Summary of fishery statistics 1993

This fisheries report summarises developments of the year 1993 in the North West region of the National Rivers Authority. It provides catch statistics, rod and line and commercial catches for salmon and sea trout, fish culture and hatchery operations, restocking with trout and freshwater fish, upstream fish movement recorded at authority fish counters, counts of salmon and sea trout spawning redds, fish mortalities, licences issued, and prosecutions. Among the streams that are covered in the report are the River Lune, River Kent, River Leven, River Ribble and River Derwent.

Fish tracking technology development. Phase 1 project definition desk study

The document reports on Phase 1 of a definition study to appraise the options to develop fish tracking equipment, in particular tags and data logging systems in order to improve the efficiency of the Environment Agency's tracking studies and to obtain a greater understanding of fish biology. Covered in this report are radio telemetry, audio telemetry, High Resolution Position Fixing, data storage and archival tags and other fish tracking systems such as biosonics.

Central area redd project [Ribble, Hodder and Lune catchments]

Redd counting is an integral part of most Fishery Officers duties. The number and distribution of salmonid redds throughout salmonid catchments provides invaluable information on the range and extent of spawning by both salmon and sea trout. A project was initiated by the Fisheries Science and Management Team of Central Area, North West Region in England in liaison with the Flood Defence function. The main objective of this project was to assess redd count data for Central Area and attempt to quantify these data in order to produce a grading system that would highlight key salmonid spawning areas. By showing which were the main areas for salmon and sea trout spawning, better informed decisions could be made on whether or not in-stream Flood Defence works should be given the go-ahead. The main salmonid catchments in Central Area were broken into individual reaches, approximately 1 km in length. The number of redds in these individual reaches were then calculated and a density per lkm value was obtained for each reach. A grading system was devised which involved looking at the range of density per km values and dividing this by five to produce 5 classes, A - E. A sixth class (F) was used where the density per Ion value was 0.00. This grading system was calculated at two levels of detail. Grades for salmon and sea trout were produced for each individual catchment and also on an Area-wide level. Maps were produced using a range of colours to represent the grade for each reach. These maps provide a highly useful overview of the status of salmonid spawning for each catchment over individual years and highlight the key salmon and sea trout spawning areas in each catchment. These maps and the associated summary data should now provide Flood Defence and Fisheries staff with a fairly detailed overview of the status of spawning in any location within the. main salmonid catchments in Central Area. Although these maps are very useful they should only be used as a guide. The current practice of consulting with the local Fishery Officer should be continued to ensure that expert local knowledge is taken into account.

River Wyre - a migratory salmonid river

This report has been prepared in response to a request from the National Rivers Authority. It produces a broad assessment of the River Wyre as a migratory salmonid river based on a site visit and the documentation provided, and looks at objectives of the Wyre salmon and sea trout restoration group. It also looks at ways for habitat improvement and recommends other possible means of fisheries management development for the River Wyre.

River Wyre salmon action plan December 2003

In 1996 a Strategy for the Management of Salmon in England and Wales was launched by the National Rivers Authority setting out objectives for the management of Salmon fisheries. These objectives are to be met through local Salmon Action Plans which are to be produced for each of the 68 principal salmon rivers in England and Wales by December 2003. A consultation document was produced for the river Wyre and released publicly during October 2003. This document: • Determined an egg deposition figure of 1.27 million eggs which would allow maximum gain from the fisheries • Raised a number of issues which are though to limit existing salmon production. • Identified actions which may be undertaken by the Environment Agency and other bodies to improved stocks. The document looks at the issues in the consultation document and also highlights some important changes to historic egg deposition rates following further analysis of the data. Some of the major issues addressed in the plan are: • Severe low flows on specific tributaries • Reduced juvenile production caused by insufficient habitat. • Changes in flow regime resulting in the wash out of gravels and redds. • The impact of man made structures preventing access to suitable spawning areas, and preventing the downstream distribution of spawning gravels.

Electrofishing survey of the River Calder and its tributaries - April 1978.

An electrofishing survey was undertaken in the period April 24th - 28th as part of the detailed biological study of the Calder Catchment being carried out by this department in early 1978. The sites to be fished were selected to indicate broadly the fishing status of the major sections of the main river and its larger tributaries and by no means intended to describe the fishing status of the whole catchment in detail. The results on the distributions of fish species are discussed, in general, in relation to the major polluting influences on the catchment. The results of the second survey are given and discussed separately in Appendix I.

River Ure fisheries monitoring report - summer 2001

Fish population studies in the River Ure have continued for their sixth successive year in order to examine and evaluate the effects of low flows and drought conditions particularly in relation to the Time Limited Licence abstraction at Kilgram Bridge, currently granted to Yorkshire Water Services. This monitoring report looks at the different fish populations and growth rates in the main river and tributaries, comparing the results to previous years. The report also looks at the general findings from angling, the medium term drought impacts, the abstraction impacts, and recommendations for investigations for 2002.

Central area fisheries annual report 1994

The purpose of this report is to record key events/data and to outline the activities of the NRA Central Area Fisheries Function during 1994. The Rivers looked at include the Ribble, Lune, Hodder and Wyre. The issues that the report looks at includes Hydrological and meterological data, catch data for salmon and sea trout, fish kills, and fish stocking. It also lists the Micro-tag returns for 1994 and the six key objectives that the Central Area Fisheries Function has set itself for 1995. The report uses a range of different graphs and tables to display their data.

Central area fisheries annual report 1995

The purpose of this report is to record key events and achievements of the NRA Central Area Fisheries Function in 1995. Rivers include the Ribble, Hodder and Lune. The report looks at Hydrological and meteorological data, site visits made during the year, communications and reports, Capital works and purchases, Stock assessment, monitoring and specific investigations, Fisheries Management advice, Fish kills and rescues, Fish rearing and stocking. It also looks at rod and net catches for salmon and sea trout, micro-tag returns, the drought, the results of the 1995 objectives set the year before and the key objectives for 1996.

Central area fisheries annual report 1996

The purpose of this report is to record key events and achievements of the NRA Central Area Fisheries Function in 1996. Rivers are Ribble, Hodder and Lune. The report looks at Hydrological and meteorological data, site visits made during the year, promotional events that it was involved with; communications and reports, Capital works and purchases, Stock assessment, monitoring and specific investigations, Fisheries Management advice, Fish kills and rescues, Fish rearing and stocking. It also includes catch data for net and rod catches for Salmon and Sea trout; the results of the objectives made last year and key objectives for next year.

Field validation of the 'Logie' fish counter at Forge weir on the River Lune, 1992

The stock assessment task group report (1991) mentions that fish counters could play a key role in providing data on the size of the adult stock, and in particular the migratory salmonid stock. This report assesses the performance of the 'logie' fish counter at Forge Weir on the River Lune. Using video surveillance, a total of 1137 hours time lapse and 15 hours real time were used for validation purposes. This report looks at materials and methods, counting accuracy, sizing ability and environmental conditions, performance across the electrode array and salmonid swimming speed.

Biological report - fish mortality, River Conder, 21.7.79

Following a large scale fish mortality caused by a considerable spillage of a pentachlbrophenol-based disinfectant from a mushroom farm, a biological survey of the river Conder was undertaken on 23.7.79. A spillage of this same make of disinfectant from this mushroom farm in February 1976 caused a similar large scale fish mortality. On that occasion, the pollution appeared to have little effect on the benthic invertebrates of the river Conder, with no dead organisms found, although the small beck which received the spillage was quite badly affected. This recent spillage of disinfectant involved a considerably greater volume (approximately 900 gallons) than the 1976 discharge and so this report looks at whether invertebrate fauna of the main river were affected on this occasion. Kick samples were taken at a number of sites in the river Conder from the confluence with the polluted beck to Conder Green. A control sample was also taken upstream of the confluence with the polluted beck. All samples were examined on site and live and dead invertebrates noted and identified as accurately as possible.

Report on sonic tracking of salmon - Ribble Estuary, 1980-82

The report looks at trials and results of sonic tracking devices. The report includes an appendix on a salmon tracking exercise using oxygen sensing ultrasonic transmitting tags which was carried out on the Ribble Estuary during the period 8th July 1982 to 19th July, 1982. The tags used were developed and manufactured by Aberdeen University and Zootelemetry Research Laboratory Ltd. of Aberdeen, working under contract from the Water Research Centre.

Validation of the performance of the Aquantic 2100A fish counter

This report looks at the validation of the performance of the Logie 2100A fish counter which was carried out at Forge Weir (River Lune) and Gunnislake Fish Pass (River Tamar), using a video recording system.

Electrofishing, survey of Skirden and Swanside Beck August/September 1987.

As a follow up survey, the report assesses Skirden and Swanside Beck (North West England) in order to determine: 1. The status of these systems as salmonid nursery streams. 2. The success of planting with salmon fry and parr, carried our earlier in the year. The report gives methods, results, a summary and the author's recommendations.