate concern. Our salmon and sea trout stocks are already facing serious
challenges.
We have liaised with Cefas and the Fish Health Inspectorate to carry out fish health
screening in the Usk, which is further to the routine Gyrodactylus salaris monitoring carried
out on the Ogmore, Cleddaus, Dee and Mawddach in 2016. The tests returned negative
results for serious pathogens or parasites and a disease and/or fish health cause has been
ruled out at this stage.
We have noted that flows and temperatures in our rivers were extreme through November
and December, the key spawning period for our salmon, and as such, we are pursuing this
as a potential cause with our external partners. Other reasons, including a shortfall in the
number of spawning fish and damage arising from very high flows, are not being ruled-out
as potentially having had a significant localised affect.
www.cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk www.environment-agency.gov.uk
www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk P a g e | 8
Juvenile Salmonid Summary
River Wye
Appendix - Data from 2016 electric fishing surveys in the Wye catchment.