More evidence that salmon are beginning to return to the River Aire has been uncovered during a survey carried out by the Environment Agency.
During a routine fishery survey, designed to assess the fish population at the survey point, two salmon of around three pounds were caught at Chapel Haddlesey weir, which is at the tidal limit of the Aire, near Eggborough and off the M62.
Scales from the fish have been taken for analysis, and Environment Agency fish experts believe they will show that the fish have been away at sea for one year before returning to the Ouse system, which includes the Aire.
Salmon have also previously been caught on the Aire by anglers, but these were the first to be caught by an Environment Agency survey team.
The survey’s salmon catch shows that the water quality has greatly improved, to allow the fish to return to this once very polluted watercourse.
Richard Atkinson, of the Environment Agency’s fisheries team, said: “We’re unsure about the numbers of salmon entering the Aire system, but this survey does prove that salmon are there in the lower reaches of the river.
“The improvements made to the Aire’s water quality by Yorkshire Water and the reduction of industrial discharges have allowed the formation of viable coarse and trout fisheries over the last few years. I should however stress that there are a number of weirs upstream of Eggborough, only six of which have fish passes. These weirs are still a major obstacle to some of the Aire fish populations, including salmon.”
On December 8 this year (2007) the Environment Agency launched a fish pass on the Aire at Castleford, which was opened by Yvette Cooper MP. The pass is built into the north side of the river, allowing fish to swim and leap up a series of baffles in the upstream waters, and is a milestone in the river’s regeneration.
A large salmon of approximately 11 pounds was also caught during a routine survey carried out last year on the River Don at Sprotborough near Doncaster.
