EA Fisheries Thames Area quarterly round-up for the Angling Trust Thames Regional Forum. Stuart Keable Fisheries Technical Officer

Transcription

1 EA Fisheries Thames Area quarterly round-up for the Angling Trust Thames Regional Forum Stuart Keable Fisheries Technical Officer

2 Crayfish: a word on illegal traps Signal crayfish are widespread throughout most of Thames Region with trapping being very popular for both personal consumption and commercially. The Environment Agency are receiving hundreds of applications annually to trap crayfish in Thames Region which could have massive impacts on fish and wildlife if the wrong instruments are used. All traps used must comply with the Environment Agency s specification to minimise by-catch and landowners permission must be in place prior to trapping. In some locations trapping is restricted due to conservation orders being in place and sometimes where there is navigation. We receive many applications for licences to trap crayfish where few or none exist. For further information please call the Fish Movements Team on

3 Angling Data View: Helping you catch more fish Network of 5 monitors on 3 rivers: Thames, Kennet, Wey Simple info on water temperature, turbidity, oxygen. Remote access before you travel. Designed by anglers for anglers at minimal cost. Complements Angling Trust website: fishinginfo.co.uk

4 Middle Thames Surveys The Thames Trout boom boat designed specifically for surveying the non-tidal Thames. Annual survey currently ongoing from Oxford to Temple (near Marlow). One of longest running data sets for any river. Helps us gauge health of fish population and inform management of Thames as a fishery. Electro-fishing in conjunction with hydro-acoustics (pinging). Lower Thames survey starts in September (Temple to Teddington).

5 River Thames Scheme Lake Sampling Why? 35 lakes will be brought on-line to Thames by RTS channels. Potential risk to Thames system from fish and invertebrates in lakes. Need to know what s in them. Conventional techniques (seine netting and electro-fishing) labour intensive and inaccurate: accessibility, size, depth, macrophyte cover, snags, undulating bed all present challenges in such huge lakes. The answer? Environmental DNA analysis (e-dna). Sampling started in April and results expected by late summer. Will be shared with fishery owners and managers. Backed up by traditional techniques for verification: hydro-acoustics and seine netting (5 lakes). HIFI sampling programme on Thames and lakes during summer 2016.

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7 River Thames Scheme Discussion Groups (formerly design workshops). Next meeting dates announced. Anglers organisations represented. Dates are: 13 th September Berkshire 19 th September Surrey

8 Hydropower Update New application received for Cookham novel, floating design, detached from weir. Need to prove no obstruction of fish pass, or disturbance to fish, or shading of channel, or disturbance of anglers lock and weir scheme fishing site. Sonning weir hydropower under construction. Will be 2 turbines plus a larinier fish pass. Teddington Judicial review passed so should be going ahead. Share issue to locals to raise money. Benefits 2 fish passes, one on each bank. Culham and Sandford both ready to go with larinier and nature like fish pass respectively. New applications drying up due to feed in tariff reductions.

9 Pollution Update Little Marlow STW due at H. Wycombe magistrate s court. Henley STW trial at Oxford Crown Court November. Recent incident to be treated as separate case. Littlemore pumping station adjourned from last month (date not given). Didcot also due last month and adjourned to future date. Walton Water Treatment Works significant fish kill last week. Approx 1600 fish killed on intake channel (not fished). SK attended. Still under investigation.

10 Enforcement Update VBS - we have selected 11 candidates across former SE to go through to phase 2 (Restricted warranted powers to check rod licences and certain bylaw offences). Breakdown of these volunteers as follows: WT 2, HNL 2, KSL 4, and SSD 3. Candidates have undergone bespoke training now followed by mentoring from FEO s /TL s. Farewell to Mick Cox Retiring after 20 years. First lower Thames joint agency Enforcement Patrol carried out Hampton Court to Shepperton Friday 1 st July with Elmbridge BC byelaws. Normally a joint op with Surrey Police.

11 Lower Thames Joint Agency Evening Patrols (2013 to present) Multi-agency approach pioneered on lower Thames to enforce multiple byelaws and build relationships with anglers. Participants: EA Enforcement (SAFFA), Navigation (EA byelaws & lock and weir sites), Elmbridge BC (fires and camping), Surrey Police. Particular emphasis on building good relations with foreign born anglers who constitute a high percentage of the licence holders on this waterway. Work with Mirek multi-lingual Lithuanian.

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13 The End Questions?