January 2011 – Supplied by the Environment Agency

 

January 2011

 

Otters
The results of a national otter survey have been published. In the 1970s, two per cent of Yorkshire sites visited showed signs of otters. Today 63 per cent do. A small otter population is spread over a wide area, with fewer otters in South Yorkshire than elsewhere. Some otters are using coastal streams and feeding in the sea. Numbers have increased because of a ban on pesticides, legal protection, and water quality improvements which have allowed fish stocks to recover. A re-introduction programme run by the Vincent Wildlife Trust between 1990 and 1996 probably speeded things up, but the recovery has mostly been down to natural recolonisation. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/wildlife/110740.aspx

‘Otters – The Facts’ is published by ourselves, the Angling Trust and Natural England
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Business/Otters_the_facts.pdf

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OtterOtters are protected by law and cannot be disturbed or injured. We can bid to support up to 50 per cent of the cost of otter fencing on stillwaters with public access. This includes club waters with an open access policy (no cap on numbers or other membership restrictions) and day ticket waters, including commercial fisheries. We cannot help fund fencing at syndicate or other waters where members of the wider public cannot get access. Our funding comes directly from rod licence income, so we need to ensure the maximum number of anglers benefit from the projects we fund. Bids are competitive, so funding cannot be guaranteed. We cannot consider retrospective funding applications. This year we have contributed towards the cost of otter-proof fencing at three fisheries in North and East Yorkshire. Please contact us for more information.

National News
In October, Government reviewed all of its arm’s-length bodies (“Quangos”) deciding to ‘retain and substantially reform’ the Environment Agency. The Environment Agency in Wales may move to form part of a Welsh Assembly Government  Environmental Body.
http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/news/2010/10/14/public-bodies/

The arm’s-length body review announced that our statutory advisory committees FERAC (Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation) and EPAC (Environment Protection) will be abolished. The committees will be replaced by advisory groups able to provide expert local advice where required. These will be designed in close consultation with the existing committees and others, to ensure the benefits of the current system are not lost. More information on these committees can be found here: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/aboutus/organisation/100969.aspx and http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/aboutus/organisation/100967.aspx

Following the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review, Defra (the EA’s governing  Department) will reduce resource spending by 29 per cent and capital spending by 34 per cent over the next five years (resource spend means things like staff wages, capital spend means money spent on projects). Defra’s administration budget will be reduced 33 per cent. We are waiting to hear how this will affect us, but it will mean that we will have to be very clear about our priorities and how we spend our budgets to achieve the maximum benefit. http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/news/2010/10/20/comprehensive-spending-review/

Defra will be hosting an angling summit in 2011 to discuss a variety of issues related to angling, including levels of participation. The Angling Trust and other representative bodies will be invited.

We have published the results of a major habitat survey of streams and rivers. There has been little overall change in the amount of channel modification, riverside trees, and the distribution of Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed, since the last similar survey (1995-97). However, 43 per cent of river length is severely modified, many upland streams remain treeless and Himalayan balsam has spread. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/publications/123383.aspx

Killer ShrimpA non-native invasive shrimp has been found in Anglian Region and Wales. The ‘killer shrimp’ can kill native invertebrates and young fish. You can help prevent the spread of the shrimp by:
 – thoroughly cleaning nets and equipment between uses;
 – drying all nets and equipment after use; and
 – checking for any signs of the shrimp on nets and equipment (particularly folds in waders / wellies)

‘Killer shrimp’ are  one cm to three cm long, much bigger than natives. If you find one, please let us know as soon as possible. http://www.nonnativespecies.org

Local News
Yorkshire and North East Environment Agency is now on Twitter. Sign up for a daily update about the Environment Agency’s work  @EnvAgencyYNE –  http://twitter.com/EnvAgencyYNE

Between August and November, fisheries enforcement officers questioned 5,561 anglers across Yorkshire, resulting in 186 offence reports being issued. Added to the figures for April to July, this means 14,221 anglers have been questioned and 657 offence reports issued since the beginning of the financial year.

You can use our hotline to report suspected Fisheries offences to us (0800 80 70 60). We look into all reports, but the more information you can give us (names, descriptions of vehicles and people) the more chance we have of prosecuting offenders. New legislation (Marine & Coastal Access Act 2009) means that licence-holding anglers can no longer ask to see another person’s rod licence.

In September, we held a workshop with several angling clubs from throughout the area to introduce new byelaws limiting the removal of fish. The byelaws address the removal of large numbers of fish, and of specimen fish. Removing small numbers of coarse fish is unlikely to impact on the overall population. However, it can affect the makeup of stocks and, as a result, can seriously affect the fisheries they support. Byelaws can be downloaded from http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/fishing/31465.aspx

We use angler catches to help us assess our river’s fish stocks. Game anglers and coarse angling match secretaries are asked to please return their 2010 ’Brown trout and Grayling Logbooks’ or ‘matchcards’ as soon as possible. Once all are returned, we can start using your data. If you would like logbooks or matchcards for 2011/12, please get in touch.

We are continuing our consultation about future recreational use of the River Dearne. Concerns, issues, needs and questions raised by angling and canoeing representatives have been investigated by independent consultant firm, Icarus. Their evidence gathering report found that access agreements work elsewhere (e.g. River Waveney, Suffolk) and there is no published evidence supporting the view that canoeing on rivers damages fish populations, plants or other wildlife. Most canoeists and anglers interviewed on the river bank reported no problems as having occurred between the two groups. The Environment Agency promotes all sustainable water based recreation on our land, for people of all backgrounds. As such, we will explore how we can work together with partners to ensure sustainable access is achieved on the River Dearne. This January, we will begin to work with our partners to develop an agreement to promote sustainable access. Our consultation will be opened up to people who enjoy, for example, bird watching, or walking, as well as continuing to include anglers and canoeists. To comment on recreation on the Dearne, please email dearneaccess@environment-agency.gov.uk

The Yorkshire floating pennywort forum met in December. This group, dedicated to the eradication of this invasive plant, includes ourselves, British Waterways, the Calder & Colne Rivers Trust, the Don Catchment Rivers Trust and Local Authorities. Spraying has been completed successfully on rivers and we are working with British Waterways to develop more effective control methods for canals.

Improving and maintaining sustainable stocks of salmon and other fish will remain a priority. 2010 saw Yorkshire’s salmon and sea trout populations continue to recover. Our surveys have found good numbers of parr in the Ure and its tributaries, with parr also being found in the Swale, Nidd, Derwent and Wharfe. Adult migration on the Wharfe is being monitored at Boston Spa fish pass, using a counter funded by the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust. An adult salmon and a sea trout were also caught downstream of Knottingley weir (River Aire). http://www.yorkshiredalesriverstrust.org.uk/.

We have completed a new fish pass on one of our weirs on the Sheaf (Heeley Bridge, Sheffield) and have removed Alma Weir (River Skell) as part of the Ripon Flood Alleviation Scheme. We have also worked with flood defence colleagues to build shallow berms and add pools, riffles and boulders to sites on the Don where channel clearance works were carried out last year (Malin Bridge and Penistone). We are hoping to carry out fish passage improvements at Malin Bridge next year.

Malin Bridge
Restoring habitat at Malin Bridge

We stock fish into rivers that need a helping hand to restore self sustaining populations. As populations recover, the need for artificial stocking will reduce, and the river’s ecology will improve. Recent stockings include:
River Hull tributaries: 500 barbel, 1,500 chub, 1,500 dace and 1,000 roach.
River Wharfe: 6,000 grayling
River Nidd: 4,500 grayling
River Swale tributaries: 3,000 grayling
River Don: 1,000 barbel
River Aire: 3,000 barbel
Ea Beck: 400 chub and 200 roach


We have moved 300 brown trout from the upper River Colne to sites near Linthwaite, to help the river recover from a series of pollution incidents (grayling restocking took place last summer). We cannot move trout between different rivers, as most have genetically unique stocks.


Young barbel
A young barbel for the Don

Fish have also been stocked into stillwaters. Crucians and tench have been stocked into coaching venues at Avocet Lake (Brough Ponds complex) and Scarborough Mere whilst Carthorpe Pond (Bedale) received the same species after a serious pollution incident. Tench, roach, bream and crucians have now all been stocked into Charlton Brook Dam (Sheffield), following its recent restoration.

We have created a small ORSU (‘Off River Supply Unit’) at Linton Locks as part of Linton Ings outfall maintenance works. ORSUs are small reeded areas, which provide a backwater refuge for fish, as well as spawning and nursery habitat.

The Riverfly Partnership is a network of more than 60 organisations, working together to protect water quality, improve knowledge of river fly populations and protect river fly habitats. We have worked with SPRITE (Sheffield Partnership for Rivers in Town Environments) and the Calder & Colne Rivers Trust to train volunteers to carry out river fly surveys. http://www.spanglefish.com/sprite-southyorks/ http://calderandcolneriverstrust.org/

Riverfly surveys complement our own monitoring programme, help protect water quality and act as a deterrent to potential polluters. Please contact the Riverfly Partnership if your organisation would like to join in too. info@riverflies.org , 020 7929 6966, http://www.riverflies.org/index/riverfly_monit.html

Koi Herpesvirus (KHV) has been found at a stillwater in the East Riding, following large numbers of carp deaths. Measures are in place to minimise the risk of the disease spreading. Cefas must be notified of any suspected outbreaks of KHV, (01305 206700, fhi@cefas.gov.uk). Dead or dying carp with bleeding gills, white patches on gills or skin, sunken eyes, or hyperactive behaviour might be caused by KHV (although other diseases could be responsible). More information on KHV is at http://www.efishbusiness.co.uk/news/khv-health-status-england-wales.asp

All funding has now been received to build a fish pass at Sprotborough (River Don) next year, subject to British Waterway’s plans for a hydropower scheme on the weir.

A detailed design is being drawn up for a fish pass at Chapel Haddlesey (River Aire), as part of a partnership between ourselves, North Yorkshire County Council, British Waterways, the Calder & Colne Rivers Trust,  the Aire & Calder Rivers Group, and the local community.

Fisheries Projects
Our Fisheries work is funded by central Government, and from rod licence sales. We also use rod licence money to pay for projects which will improve fisheries. Most of our projects are also part-funded by other organisations. If you have a project you would like us to help with, please get in touch.

Marked fish have been recaptured upstream of Niagara weir fish pass (River Don) during our own electric fishing surveys, and during an angling survey conducted by SPRITE. The fish were marked with dye, downstream of the weir. This proves that the weir is now passable, reconnecting over 3.5km of river.

We are working with the Green Business Network to develop ABLE Kirklees, an education centre providing training to young people disengaged or excluded from mainstream education. Planning permission has been obtained for an angling lake, suitable for coaching events. http://www.greenbusinessnetwork.org.uk/projects/able-kirklees

Stock proof fencing on the Upper Aire has been delayed due to poor weather in December, but is on course for completion this financial year. The Upper Don Fly Fishers will be using our funding to build in-stream structures to provide cover for fish, as well as creating new pools and riffles.

We have provided funding towards the cost of six accessible angling platforms at Kettlethorpe Hall Lake, supporting an access and habitat improvement project. Partners are ourselves, Wakefield Angling Club, the Friends of Kettlethorpe Dam and Wakefield Council.

Looking Ahead
Projects featured below are still in development. Plans can change, as a result of talks between partners, funding, and wider consultation. Information given is current at the time of press.

Abstraction licences have been granted for hydropower schemes at Altofts (River Calder) and Aldwarke, Bullhouse Mill and Millhouse Green (River Don). A fish pass is a condition on each licence. Acoustic tags will be used to assess how a proposed hydropower scheme at Ruswarp Weir on the Esk affects salmonid migration.

We are working with Rotherham & District United Anglers Federation and the Doncaster & District Angling Association to prepare bids for rod licence funding to contribute towards the cost of angling platforms at Kilnhurst and Crimpsall.

We are working with Sheffield City Council and the local community to develop a sustainable fishery when a flood defence structure on the Car Brook is restored.

We had planned to construct a four acre lake alongside the River Don at Fishlake. The spoil from the dig was going to be used to build flood banks elsewhere. The two projects did not coincide as expected, so we have been unable to dig the lake. Smaller scale habitat improvements are now planned on the site.

Our Operations Delivery team routinely clear obstructions from rivers and carry out tree works to reduce flood risk. Work that began in November in the Barnsley, Sheffield, Rotherham, Huddersfield and Leeds areas will soon be completed. Early in 2011, work will begin in:
Chesterfield, Wakefield and Doncaster
the Rivers Hull and Ure
the Derwent catchment (Malton, Kexby, Wheldrake, Thorganby
The Ouse at Fulford
the Swale catchment (Boroughbridge, Helperby/Thornton Bridge, Romanby, Bedale)

The River Wharfe will be inspected to identify sites where work may be needed.

We make sure the environmental impact of our work is as small as possible and sites are thoroughly inspected for wildlife before work starts. Material that poses a flood risk is removed. This often contains illegally dumped waste. Debris can build up on waste items, blocking channels and increasing flood risk. Removing obstructions is costly and can be avoided if waste is disposed of correctly. You can help us by reporting large obstructions to us via our incident hotline (0800 80 70 60).

Detailed information on where and when our Operations Delivery teams will be working is at:
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/109548.aspx

For more information please contact us via:

National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
South Yorkshire
S60 1BY

08708 506 506 (Mon to Fri 8am to 8pm)

enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

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