Daily River & Catch Reports

Although the catchment missed most of the rain and storms yesterday we are promised some significant rain today and its already raining in some areas, though no effect on levels so far.Early days hopefully.

Not aware of any fish reports from yesterday.
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iF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE TODAY PLEASE SEND OFF THIS LETTER. WSA MEMBER OR NOT IT'S IN ALL OUR INTERESTS AND THAT OF THE WYE SALMON TO DO SO.

FROM WSA

We wrote to you recently requesting your support in our campaign to put pressure NRW/EA and the WAG in Cardiff and UK Government in Westminster to tackle the recovery of salmon stocks in the Wye. We requested you sent a copy of the draft letter we provided to your MP/AM, many of you did that and we thank you very much for showing your commitment to this cause by doing so.

WE are writing to you today requesting your engagement in the same way on the matter of the poor water quality of the Wye. The normally clear waters of the Wye are repeatedly being turned a putrid green due to severe algal bloom, caused we are told by a large increase in the amount of phosphate, which acts as a fertiliser, entering the Wye. The proportion of phosphate in the lower Wye coming from agriculture has doubled in the past six years. The river is now failing its permitted levels of phosphate under the EU Habitats Directive.

As anglers this is extremely important matter to me, not only impacting on our sport but risking, as it does the potential loss of all species of fish in the river.

Again, below, you will find a draft that we ask you to use. Our membership covers 80 or so constituencies in England & Wales and requests to Ministers from those MPs and AMs will add to the growing pressure on NRW/EA and the WAG in Cardiff and UK Government in Westminster. It will also add to the profile of WSA as a positive and representative organisation. If you live in Wales please send a letter to both your MP and AM.

MP and AM email addresses can be found at the following links.

Welsh Assembly Members [AMs] http://senedd.assembly.wales/mgCommitteeMailingList.aspx?EM=1&ID=0

Members of Parliament [England & Wales] [MPs]

https://www.ceoemail.com/uk-mp.php

Thanks for your support.

Stuart Smith

Chairman

Wye Salmon Association

DRAFT LETTER

(Please place your details in place of [bracketed texts]

Dear [my MP or AM],

My name is [full name]. I am writing to you today on the matter of the water quality of the River Wye, the river crossing the border of England & Wales. The normally clear waters of the River Wye are repeatedly turned a putrid green due to severe algal bloom, caused I am told by a large increase in the amount of phosphate, which acts as a fertiliser, entering the Wye. The proportion of phosphate in the lower Wye coming from agriculture has doubled in the past six years. The river is now failing its permitted levels of phosphate under the EU Habitats Directive.

As an angler this is an extremely important matter to me, not only impacting on my sport but risking, as it does the potential loss of all species of fish and the ecology of the river.

This is a cross border issue with the upper river in Wales and the Lugg catchment both significant sources of phosphates following a large expansion of the agricultural industry, and in particular intensive poultry units, over the last decade.

(name your county) County Council and Environment Agency (EA)/Natural Resources Wales (NRW) (as joint regulators), have a legal responsibility to protect Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) such as the Wye. They have, apparently, been unwilling to use existing laws to protect the river, including considering the impact of new poultry developments both individually and cumulatively. Evidently, this is something that is not happening.

For action to prevent future blooms I am reliant on my council and EA/NRW doing their job properly. I am concerned at their apparent inability and unwillingness to fulfil their statutory duties and protect the river and its fish.

On my behalf I would like you to request from [NRW or EA depending if you are in Wales or England] an answer to the following questions.

Can they confirm the river Wye and its tributaries are failing permitted levels of phosphate under the EU Habitats Directive?

Can they confirm that planning authorities are complying with all directives and permitting control with respect to intensive poultry units?

Both the County Council and EA/NRW) have a legal responsibility to protect Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) such as the Wye. This includes considering the impact of new poultry developments individually and cumulatively. Can they confirm this is happening?