your fisheries. tamar fisheries plan for the improvement ... · based on the process, a proposal...
TRANSCRIPT
Your FisheriesTamar Catchment
‘Bottom Up Fisheries planning'
Westcountry Rivers Trust
Giles Rickard
Cornwall Fisheries Team leader
Background
• Fully involve fisheries interests
• Developing a ’bottom up’ approach
• Development of shared vision & action plan
• What happened -Lessons learned
River Tamar• One of the 10 initial catchment pilots under CaBA, the Tamar
‘Catchment Fisheries Planning’ was to become ‘Your Fisheries’.
• Project leaders met with the RT, AT, and AST to develop the concept of 4 pilot ‘CFP’s’, one of which is the Tamar.
• Angling 2000/Westcountry Angling passport
• ASAP/AARC-Genetics
• Endsleigh Hatchery
• Upstream Thinking 1 & 2 –with SWW
• Three Rivers Project –CaBa funded
Tamar catchment -around 700 farms in catchment
Bottom up fisheries planning
1st action to call together local fisheries representatives & discuss development.
Awareness that national programmes and plans come & go therefore should create own ‘bottom up’ local stakeholder forum
TFF the vehicle which has:
a) discussed actions and priorities on the catchment, b) b) agreed fisheries action plansc) c) called on guest speakers to obtain additional information on key topics.
Shared vision/evidence/Action framework:
Cyclical framework
TFF would develop a sharedvision
Collect &, interpret evidence, &then take action based onevidence.
Tamar river has fish counterand additional index-rivermonitoring.
Understanding, assessing & quantifying pre-existing viewpoints.
First action of the TFF to query thestakeholder group to discover pre-existing viewpoints.
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Lee
Stone
Rexon
Forda
Trewen
Tinhay
Headon
Gravel
Boyton
Woodley
Penrose
Oatnell
Luckett
Larrick
Langham
Dexbeer
Comebow
Badgall
Yeomaden
Sydenham
Scotland
Penheale
Lew Wood
Lew Mill
EbbsfordBullapit
Trewinnow
Treburrow Townleigh
Tamartown
Spry Farm
Lawhitton
Inny Foot
Dury Ford
Dunstable
Chillaton
Broadwood
Bowithick
Bealsmill
Wishworthy
West Carne
Trewithick
TrerithickTrekennick
Treguddick
Trecarrell
Tamarstone
Southcombe
Luffincott
High Wires
Hellescott
Greenlanes
Forda Mill
Egloskerry
Drownsmill
Bridgetown
Bridgerule
Upcott MillThrushelton
St. Clether Lifton Park
Knightsmill
Germansweek
Deer Bridge
Claw Bridge
Chilsworthy
Yeolm Bridge
St. Leonards
Heale Bridge
Tinhay Bridge
Otterham Mill
Middle Bridge
Lydford Gorge
Hurdon Bridge
Great Moreton
d/s Kit Steps
Little Comfort
Hennard Stream
Henford Bridge
Halwill Bridge
Finches Bridge
Clawton Bridge
Wrixhill Bridge
u/s Tamar Lakes
Canworthy Water
Towerhill Bridge
d/s Hayne Bridge
Lowley Confluence
u/s Lamerhooe Ford
Leighwood Waterfall
d/s Greystone Bridge
Tetcott Spawning Bed 2
River Inny
Riv
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Riv
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R iver L ew
River Torri dge
River Lynher
River Fow
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River Mer e
River
Nee
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Tala Water
River Waldon
River Burn
Derril
Water
Mussel B
rook
De L
ank
Riv
er
Wagaford Water
Pul worthy B rook
Withey Brook
Bre
azle
Water
Medland Brook
Little Mere Riv er
Tamar Electrofishing 2001-2010Average Salmon Numbers Caught
´0 5 102.5 Kilometers
Mean Salmon Abundance
Names!( 0!( 1 - 41!( 41 - 123
!( 123 - 253
!( 253 - 1240
Data supplied by the Enviroment Agency 2010
Fisheries Engagement
Question Bad Poor Fair Good0 ExellentDon't0
KnowImproving Declining
About0
same
Not0
sureYes No
At0the0catchment0scale0how0would0you0score0the0overall0condition0of0
the0salmon0population?4 19 1 0 0 0
What0do0you0consider0to0be0the0current0trend0in0population0health 0 23 0 4
Monitoring0and0Reporting0O0do0you0feel0there0is0a0need0to0collect0
and/or0report0more0data/information0in0relation0to0fish0populations0in0
the0catchment
1 10
At0a0catchment0level,0do0you0consider0this0score0to0be0broadly0
representative0of0all0the0main0species0of0interest7 14
Do0you0feel0that0your0previous0score(s)0are0broadly0representative0of0
the0whole0catchment0in0a0spatial0context10 10
At0the0catchment0scale0please0score0the0current0levels0of0
spawning/recruitment1 22 5 0 0
At0the0catchment0scale,0what0is0the0current0trend0in0recruitment0levels 2 9 11 3
At0the0catchment0scale0please0score0the0current0levels0of0survival 11 15 0 0 0 0
At0the0catchment0scale0please0score0the0current0trend0in0survival0levels0
O0Grilse0 17 0 0
At0the0catchment0scale0please0score0the0current0trend0in0survival0levels0
O0MSW1 14 2 5
For0the0catchment0as0a0whole0(catchment0level),0how0would0you0score0
the0overall0opportunity0to0access0fishing0(for0all)0 0 0 15 11 0
Is0the0opportunity0to0access0angling0broadly0the0same0for0all0members0
of0society19 6
Is0the0opportunity0to0access0fishing0broadly0the0same0for0all0areas0of0
the0catchment9 15
Hands up voting
Some answers may differ to our own views
Negative assessment of salmon stocks was not generally felt to be representative of other main species of fisheries interest (trout, sea trout, grayling, and coarse fish)
Developing a shared vision
Reasonably homogenous opinion although more could be done to develop a shared understanding
Important to inform & educate where possible still- multiple impacts on fisheries –not a single issue
Un-resolved issues fed into the development of fisheries action plan.
Collective view could be developed by physically bringing together stakeholders and the issues with the river.
Bus-tour of the catchment organised, with multiple sites visited and expert interpretation- great opportunity to bring together diverse upper & lower stakeholders
Developing a shared vision
Mailing list was set up to ensure the sustained involvement of stakeholders.
Initial surge in interest (80%) open rate of mailing list has stabilised around 60%
Few recipients clicked on links, therefore information funnelled into main email.
TFF group shown steady growth, 35 subscribers at launch to 65 subscribers 2017.
Once a shared vision established, evidence collected & reviewed in a multi-stakeholder meeting including public, private and 3rd sector organisation.
Evidence combined & priorities agreed based on this evidence: Mind map created
Developing a shared vision
Creation of Action Plan
Based on the process, a proposal for the improvement of Tamar salmon and seatrout stocks was created, & TFF now seeking funding to deliver this plan
Limitations:• Water quality works are covered under other projects such as UST2, &therefore
excluded • Weir improvements are excluded at the request from the TTFA
Background information and approach
Recommendations broadly follow the Defend/Repair/Attack framework developed by Ronald Campbell of the Tweed foundation
Tip! This approach generally well received when working with Anglers
DefendThese areas have good stocks and habitat, and need safeguarding actions to ensure no decline occurs.
RepairThese areas have moderate fish stocks, and fish habitat in a moderate condition; these areas need assisted habitat recovery to move them into the Defend category.
AttackThese areas have poor fish stocks, and the habitat is significantly degraded. These areas need drastic intervention such as habitat reengineering in order to improve their status.
Such actions can involve the third and volunteer sectors as well as statutory bodies,
e.g. a fishing club may choose to adopt catch and release in a poorly performing tributary, but only maintain bag limits on those that are doing well
Classification of the Tamar according to Attack/Restore/Defend model
Attack
The Wolf. Roadford dam impact & therefore impossible to restore to natural state. Gravel reintroduction –potential
The upper Tamar (including Deer, Claw and Main Tamar), CareyHistorically produced significant salmon spawning. Loss of habitat & high levels of silt & erosion -several active projects including USTAnecdotal evidence suggests the upper Tamar is ‘cleaner than they have ever seen it’in recent years. Early results from WRT’s data analysis support this conclusion.
Therefore ‘attack’ approach to increase salmon & trout fry productivity
Limiting factor clean spawning gravel. 1) gravel cleaning or 2) introduction of artificial spawning beds –comparison of results
Classification of the Tamar according to Attack/Restore/Defend model
RestoreOttery, and Kensey
WQ issues related to both point and diffuse pollution
However retains natural salmon spawning
Model proposes restoration activity including: over-shading & gravel siltation.
fisheries habitat walkover survey to target these works. River-fly/WQ surveys targeted near potential point-sources
Ottery has opportunities involving gravel works combined with coarse and large woody material to encourage flow over gravels and therefore reduce siltation. Brash installation also suitable technique for bank stabilisation.
Classification of the Tamar according to Attack/Restore/Defend model
DefendThe Inny.Important moorland fed spawning area for salmon and sea trout.WQ measurements indicate that this may be declining - increased maize growth +industryGravel cleaning appropriate measure to defend declining WQ & siltation.Monitor fry productivity to detect WQ issues.Suitable site for defending against invasive weed growth
The Lyd (including Lew and Thrushel, but excluding the Wolf)
Highly productive sub-catchment for both (sea) trout and salmon.maximise productivity by riparian shade management & monitoring
Include river-fly and EF monitoring, walk over surveys to ensure that riparianmanagement is optimised for salmon juvenile productivity.
Conclusions Framework facilitates rational discussion with anglers-
Breakdown ideas & passion into a useable & weighted format
Challenges- raising expectations- subsequent dis-engagement if unable to deliver improvements
Fisheries/conservation conflict management
Relent of control - May not agree with all outcomes e.g. excluding weirs
Future aspiration's – currently applying for funding