Restormel Fish Counter Annual Report 2008

This is the Restormel Fish Counter, Annual Report 2008 produced by the Environment Agency South West Region on April 2009. The report presents the upstream counts of migratory salmonids recorded on the River Fowey at Restormel Weir fish counting station (SX 107 613) over the period March 2008 to February 2009 inclusive. Data contained within this report covers the period of the commercial migratory salmonid net buy-back scheme and the National Spring Salmon Byelaws. The minimum upstream salmon estimate for 2008, over the period July 2008 to February 2009, was 938, which is the third highest recorded count over the past 14 years. The 2008 large sea trout count (482) shows a marked improvement in the number of returning fish when compared to 2007 (241). There was a significant decrease in the number of small sea trout returning in 2008 when compared to 2007 and the 10-year average. The fish counter suffered several faults equated to 12.5 days during this period.

Restormel Fish Counter Annual Report 2010

This is the Restormel Fish Counter, Annual Report 2010 produced by the Environment Agency South West Region on June 2011. The report presents the upstream counts of migratory salmonids recorded on the River Fowey at Restormel Weir fish counting station (SX 107 613) over the period March 2010 to February 2011 inclusive. Data contained within this report covers the period of the commercial migratory salmonid net buy-back scheme and the National Spring Salmon Byelaws. The minimum upstream salmon estimate for 2010, over the period July 2010 to February 2010, was 1220. The fish counter at Restormel suffered from only one major period of unscheduled downtime during 2010/2011. This was due to a counter fault over the period 21 to 30 August 2010 and equated to 10 days of downtime.

Restormel Fish Counter Annual Report 2011

This is the Restormel Fish Counter, Annual Report 2011 produced by the Environment Agency, Environmental Monitoring Team on May 2012. The report presents the upstream counts of migratory salmonids recorded on the River Fowey at Restormel Weir fish counting station (SX 107 613) over the period March 2011 to February 2012 inclusive. The minimum upstream salmon estimate for 2011, over the period July 2011 to February 2012, was 675. The minimum upstream sea trout estimate for 2011 was 10,022, which is the fifth highest count recorded in the last 17 years. The fish counter at Restormel had six periods of downtime due to counter faults which equated to 19 days of downtime overall. Fish counts were estimated for downtime caused by counter faults but not for weir cleaning due to the small numbers of fish involved.

The effect of water quality on coarse fish productivity and movement in the Lower River Irwell and Upper Manchester Ship Canal a watercourse recovering from historical pollution

This is the Effect of water quality on coarse fish productivity and movement in the Lower River Irwell and Upper Manchester Ship Canal: a watercourse recovering from historical pollution report produced by the Environment Agency in 2003. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of water quality upon coarse fish population dynamics in a lowland, urban watercourse. All of the research carried was undertaken in the lower River Irwell and upper Manchester Ship Canal, between February 1998 and December 2001. Of particular interest was the natural sustainability of the urban fishery given recent concern raised in the angling community over an apparent decline in coarse fish populations in lowland rivers. The research described in this report has concentrated upon the role of water quality in determining coarse fish population dynamics, and in particular: The impact of water quality upon fish growth and productivity; The impact of poor water quality and low dissolved oxygen concentrations upon fish distribution and movement; The impact of water quality upon the sexual development of fish.

The effect of abstraction on fish and fisheries

This is the report on the Effect of Abstraction on Fish and Fisheries presented at the 24th IFM Annual Study Course, The Changing Face of Fisheries September 1993 at Cardiff. Water is abstracted from rivers for a wide variety of uses and causing potential for conflicts between abstracters, fisheries and conservation interests, especially during natural low flows. It looks at the potential effects that flow reduction has over various stages of salmonids at various stages of their life history. The flow at the time of smolt migration has been found to be positively correlated with the number of returning adults, and flow is considered to be one of the most important environmental factors inducing salmonids to enter fresh water and ascend rivers. The importance of time series data on fish stocks and angling success together with models which ultimately relate discharge to standing stock are discussed in relation to the setting up of Minimum Acceptable Flows.

Episodic variations in stream water chemistry associated with acid rainfall and run-off and the effect on aquatic ecosystem, with particular reference to fish populations in N.W. England

This is the episodic variations in stream water chemistry associated with acid rainfall and run-off and the effect on aquatic ecosystems, with particular reference to fish populations in North West England produced by the North West Water Authority in 1985. This report looks at the biological, physical and chemical information collected over a five year period from over 100 sites on upland streams in the North West Region of which drained rocks of low buffering capacity. In both Lake District and South Pennine sites striking differences were found between the composition of invertebrate communities inhabiting acid-stressed and less acid-stressed streams. Electric fishing surveys showed that acidic streams (geometric mean pH <5.5) generally had abnormally low densities of salmonids ( < 0 .2m2) and that 0+ fish were very few or absent. The latter indicates recruitment failure. Salmon were more sensitive than trout to low pH.

A comparative survey of the fish populations of 10 West-Midlands meres of SSSI status

This is a comparative survey of the Fish Populations of 10 West-Midlands Mere of Site of Special Scientific Interest Status. The meres of the Shropshire-Cheshire plain (West Midlands) comprise over 60 water bodies. Water quality in the meres ranges from naturally eutrophic to nutrient limited and some of them have received Site of Special Scientific Interest status (SSSIs). This survey was commissioned in order to obtain quantitative information on the fish fauna of selected SSSIs and evaluate the likely impact of fish on other species within the community. The current survey was concerned with 10 of the West Midlands’ meres, a cross section of sites was selected. Sites were widely distributed from Marton Pool in the south-western part of Shropshire to Tabley moat in Chesire. Meres varied in size, depth and nutrient status. All were to be sampled using the methods outlined. The report is divided into different sections for clarity and ease of reference. The materials and methods section provides an outline of the location and status of each mere and information on known fish species present. The results were considered individually and comparatively, relative abundance of fish, species present, their diet, sex, age, parasite burdens and growth. Inter-site comparisons were made using information derived from echo-soundings, growth rate, diet, and species abundance for each site. The final section will be in the form of a general discussion, comparative information from longer term studies, conclusions and recommendations.

New Weir and Fish Pass Whitendale in August 1951

Two men working in a weir and fish pass at Whitendale, North West England, UK. This photo is part of a Photo Album that includes pictures from 1935 to 1954.

Rooks fish pass at Garstang Weir in River Wyre

Rooks fish pass at Garstang Weir in the River Wyre, North West England, UK. This photo shows pollution in River Lune in July 1949. This photo is part of a Photo Album that includes pictures from 1935 to 1954.

New Weir and Fish Pass Whitendale in August 1951

Two men working in a weir and fish pass at Whitendale, North West England, UK. This photo is part of a Photo Album that includes pictures from 1935 to 1954.

Abbeystead Fish Pass in the River Wyre, 1949

Photo of a check trap in Abbeystead Fish Pass in the River Wyre in 1949. The River Wyre is located in the North West of England, UK. This photo is part of a Photo Album that includes pictures from 1935 to 1954.

River Clough Farfield Weir showing a gap made for migratory fish June 1949 (Lune)

River Clough Farfield Weir showing a gap made for migratory fish in June 1949 (Lune). This photo is part of a Photo Album that includes pictures from 1935 to 1954. This Album was held by the EA North West.

Fish Trap at Gastang weir in the River Wyre in August 1951

Fish trap at Garstang weir in the River Wyre, North West of England, UK. This photo shows pollution in River Lune in July 1949. This photo is part of a Photo Album that includes pictures from 1935 to 1954.

Fish surveys on the Leven and Kent estuaries

This is the Wetland resource evaluation and the NRA's role in its conservation: Resource assessment report produced by North West Water in 1982. In this report data from a variety of sources in river Leven and Leven estuary have been examined to determine if there was any objective foundation for the allegations and for the assertion that poor fish catches were related to discharges of industrial effluent to the estuary. Catches of salmon and sea trout from the Leven did not appear to have suffered any long term declines and year to year fluctuations did not appear to be any more extreme than in other North West rivers. Fish surveys did not show any marked differences in the diversity or distribution of fish between the Kent and Leven estuaries but catches of flounders were consistently lower from the Leven estuary. Analysis of fisheries statistics of landings of fish and shellfish from Morecambe Bay did not show any evidence of localised declines in catches from the Leven estuary. Results of laboratory experiments suggested that populations of bivalve molluscs might be more at risk from the effects of discharges to the Leven estuary than resident or migratory fish.

A report on the strategic fisheries stock assessment survey of the River Winster 1995 together with a coarse fish survey in 1994 and reference to the 1995 drought

This is the report on the strategic fisheries stock assessment survey of the River Winster 1995 together with a coarse fish survey in 1994 and reference to the 1995 drought, produced by the Environment Agency North West in 1996. Salmonid production within the Winster catchment was dominated by trout although good densities of salmon juveniles were found on some main river sites. Despite suffering drought conditions for much of 1995, only salmon fry production appeared to have been affected. Coarse fish populations once found in the lower reaches of the Winster appear to have declined to very low levels with no fish sampled. This may be partly due to broken tidal gates allowing saline intrusion. It seems that the lower river was suited to the development of a recreational coarse fishery, now that the gates have been repaired. This report completes the strategic stock assessment surveys planned for the period 1992-1995. It represents the last major catchment that was surveyed to determine the current status of fisheries in the South and South West Cumbria areas.