LFGs April/May 2017 CATCH CONTROLS TO HELP ADDRESS THE DECLINE IN - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru Natural Resources Wales LFGs – April/May 2017

CATCH CONTROLS TO HELP ADDRESS THE DECLINE IN SALMON AND SOME SEA TROUT STOCKS

LFG is requested to:

• 1. Consider the updated information provided on adult and

juvenile stocks

• 2. Note the current draft options for catch controls
• 3. Note the proposed timescales for public consultation
• 4. Discuss what additional voluntary measures have been

brought in for 2017

Sustainable Inland Fisheries in Wales

A shared vision:

• Fisheries of Wales are iconic and highly valued
• Fish are valued as an important natural resource for Wales

and are to be managed within sustainable limits

• The status of Welsh fisheries is an indicator of the health and

resilience of the natural resources of Wales

• Fisheries contribute to viable, vibrant communities in Wales

Sustainable Inland Fisheries in Wales

Our Position Wales’s new natural resources legislative framework aims to build resilient ecosystems so that they can provide additional benefits to people’s well-being. SoNaRR “Natural resources are continuously declining or are being used faster than can be replenished”

• The health and resilience of our fish stocks is being

compromised - this includes targets not being met, or ‘limits’ in danger of being breached;

Sustainable Inland Fisheries in Wales

Our Position (continued) The benefits from ecosystems services are not being

• ptimised;
• Only where stocks of salmon and sea trout are sustainable,

may exploitation take place

• We would broadly seek to achieve a measure of equity

between rod and net components of the fisheries

• Healthy and resilient salmon and sea trout stocks are for the

wider benefit of the public as well as fishermen and fisheries interests

Presentation Title

International Advice

NASCO

• Marked reduction in the

abundance of salmon in recent years, prior to any fisheries, particularly for multi- sea-winter fish in the southern regions of the species’ range.

Presentation Title

International Advice NASCO

This decline in abundance is linked to increasing mortality at sea

Source – ICES WGNAS 2016 -smolt mortality rates for southern European stocks)

International Advice NASCO

• “Management measures should be aimed

at maintaining all stocks above their conservation limits by the use of management targets”.

– “Socio-economic factors could be taken into account in

applying the precautionary approach to fisheries management issues”. – “The precautionary approach is an integrated approach that requires, inter alia, that stock re-building programmes (including as appropriate, habitat improvements and fishery management actions) be developed for stocks that are below conservation limits”.

Salmon stock assessment

• 23 principal salmon rivers (3 x border)

– All but 2 stocks (Severn and Usk) currently assessed as ‘At Risk’ or ‘Probably at Risk’ of failing to achieve the MT – Salmon are a feature of 6 N2K SAC sites: 4 are classified as ‘unfavourable’ and 2 favourable (though not assessed) – Salmon stocks considered to be “at lowest level ever” (NASCO & AST) – No general marked improvement evident in 2016. Rod catches indicate reasonable runs of early salmon in some rivers, tempered again by an almost absence of grilse from mid August onwards. – Dee trap catch in 2016 will turn out to be the lowest to date in 25 years

Voluntary measures

• We‘ve highlighting concerns on

stock levels for a number years

• Appeal for meaningful voluntary

measures – Feedback – ‘taken as far as we can – expect NRW to lead and make a level playing field in catchments’ – Some great examples – eg Ogmore club rule all salmon to be released

• Need to find an equitable

approach, to allocate sea trout between nets and the rod fisheries

The evidence

New 2016 - stock assessments

New 2016 salmon stock assessment

Salmon 2021 stock forecast

Salmon stocks

South West Area

2014 2015 2016 Ogmore At Risk At Risk At Risk Tawe At Risk At Risk At Risk Tywi At Risk At Risk Probably at Risk Taf Probably at Risk Probably at Risk Probably at Risk E&W Cleddau At Risk At Risk At Risk Nevern Probably at Risk Probably at Risk Probably at Risk Teifi Probably at Risk Probably at Risk Probably at Risk

Sea trout stock assessment

• 33 main sea trout rivers

– 11 (32%) of stocks assessed as ‘At Risk’ or ‘Probably at Risk’ – Stocks in SW Wales giving most cause for concern – We propose to use a principle based on the “decision structure” – 2016 provisional catches and observations indicate no substantial improvements – 2016 Dee trap sea trout catches remain around the long term average

Pseudo SR -method

• Developed a new methodology

– Stock recruitment curve – Conservation Limit – Management Target – Spawning Deficit

Pseudo SR -method

• Future Lifetime Eggs FLE modelling . (Celtic

sea trout)

– Commissioned work to assess the ‘full lifetime egg’ production of fish, – determine the contribution to spawning stocks of sea trout of different ages and sizes

• The results of this work have, for the first

time allowed us to determine the status and spawning shortfalls in sea trout stocks.

New 2016 - sea trout stock assessment – Pseudo method

New 2016 - sea trout spawning deficit

River Status Spawner Deficit Tywi

2,762 Teifi PNAR 1,582 Taf AR 917 Cleddau AR 1,152 Nevern PNAR +94 Dyfi

+1,244 Dysynni PNAR +354 Mawddach PNAR +1,220 Glaslyn PAR 974 Conwy NAR +611

Juvenile abundance

We have seen:-

• markedly reduced numbers of at least 2

cohorts of juvenile fish We anticipate:-

• Noticeably reduced numbers of returning

adult salmon in 2018 - 2021, especially in 2019 and 2020

• Reduced abundance of some trout stocks

But – fish stocks have in-built resilience

Juvenile salmon stocks

Fry Parr

Juvenile trout stocks

Fry Parr

Juvenile stocks

• Strategic investigatory response to large

decline and/or absence of salmon and trout fry across Wales. – confirm stock levels (repeat 2016 survey) – Track cohort progress – has poor fry lead to poor parr this year

• PhD - Diagnosing and mitigating the adverse

effects of extreme winter climate on salmonid spawning

Draft measures

• Building on the feed back
• We would like to consult on the

following measures – to help protect stocks and build resilience in to our fisheries

Salmon measures

Sea trout measures

Objectives & reasoning Fishery affected Byelaw Delay the start of the net season on net fisheries exempt from Spring salmon byelaws until 1st May. Sea trout stock levels in some Welsh are considerably below sustainable or desirable limits. Continuing to kill fish whilst stocks are depleted presents an unacceptable risk. Early run large fish amongst most valuable in terms of FLE, conserving early run genetic component of run, Tywi = 1.58 Million egg gain (242 fish per annum) on 4.11 million deficit Teifi = 0.35 Million egg gain (74 fish per annum) on 0.86 million deficit Tywi, Taf, Nevern, Teifi, Dyfi Byelaw Catch and Release of sea trout Before 1st May Commensurate reduction in rod harvest (compared with net fishery) Tywi, Taf, Cleddau, Nevern, Teifi, Dyfi, Plus At risk rivers: Rhymney, Taf, Eastern Cleddau, ‘Probably at Risk’ rivers: Usk, Tawe, Loughor, Gwendraeth, Eastern Cleddau, Aeron, Ystwyth, Dysynni

Sea trout measures

Objectives & reasoning Fishery affected Byelaw (slot length) 60cm maximum size Commensurate reduction in rod harvest (compared with net fishery) Fish saved by reducing net exploitation will be vulnerable to rod exploitation throughout the season. Introducing a maximum size will 1. Protect fish ‘saved’ from net fishery 2. assist in balancing exploitation controls between the fisheries Impact Teifi save 13 fish annually 0.08 million eggs Tywi save 61 fish annually 0.38 million eggs All Rivers Byelaw No Bait Fishing for sea trout before 1st May Reduce risk of sea trout mortality caught on bait. High mortality of salmon caught on bait >50% Tywi, Taf, Cleddau, Nevern, Teifi, Dyfi, Plus At risk rivers: Rhymney, Taf, Eastern Cleddau, ‘Probably at Risk’ rivers: Usk, Tawe, Loughor, Gwendraeth, Eastern Cleddau, Aeron, Ystwyth, Dysynni

Sea trout measures

Objectives & reasoning Fishery affected Byelaw Single hook - restricting maximum hook size size 8 , 7mm gape size worming for sea trout after 1st May Reduce risk of salmon bycatch and associated post C&R mortality All Rivers Byelaw Barbless or de- barbed hook Reduce risk of salmon mortality. Using barbless or de-barbed hooks, markedly reduces handling time during unhooking and potential exposure to air during release phase only All Rivers Byelaw Restricting the use

• f treble hooks

Reduce risk of sea trout mortality following C&R. (50% mortality of fish caught on flying C type lures) All Rivers

Time table

• Consultation in June (post election)
• 12 weeks

Voluntary measures for 2017

• All salmon to be released
• Good practice

– Continue fishing without bait for salmon after 16th June – Use de-barb/barbless hooks – Don’t use trebles – Keep the fish in the water

• Release all sea trout over 60cm~

24inches ~ 6lb

New C&R videos

• The Gift - Part 1 Tackle - Atlantic Salmon Trust,

FishPal and Angling Trust https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCwGyJp5Afw

• The Gift - Part 2 Planning the River - Atlantic

Salmon Trust, FishPal and Angling Trust https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6Aqlsx574c

• The Gift – Part 3 Catch and Release - Atlantic

Salmon Trust, FishPal and Angling Trust https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7uoXk_hFOk

END