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Environment Agency - 2009 RFERAC Wessex Blandford Fisheries Report

Environment Agency
December 2 2009

Environment Agency - 2009 RFERAC Wessex Blandford Fisheries Report

Enforcement
We are continuing work with Bournemouth and
West Hants Water Company on the Christchurch
Enforcement Partnership. We also want to increase
enforcement in Poole Harbour by working in
partnership with other enforcement agencies and
using new surveillance technology.
We are investigating the illegal introduction of
wels catfish into a lake at Ringwood. Resolution of
the issue is likely to be difficult and we will be
working closely with the angling club.
Monitoring and data
Salmon on the River Avon
The spring salmon run on the Hampshire Avon was
similar to last year, with numbers being down on
the two years prior to that.
River Avon fish counter
A good number of grilse and sea trout arrived in
mid August and passed through the Turbine House
fish pass. We’re hoping for a good run of fish
when the autumn rains arrive. All hatches on the
Great Weir will be covered and will provide a more
accurate count for higher flow years. See
www.knappmill.co.uk for more information.
River Frome salmonid habitats
Works are currently underway to improve salmonid
habitats on the River Frome and the passage of
migratory salmonids on the River Asker and River
Cerne. Eel passage is also being improved on the
River Piddle. These projects are aimed at resolving
issues raised by the Water Framework Directive
and have been funded by Defra .
East Stoke - River Frome
The Environment Agency has been working closely
with the scientists in the fish labs at East Stoke
and is supporting salmonid science work at the
site.
Reducing diffuse pollution on the River Till
Diffuse pollution running into the River Till was
affecting fisheries and the condition of the Site of
Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). We intercepted
the pathway of pollution to the river. Natural
England hope that the project will help to address
this problem in 35 hectares of the River Till SSSI.
This partnership involved landowners, Natural
England, the Wiltshire Council and the
Environment Agency.
Whitemill fisheries enhancement
We have teamed up with the National Trust and
completed works on the River Stour at Whitemill to
increase coarse fish flood refuge areas. These had
been identified as limiting fish stocks in this area.
This is phase one of the project with further works
planned for 2010.
Loud’s Mill Frome
Through monitoring at Louds Mill on the River
Frome we've shown the effectiveness of the
Larinier fish pass. Most of the tagged trout and
grayling ascended the pass within a few days.
Tagged salmon will continue to be monitored
during the autumn.
Projects
Managing River Avon water temperature
Higher temperatures in the River Avon are
adversely affecting salmon populations. Human
activity across the catchment is believed to be
influencing the temperature of the river. We are
working to establish ways to reduce the
temperature in the River Avon and to identify by
how much.
For general
Wessex Chalk Streams Project
We will be working with riparian landowners and
managers to promote wildlife-friendly river
enhancement and management of the River Avon
SSSI in Wiltshire, which includes the tributaries,
Wylye, Nadder, Till, and Bourne. It also focuses on
the River Ebble and associated wetlands as well
as areas suitable for wetland restoration.
Gravel cleaning
Gravel cleaning work on the spawning gravels on
the Hampshire Avon and River Frome is underway
and nearing conclusion.
Angling participation events
We've contributed £6,000 to partners who have
run many successful coaching events. Partners
have included Christchurch Angling club, Moors
Valley Country Park and Wessex Angling Scheme.
Coarse fish seminar
A successful coarse fish seminar was held by
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust at Langford Lakes. The
seminar included presentations on fish disease,
new legislation and partnership working. Funding
is still available for small coarse fisheries projects.
Interested parties should apply to D-J Gent in the
Blandford office by email: dj.gent@environmentagency.
gov.uk.