WHERE ARE WE NOW?
In my opinion, Scientists will reach a decision based upon what the person holding the pot ( their wages and jobs) want them to say, yes, academic and emotionally charged, individuals within organisations, keeping themselves in jobs instead of dealing with issues.
The 'Petition' 5,661 strong is presently being ignored, we need 10,000 for the matter to be discussed in the Welsh Assembly.
Lord Alex Carlile CBE KC recently wrote to Professor Ormerod (He is not an Angler) who Chaired an NRW meeting in June 2022 to discuss the 'Avian Predation' issue, to bring to his notice an article he wrote for and published in the Trout and Salmon Magazine, pointing out that the delay in addressing the 'Avian Predation' issue detailed in their published report, was too long. I have a copy of the reply avoiding the real issue that Lord Carlile was pointing out, facts which this 'Petition' has covered almost weekly since June 2023.
Reply dated 6th February 2024: The data are clear that freshwaters around the world - including those in Wales - are impacted by multiple pressures, of which water quality, habitat modification and climate change have very substantial ecological impacts especially on cool water specialists such as salmonids. Our own data show rivers in Wales warming rapidly while the cocktail of pollutants is becoming complicated, for example, as compounds such as human and veterinary pharmaceuticals break through wastewater treatment systems. We identified over 100 such compounds in recent studies of the Taff, Ely, Wye, Usk and Tywi - some at potentially toxic concentrations. This is in addition to long-standing problems associated with nutrients, sediments and organic waste Acting to address all these pressures should be at the forefront of our efforts to restore our river ecosystems both for people and for freshwater organisms.
Against this backdrop, I don't believe we have the evidence to pin the geographically extensive decline of Atlantic Salmon on predation. This is not to say that predation at low population densities of Salmon or Sewin is unimportant - particularly for crucial life stages such as smolts. This was central to the reasons that NRW convened the Fish Eating Birds Advisory Group which I was asked to chair.
NRW has now appointed Dave Charlesworth to help take the recommendations from that group forward, and I have copied this mail both to Dave and to Ben Wilson, NRW's Principal Fisheries Advisor. I'm sure that either would be more than content to brief you on the work in progress.
Lord Carlile then wrote to Ben Wilson NRW's Principal Fisheries Officer on the 11th March and received an automatic reply: Gone fishing, thank you for your message. I will respond to you on my return Regards Ben.
At the end of this week's update you will find a link to 'Youtube' Rhys Llywelyn and Mike Evans, which dates back to 2013 when NRW were closing the hatcheries, whilst also disbanding the experienced fisheries enforcement crew. The Licensing scheme to control the 'Goosanders and Cormorants' which is still in being, leans towards protecting the 'Predators' rather than the fish. A copy of a Licence with the associated restrictions is on a previous update. NRW are charged under an Act of Parliament the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. to 'Protect and Enhance' fisheries, which by leaving the 'Predation' aspect on the back burner makes no sense whatsoever and is very disturbing, especially having closed the hatcheries. This precedes the 'Salmonid Byelaw' restrictions in Wales passed in 2018, leaning totally on the Anglers. The meeting of NRW in June of 2022 relative to predation by 'Goosanders and Cormorants', was attended by Nature England and Nature Scotland as observers, this meeting resulted in a very lengthy report nearly 100 pages of recommendations, Dave Charlesworth NRW directed to work on those facts and prepare to respond by 2025. I regard this as kicking the can down the road. It beggars belief when now 'Salmon' has been placed on the endangered list.
Should the view within the UK and reluctance to place these 'Avian Predators' on the 'GENERAL LICENCE' continue, we should consider that all Hatcheries be re-opened and funded by the R.S.P.B to assist in feeding their protected birds, whilst other questionable re-wilding schemes continue to be the wish within organisations.
However, more VOTES and SHARES needed, keep the pressure up please.
This weeks picture 'Goosanders' hoovering up Salmonids on the Upper Welsh Dee, before I disturbed them.
Here is the link promised, copy and paste it elsewhere to view please.
https://youtu.be/uOFkjT1eyx8?si=UBIVQ-faekaTyK3S
Thank you for your continued support.
Gwilym Hughes