Environment Agency News Release

To help ensure the long-term future of salmon fishing on the River Ribble, Lancashire, there is now a bag limit of two salmon per angler within the entire Ribble catchment per season (16 June to 31 October).

This is complemented by a net limitation order that will reduce the number of commercial nets from six to two via natural wastage.

Andy Brown, Fisheries Team Leader for Lancashire, said: “The decision to change the byelaws has not been taken lightly and has involved extensive consultations with the netsmen and angling representatives from Ribble Fisheries and Lancashire Fisheries Consultatives as well as a public meeting.

“After many years of declining numbers salmon stocks are starting to rise, but not to the extent that the Ribble’s conservation target will be met. These changes are to preserve the long-term future of both the rod and net fisheries on the Ribble and ultimately improve the catches for both parties.”

To help police these changes the Environment Agency has introduced a new pilot salmon carcass tagging scheme that has been developed with help from anglers and netsmen.

The Environment Agency will issue each angler with two tags per year free of charge from four outlets* along the Ribble catchment and some clubs will be issuing tags directly. Under the scheme all salmon taken from the river must be tagged with this unique ID as soon as they are removed and then declared in the anglers’ catch return at the end of each season. 

*Tags will be able from the following location from mid May onwards.

1. Carters of Preston

2. Vareys of Clitheroe

3. Anglers All * Colne

4. Environment Agency office at Bamber Bridge, Preston

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