Questionnaire on exploitation controls for salmon and sea trout in Wales Following our local engagement workshops with fisheries interests around Wales and taking into account the input and feedback from participants, we would value your further comments and observations. The aim of the questionnaire is to allow you to elaborate on the discussions we held at our engagement events. To gather your views and additional information on your approach and help guide us on possible future exploitation controls. This questionnaire needs to be read in conjunction with the NRW board papers: Management Options to Address the Decline in Stocks of Salmon and Some Sea Trout in Wales and the workshop presentation circulated with this questionnaire. Position summary: Salmon stocks are in poor condition across Wales Sea trout stocks are in better shape but there are local concerns There is no evidence that angling or net fishing has been the cause of stock decline Our International commitment to reduce exploitation effectively to zero on threatened salmon rivers Controls will be considered on both net and rod fisheries A good and open-minded communication and consultation process is important and will be pursued Salmon 1. Recognising that that one of the main factors affecting the numbers of returning salmon is the survival of smolts at sea and that stocks on all rivers in Wales appear similarly affected (most are in the worst risk categories). Do you agree that any controls for salmon should be across all rivers in Wales? o Agree o Neither agree nor disagree o Disagree >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Summary at the end<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< We contend that management including exploitation control should be managed on a river specific basis. Concerns are often expressed that the introduction of strict controls on a river with low stocks of salmon or sea trout Page 1 of 9
might persuade anglers to fish elsewhere. We believe this is a beneficial consequence as exploitation is taken away from the sites least able to cope. Re NRW s first statement above, we don t agree. Currently, reduced marine survival is having an affect on the overall outcome but this is in combination with issues in the rivers themselves and has not always been the case. Zero fish went up the Taff and other valleys river despite marine survival being at its highest during the last century. The run size of salmon is a function of freshwater production and marine survival and it would be quite inappropriate not to take into account whether there are factors in each river inhibiting production. There is strong evidence from WFD classifications that there are likely to be significant in- river problems pan Wales. It should be remembered that permanent solutions are available for improving salmon and sea trout stocks in every river, whereas there may not be much that can be done to affect marine survival. We are anxious that rod fishing controls are not used as a surrogate for dealing with the more difficult riverine problems and legal/illegal estuary and coastal exploitation. It should be remembered that predation of smolts even in the river or estuary will show as a decrease in marine survival. There are strong arguments that more could be done both with nets and fish eating birds. 2. If we agree that all salmon should be returned do you support a byelaw that would ensure that everyone follow the requirement, or do you think that voluntary controls are enough? o byelaw that all would be required to adhere to o voluntary controls On the Wye, we have managed to increase the run of salmon through river restoration against a background of voluntary reductions in control complementing mandatory restrictions, including: 1. catch and release and limited method restrictions for anglers before 16 June since 1999; 2. the reduction or closure of net fisheries in the estuary and at sea; 3. further method restrictions for anglers in 2003; and 4. C&R since 2013 though there will not have been any returnees from the additional fish saved for spawning as a result, yet. There is as much to gain from ensuring that every fish returned has the highest survival rate. WUF believes that it is important to ban worm, shrimp and prawn and flying C spinners that are not fitted with single hooks to ensure this as well as define best practice releases. Ahead we describe other benefits of voluntary over byelaws Page 2 of 9
3. Would you consider supporting the extension of the spring salmon principles (i.e. Catch and Release plus no bait fishing for salmon) throughout the season? o for a longer set period at the beginning of the season o used at both the beginning and the end of the season o the whole season o not extended o None of these Again, we support C&R voluntarily but bait fishing should be banned mandatorily. We suggest that as fly only from 1 st September works well on the Wye it would also assist the Usk and perhaps Dee, Tywi, Dyfi and Teifi too. It is believed that removing bait fishers removes those most inclined towards taking fish. 4. What other controls would you consider appropriate to reduce exploitation? (You may choose more than one answer) o A later start to when salmon may be killed o Earlier end to the season o Bag limits o Maximum size limits o Licence catch conditions e.g. numbers of fish taken by nets o Other Please explain: Education: It s crucial that anglers understand there is no magic bullet (eg hatcheries and yes, NRW has gone a long way to removing that myth) and that if more fish are required to be made available for spawning, then time and effort should be put into getting buy-in to the release policy, It s equally important to understand that this is important for any C&R scheme to be effective whether voluntary or mandatory and this is why we believe voluntary + education is the preferred approach. There simply aren t enough bailiffs to go round so there will be heavy reliance on angler compliance. Anglers need to be convinced and brought on board Concurrent with this is the need to show that action is being taken to put right in river problems and that exploitation in the estuary and coastal waters are reduced.now, not at some nebulous point in the future. It is vital to re-engage the support of the angling stakeholder group which has suffered a number of reverses caused by poor catches, hatchery bans, frequent changes in statutory bodies and a general feeling that fisheries currently occupy a very low priority with Welsh Government. We think mandatory C&R will definitely not assist that re engagement of anglers which is crucial to the long term restoration of rivers, WFD compliance and so on. Page 3 of 9
Controls to reduce the accidental killing of rod caught fish 5. Bait fishing for salmon can result in disproportionately high mortality rates in rod released fish - generally accepted to be around 90-50% depending on where the fish is hooked. Would you support the introduction of further controls on bait fishing? o Yes o No Suggest a complete ban, pan Wales and border rivers, despite the assurance the response will be that some rivers (those with low catches) can only be fished with a worm. We add that if this is so then there has not been any proper assessment of other more conservative catching methods and if catches are truly that low, then the measure will be meeting the rivers conservation needs. We concur that bait has a detrimental effect on stock conservation. Bait fishing was banned in 2003 on the Wye and most of the improvements in stock are measurable from 2008 onwards. Worming and other baits allows fish to be caught or re caught that might otherwise have escaped conventional fly and spinner. Please see ahead for other comments on aspects that increase survival 6. Would you support the introduction of rules for barbless hooks to ease unhooking and improve post-release survival? o Agree o Neither agree nor disagree o Disagree We believe that the appropriate number and size of hook is far more important. There is the issue of barb size to be considered too. Micro barbed hooks cause little damage and add to fish retention and are more likely to used. Page 4 of 9
7. Would you agree with the introduction of rules to limit hooks to singles or doubles only, to reduce hook injury and improve post-release survival? o Yes o No Depends what these rules are. We have already stated that for spinners such as Flying Cs a single hook provides an essential solution (not doubles here BTW). On Wyesham, a productive lower Wye beat, the proprietor introduced singles only following some deaths to released fish caught on trebles. Last season and the season before, there were no reported injuries to any of the 85+ spinner taken fish. Trebles above the size of 10 should not be used for flies. Doubles are just as effective and can be left in situ if close to a vulnerable area (I speak with 40 years experience and 3 degrees on the subject of oral surgery!) This is not the case with larger trebles. Smaller trebles 12 16 are frequently used in Iceland and never cause bleeding. They should be allowed Sea trout 8. 40% of our sea trout stocks are also classed as either At Risk or Probably at Risk. Recognising that that the status of sea trout stocks across Wales is far more varied compared to salmon. Do you agree that any controls for sea trout should be across all rivers in Wales? o Agree o Neither agree nor disagree o Disagree No We contend that management including exploitation control should be managed on a river specific basis. Concerns are often expressed that the introduction of strict controls on a river with low stocks of sea trout or salmon might persuade anglers to fish elsewhere. We believe this is a beneficial consequence as exploitation is taken away from the sites least able to cope However, there are some controls that should be applied pan Wales: upper size limits and worming so as not to conflict with needs of salmon conservation. Page 5 of 9
Unlike salmon, sea trout do not migrate so far away and they spawn in relatively smaller order streams. The upshot of this is that poor sea trout stock levels are not subject to high seas issues as partially so with salmon. That they are at risk anywhere in Wales is conclusive proof that management of catchments and rivers falls well sort of the standard required and no doubt, estuary and coastal exploitation is far from constrained to appropriate levels either. 9. Do you support mandatory controls for sea trout that would ensure that it applied equally to everyone, or do you believe that voluntary controls are sufficient to protect vulnerable stocks? o Byelaw that all would be required to adhere to o Voluntary controls o No preference o See below comments: It should be remembered that unlike salmon, sea trout are repeat spawners. Some return more than seven times. Clearly these fish deserve special protection. They are of little culinary but high sporting value. It therefore defies logic to allow the netting of sea trout as early as March when the larger fish return. This also compromises any salmon caught and released but takes out the most productive sea trout breeders (large hen sea trout) Combining the removal of nets until June, coupled with a maximum size limit for takeable sea trout (5 6lbs) plus cessation of worming and...the restoration of the rivers in which they spawn would bring Wales back to the status of premier sea trout country in the UK 10. Would you consider it appropriate to introduce spring sea trout controls, similar to those we currently have for salmon (i.e. Catch and Release for sea trout before 1 st June for nets/ 16 th June for rods and method restrictions to aid survival) on? o At Risk sea trout rivers o At Risk and Probably At Risk sea trout rivers o All Rivers o None Page 6 of 9
Please see above for suggestions 11. Which other controls to help protect and increase the numbers of sea trout surviving and spawning would you support the introduction of? (You may choose more than one answer) o Slot size limits for sea trout (for example return above 60cm approximately 6lb) o Byelaw introducing a bag limit o Tagging scheme for the rod fishery o Licence catch conditions e.g. numbers of fish for netsmen o Catch and release season e.g. after August o Other? All of the above so marked plus no netting before 1 st June, max daily of 3 fish Your controls 12. What effective voluntary exploitation controls are you introducing to increase the number of salmon and sea trout surviving to spawn? My own fishery has been C&R, no worm/ prawn /shrimp since 1990 as Director of the Wye and Usk Foundation we have matched this with: 1. We started a C&R voluntary scheme Wye in 1998 and raised levels from 7% to 75% (peaking >82%) 2. Purchase of drift net fishery and partial buy outs of putchers 2000 3. We have run a 21 year river restoration programme on Wye; 13 years Usk 4. We continue to ask on the Usk for constraint especially coloured fish, supply knot free nets and have assisted in production of guidelines. On Wye we continue to press for the use of single hook Flying Cs and lobby tackle dealers to keep only these in stock (some but not uniform success here) Page 7 of 9
Would you like to make any further comments or observations? No Your contact details (so we can keep you informed) If you want to be kept informed or involved in the future, please provide your contact details below and confirm that you are happy for us to hold this information in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. I am happy for my details to be kept on the database by Natural Resources Wales in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, and understand that these will not be passed on to any other organisation Print Name. Position Address Stephen Marsh-Smith Exec Director Wye and Usk Foundation Director of Afonydd Cymru Riparian Owner Wye Wyeside Cottages Erwood Builth Wells LD2 3SZ and Unit 4 Talgarth Business Park, Trefecca Rd, Talgarth LD3 0PQ Telephone 07812118065 01874712074 Email stephen@wyeuskfoundation.org Date 29 th January 2016 Thank you for taking time to share your views these will help inform the way forward and feed into our approach to future exploitation controls. We will collate and summarise them to help inform us consider future exploitation controls and our approach to exploitation. Please note we will acknowledge replies however we do not intend to reply individually to all respondents. Please return by 31 st January 2016 to: southwest.fisheries@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk Page 8 of 9
Summary of WUFs recommendations Return of fish by Voluntary catch and release (save where existing bylaws specify mandatory C&R) (Usk) Byelaws across Wales 1. Salmon and sea trout Methods: Ban worm shrimp and prawn across Wales Hooks: single only of Flying Cs; doubles and singles only on flies above size 10 Usk: Fly only 1 st September onwards 2. Sea trout Return of all ST over 6lbs no more than 3 to be retained on any day Netting to start on 1 st June, if at all Other Recommendations: Restore salmonid habitats (this action to embrace all necessary fish passage, habitat water quality, quantity) Reduce all netting by NLO, Make a conscious and concerted effort to control illegal fishing more effectively WUF January 2016 Page 9 of 9