River Tavy SAP Final Plan

This is the River Tavy Salmon Action Plan Final document produced by the Environment Agency in 2000. This final Salmon Action Plan (SAP) for the River Tavy catchment has been produced after consideration of feedback from external consultation. It provides a list of the agreed issues and actions for the next five years to maintain and improve the River Tavy salmon stock. The actions presented within this Salmon Action Plan clarify the important issues and factors currently limiting the salmon stock on the river. The resolution of these issues should ensure that a sustainable salmon population will be maintained for future generations. An attempt has been made to cost these actions, identify possible sources of funding and to provide a timescale for action. This Action Plan aims to promote long term collaboration and co-operation between the Agency and other interested parties to effectively and efficiently manage the stock of salmon on the River Tavy.

River Yealm SAP Final Plan

This is the River Yealm Salmon Action Plan Final document produced by the Environment Agency in 2003. This final Salmon Action Plan (SAP) for the River Yealm catchment has been produced after consideration of feedback from external consultation. It provides a list of the agreed issues and actions for the next five years to maintain and improve the River Yealm salmon stock. The actions presented within this Salmon Action Plan clarify the important issues and factors currently limiting the salmon stock on the river. The resolution of these issues should ensure that a sustainable salmon population will be maintained for future generations. An attempt has been made to cost these actions, identify possible sources of funding and to provide a timescale for action. The main objective of the River Yealm SAP is to maintain, improve and develop the River Yealm salmon stocks to a sustainable level that, on the basis of historic catch records, the catchment can clearly support.

River Yealm SAP Consultation

This is the River Yealm Salmon Action Plan Consultation document produced by the Environment Agency in 2003. The report pays attention on the external consultation of the River Yealm Salmon Action Plan (SAP). This strategy represents an entirely new approach to salmon management within the UK and introduces the concept of river-specific salmon spawning targets as a salmon management tool. The River Yealm Salmon Action Plan follows the format of those completed for the rivers Tamar, Lynher, Tavy, Camel, Fowey and Plym. It is the final one of seven action plans that will be produced for salmon rivers managed by Cornwall Area. The River Yealm SAP contains a description of the river catchment and highlights particular features that are relevant to the salmon population and the associated fishery. Notably there are potable water abstractions in the headwaters, workings for china clay on the main tributary, two inert waste landfill sites and an aggregate quarry adjacent to the main river and inputs from several Sewage Treatment Works (STW) and two industrial estates. The main River Yealm has been designated as River Ecosystem Class 1 for its water quality objectives. This is the highest water quality target set for rivers.

The River Axe SAP Consultation Document

This is the River Axe Salmon Action Plan Consultation document produced by the Environment Agency in 2003. The report pays attention on the external consultation of the River Axe Salmon Action Plan (SAP). This strategy represents an entirely new approach to salmon management within the UK and introduces the concept of river-specific salmon spawning targets as a salmon management tool. This document is part of a national initiative to produce action plans for the management of all the main salmon rivers of England and Wales by 2003. The aim of this plan is (i) to assess the status of the salmon stocks and fisheries of the River Axe - including the use of Conservation Limits as part of this process, (ii) to identify factors which may be limiting stock and fishery performance and (iii) to propose remedial measures address these factors. The salmon stock of the River Axe was apparently in a healthy state in the 1950s, supporting net and rod fisheries with average annual catches of around 100 and 50 fish respectively. Catches declined through the 1970s and 1980s to the extent where no salmon were recorded in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This decline was probably due largely to the effects of agricultural pollution, which virtually extinguished the salmon stock of the River Axe. Water quality has subsequently improved, but has deteriorated again in recent years.

The River Axe SAP Final Plan

This is the River Axe Salmon Action Plan Final document produced by the Environment Agency in 2004. The River Axe Salmon Action Plan (SAP) has been produced after consideration of feedback from public consultation. The final plan provides a list of the agreed issues and actions for the next five years to maintain and improve the salmon stock of the River Axe. Efforts have been made to identify possible sources of funding, partners and timescales. It indicates how the plan will be managed, including the process for reviewing stock status, issues, actions and progress. Low marine survival is currently a major factor limiting salmon stocks throughout the United Kingdom. However, on the River Axe the freshwater environment is still the main factor limiting the recovery of the salmon stock. Most of the adults returning to the Axe at present are probably derived from hatchery reared smolts, although there has been some natural reproduction in recent years. Juvenile populations in the Yarty indicate that this is a tributary where salmon have started to re-establish a self-sustaining population. Actions to improve the quality of the freshwater environment, both in terms of water quality and sedimentation, are seen as the top priorities, and are required to allow the Axe to support a self-sustaining salmon population.

The River Exe SAP Consultation Document

This is the River Exe Salmon Action Plan Consultation document produced by the Environment Agency in 2003. The report pays attention on the external consultation of the River Exe Salmon Action Plan (SAP). This strategy represents an entirely new approach to salmon management within the UK and introduces the concept of river-specific salmon spawning targets as a salmon management tool. The River Exe SAP follows the format of those completed for the Rivers Teign, Torridge, Taw and Dart. It is the fifth of eight action plans that will be produced for salmon rivers within Devon Area. The River Exe SAP contains a description of the river catchment and highlights particular features that are relevant to the salmon population and the associated fishery. The Exe salmon stock is judged to be meeting its Conservation Limit. However, this assessment is uncertain as it is based on an estimate of rod exploitation rate, which in itself is also uncertain. At present there is no means of accurately assessing the River Exe salmon run. In common with many other rivers, estimation of stock using catch statistics and rod exploitation rate is the model used, when direct assessment is not possible. The installation of a fish counter on the lower river, or the use of other direct counting methods, would help to provide a direct assessment of the annual run of salmon into the river. This would improve our ability to estimate the spawning escapement and hence assess compliance with the Conservation Limit.

The River Lyn SAP Consultation Document

This is the River Lyn Salmon Action Plan Consultation document produced by the Environment Agency in 2003. The report pays attention on the external consultation of the River Lyn Salmon Action Plan (SAP). This approach to salmon management within the England and Wales introduces the concept of river-specific Conservation Limits as a method of assessing the status of the salmon stock. The River Lyn Salmon Action Plan follows the format of those completed for the Rivers Exe, Axe, Avon & Erme, Teign, Torridge, Taw and Dart. It is the last of eight action plans that have been produced for salmon rivers within Devon Area. The River Lyn Salmon Action Plan contains a description of the river catchment and highlights particular features that are relevant to the salmon population and the associated fishery. The Lyn salmon stock is judged to be meeting its Conservation Limit. However, this assessment is uncertain as it is based on an estimate of rod exploitation rate, which in itself is also uncertain.

The River Lyn SAP Final Plan

This is the River Lyn Salmon Action Plan Final document produced by the Environment Agency in 2003. This final Salmon Action Plan (SAP) for the River Lyn catchment has been produced after consideration of feedback from external consultation. It provides a list of the agreed issues and actions for the next five years to maintain and improve the River Lyn salmon stock. The actions presented within this Salmon Action Plan clarify the important issues and factors currently limiting the salmon stock on the river. The resolution of these issues should ensure that a sustainable salmon population will be maintained for future generations. An attempt has been made to cost these actions, identify possible sources of funding and to provide a timescale for action. This SAP aims also to promote long term collaboration between the Agency and other interested parties in managing the River Lyn salmon stock and fisheries.

The River Taw SAP Consultation Document

This is the River Taw Salmon Action Plan Consultation document produced by the Environment Agency in 2000. The report pays attention on the external consultation of the River Taw Salmon Action Plan (SAP). This approach to salmon management within the England and Wales introduces the concept of river-specific Conservation Limits as a method of assessing the status of the salmon stock. The River Taw Salmon Action Plan (SAP) includes a description of the current status of the rod and net fisheries and historical trends. The Taw salmon stock has declined since the 1960s and is currently failing to meet the spawning target. The decline in the spring fish component has accounted largely for the overall decrease in stocks. The reasons for the decline are unclear, but the spring fish problem is recognised as a national issue. The rate of survival over the marine phase has reduced in recent years for both the grilse and MSW components. This is undoubtedly a contributory factor, which may now constrain stocks to lower levels than have existed historically.

The River Taw SAP Final Plan

This is the River Taw Salmon Action Plan Final document produced by the Environment Agency in 2000. This final Salmon Action Plan (SAP) for the River Taw catchment has been produced after consideration of feedback from external consultation. The SAP provides a list of the issues and actions which were agreed for a five-year programme to maintain and improve the River Taw salmon stock. Some of these actions have already been delivered before finalising the SAP, but others have yet to be addressed. An attempt has been made to estimate the cost of the actions, identify possible sources of funding and the timescale under which they will be dealt with. The Taw salmon stock is currently failing to meet its spawning target. However, there was a period of compliance in the 1990s following a decade of failure through the 1980s. The freshwater environment of the Taw has improved in recent years. The actions presented in this SAP are perceived as those that are required to address, as far as possible, the important issues and factors currently limiting the salmon stock on the river. This SAP aims to promote long term collaboration between the Agency and other interested parties in managing the River Taw salmon stock and fisheries.

The River Teign SAP Final Plan

This is the River Teign Salmon Action Plan Final document produced by the Environment Agency in 2003. This final Salmon Action Plan (SAP) for the River Teign catchment has been produced after consideration of feedback from external consultation. This final plan provides a list of the agreed issues and actions for the next five years to maintain and improve the River Teign salmon stock. An attempt has been made to cost these actions, identify possible sources of funding, partners and the timescale under which they will be dealt with. It indicates how the plan will be managed, i.e., implemented and reviewed, and, summarises progress of on-going actions. The low marine survival (likely to be below 10%) is possibly the main cause for the River Teign salmon stock non-compliance with its conservation limit. Actions protecting smolts and maximising spawning activity of returning adults are seen as priorities to contribute to offset the low marine survival. This SAP aims also to promote long term collaboration between the Agency and other interested parties in managing the River Teign salmon stock and fisheries.

The River Torridge SAP Final Plan

This is the River Torridge Salmon Action Plan Final document produced by the Environment Agency in 2000. This final Salmon Action Plan (SAP) for the River Torridge catchment has been produced after consideration of feedback from external consultation. The SAP provides a list of the issues and actions which were agreed for a five-year programme to maintain and improve the River Torridge salmon stock. Some of these actions have already been delivered before finalising the SAP, but others have yet to be addressed. An attempt has been made to estimate the cost of the actions, identify possible sources of funding and the timescale under which they will be dealt with. The Torridge salmon stock has declined dramatically since the 1960s and is currently failing to meet the spawning target. The decline in the spring fish component has accounted largely for the overall decrease in stocks. The reasons for the decline are not fully understood, but the spring fish problem is recognised as a national issue. The rate of survival over the marine phase has reduced in recent years for both the grilse and multi-sea winter (MSW) components. This is undoubtedly a contributory factor, which may now constrain stocks to lower levels than have existed historically. Agricultural pollution is recognised as one of the main factors limiting freshwater production. This SAP aims to promote long term collaboration between the Agency and other interested parties in managing the River Torridge salmon stock and fisheries.

Biological survey: River Teign and tributaries with references to the discharge of ball clay wastes

This is the Biological survey of River Teign and tributaries with references to the discharge of ball clay wastes, document produced by South West Water Authority in 1973. This report focuses on on-site assessment of the benthic macro-invertebrates of the lower River Teign, River Bovey, Ugbrooke Stream and Blatchford Brook was undertaken on 19th and 22nd August 1977 to assess the effects of discharges from ball clay mining premises. Inspection of aquatic fauna in the field is of necessity, less extensive than laboratory identification of sorted samples, so that the resulting data underestimates the water quality. This is more pronounced in the Chandler Score than in the Trent Biotic Index which does not take account of species abundance. Chandler should thus be interpreted by the trends described rather than by absolute values calculated.

Fisheries survey of the River Otter 1978

This is the Fisheries survey of the River Otter report produced by South West Water Authority in 1979. This report focuses on the trout fishery in the River Otter and the possible effects of abstraction and/or pollution. A survey was carried out to describe the fish stocks. Trout and eels were the dominant species. The population structure of trout was peculiar, there being relatively few juveniles. Growth was good and there were numerous trout of take able size in the river at the end of the fishing season. Variations in the parameters measured are explained and nothing can be attributed to abstraction or pollution.

River Lemon (Teign catchment) fisheries survey

This is the River Lemon (Teign catchment) fisheries survey report produced by South West Water Authority in 1979. This report aims to determine the penetration of Salmon into the River Lemon System and to a lesser degree estimate the population of resident salmonids. Five sections were surveyed being easily accessible and fishable by electro fishing methods.