The fisheries Aspects of North West Water AuthoritySchemes to Increase Water Abstraction in West Cumbria

This is the report on the Fisheries Aspects of North West Water Authority Schemes to Increase Water Abstraction in West Cumbria by the Egremont and District Anglers’ Association. Existing river pollution and water abstraction in the Ennerdale Lake-River Ehen system is shown to have caused a major deterioration in the conditions in the Ehen fishery. This is reflected by the fact that catches of salmon, sea trout and smelts on the Ehen have all fallen to roughly 6% of the 1965 level; wich is far worse than the deterioration shown in salmon catches for S. W. Cumberland as a whole. Recommendations are made, in the light of proposals by North West Water Authority to increase water abstraction in West Cumbria, to prevent further deterioration in the Ehen fishery in the short term and to improve the situation in the longer term. It contains sections on pollution, water abstraction and fisheries background, flow statistics for and discussion of high water-droughts on the River Ehen, effects of droughts on Tidal Water and a discussion of N.W.W.A. Paper entitled `Water Resources in West Cumbria’ in the light of conditions on the River Ehen.

The assessment of the flow requirements for upstream migration of salmonids in some rivers of North West England

This is the assessment of the flow requirements for upstream migration of salmonids in some rivers of North West England produced by the North West Water Authority in 1985. This report focuses on the automatic fish counters operating on the resistivity principle used for several years in North West England. This report aims to investigate the flow requirements for upstream migration of salmon and migratory trout. The data obtained confirmed that during summer months most fish movement occurs in the higher range of the available flows, but the migration flow range varied from year to year, depending on prevailing river levels. Of the other environmental variables measured, only water temperature and incident light intensity appear to have any direct association with fish movement. Information on migration flow ranges were used in conjunction with computer simulations of the effects of abstraction proposals on historical flows to assess the implications of these proposals for migratory fish.

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.

South Pennine Moors cSAC-SPA. North West Region-South Area

This is the report on Habitats Directive, the Review of Consents Stage 1 and 2 by the Environment Agency of the South Pennine Moors cSAC/SPA. The Habitats Directive has the main aim to promote the maintenance of biodiversity by defining a common framework for the conservation of wild plants and animals and habitats of community interest. The Directive establishes a European ecological network known as "Natura 2000". The network comprises Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA). In the section on Stage 1 or Screening Process of the Habitat Directive, it is identified the likely impacts upon the Rixton Clay Pits cSAC of a project, plan or activities, either alone or in combination with other projects, plans or activities, and considers whether these impacts are likely to be significant. In the section on Stage 2 or Appropiate Assessment of the Habitat Directive, it is considered the impact on the integrity of the Rixton Clay Pits cSAC of the projects, plans or activities, either alone or in combination with other projects, plans or activities, with respect to the site’s structure and function and its conservation objectives. Additionally, where these are adverse impacts, an assessment of the potential mitigation of those impacts. The criteria used in this report to identify relevant projects, plans or activities and their impacts are water quality discharge consents, waste management licences, abstraction licences, Integration Pollution Control (IPC) and Integrated Pollution Prevention Control (IPPC) permits. Proformas, hydrogeological and GIS maps are included in the review.

West Middlands Mosses cSAC, Wybunbury Moss and Abbots Moss

This is the report on Habitats Directive, the Review of Consents Stage 1 and 2 by the Environment Agency of the West Midlands Mosses cSAC, Wybunbury Moss and Abbots Moss. The Habitats Directive has the main aim to promote the maintenance of biodiversity by defining a common framework for the conservation of wild plants and animals and habitats of community interest. The Directive establishes a European ecological network known as "Natura 2000". The network comprises Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA). In the section on Stage 1 or Screening Process of the Habitat Directive, it is identified the likely impacts upon the West Midlands Mosses cSAC, Wybunbury Moss and Abbots Moss of a project, plan or activities, either alone or in combination with other projects, plans or activities, and considers whether these impacts are likely to be significant. In the section on Stage 2 or Appropiate Assessment of the Habitat Directive, it is considered the impact on the integrity of the West Midlands Mosses cSAC, Wybunbury Moss and Abbots Moss of the projects, plans or activities, either alone or in combination with other projects, plans or activities, with respect to the site’s structure and function and its conservation objectives. Additionally, where these are adverse impacts, an assessment of the potential mitigation of those impacts. The criteria used in this report to identify relevant projects, plans or activities and their impacts are water quality discharge consents, waste management licences, abstraction licences, Integration Pollution Control (IPC) and Integrated Pollution Prevention Control (IPPC) permits. Proformas, hydrogeological and GIS maps are included in the review.

2001 annual report on fisheries in the North West

This is the 2001 annual report on fisheries in the North West produced by the Environment Agency North West in 2002. This report has four main aims: to inform the Agency’s customers of developments within the Agency, to inform the Agency’s customers of the work carried out by the Agency, to publish information on the performance of fisheries and the Fisheries Department, and to be a source of future reference. The fisheries service is funded in the main by a mixture of rod licence income and government grant-in-aid. The latter has declined substantially since the mid 1990’s and we are increasingly reliant on licence income to fund fisheries work. The environment agency had managed to use some of this money to fund their Urban Fisheries Development Programme, (UFDP). This is aimed at delivering new or improved fisheries in areas where demand for fishing is high, but where available fisheries are few in number or of poor quality. This work is dependent on good co-operation with local angling clubs, councils and other interests.

A report on the strategic fisheries stock assessment survey of the minor catchments in South West Cumbria 1996 with particular reference to salmonids

This is the report on the strategic fisheries stock assessment survey of the minor catchments in South West Cumbria 1996 with particular reference to salmonids, produced by North West Water in 1994. The 1996 Minor Catchment survey indicates variations in salmonid production within these catchments. Survey results indicate that production may be reaching its limit in certain areas whilst others are underachieving and others are unsuitable for salmonid production. Trout production within the catchments is higher and more widespread than that of salmon. Water quality levels vary considerably between catchments and intra-annually within individual catchments. The need for selective habitat surveys, with a view to habitat improvement schemes (H.I.S) is discussed. This report formed a basis for subsequent reports, thus, allowing data comparisons and analysis of production level fluctuations. It was the most extensive assessment of these catchments to date, taking into account comparisons with the new National Database on salmonid production in England and Wales.

Workshop and Symposium on Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries: Towards FAO Guidelines on Marine and Inland Small-scale Fisheries, 19-21 September, 2011, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

The workshop and symposium titled Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries: Towards FAO Guidelines on Marine and Inland Small-scale Fisheries was jointly organized by the National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) and the Society for Direct Initiative for Social and Health Action (DISHA), in collaboration with the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF). The workshop was the first in a series of consultations around the world organized to discuss the Voluntary Guidelines on Small-scale Fisheries (VGSSF) and propose measures, keeping in mind the interests and concerns of small-scale fisheries and fishing communities. The workshop was also a forum to make the role of small-scale fisheries and fishworkers more visible in the context of food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable use of fishery resources. The workshop had 62 participants from both the marine and inland sectors, representing 10 States of India. The participants included fishworkers, representatives of fishworker organizations, policymakers and representatives of multilateral organizations. The workshop was structured to facilitate active interaction and discussion among participants, taking into account linguistic diversity and the contextual differences of the marine and inland sectors. This publication will be useful for fishworkers, fishworker organizations, researchers, policymakers, fish farmers, members of civil society and anyone interested in small-scale fisheries and livelihoods.