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 optimised; • 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 PAR 2,762 Teifi PNAR 1,582 Taf AR 917 Cleddau AR 1,152 Nevern PNAR +94 Dyfi PNAR +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 Objectives & Reasoning Rods Affected? Nets Affected? Byelaw Release of all salmon All Rivers in Wales with All Net fisheries: Tywi, Taf, Catch and Release of the exception of the Cleddau, Nevern, Teifi, salmon (no kill) Salmon stock levels in Wales are considerably below the level that we consider Severn,Usk, Taff and Dyfi, Mawddach, Dysynni, to be either sustainable or desirable. Wye Conwy, Lledr trap, Continuing to kill fish whilst stocks are depleted presents an unacceptable risk. Byelaw Reduce risk of salmon net mortality, without compromising sea trout net Net fisheries: Cleddau, Close all net seasons 31 st fisheries. Teifi, Dyfi, Mawddach, July (removing August) Some mortality/reduced fitness of salmon released from nets. Few sea trout are Dysynni, Conwy, Lledr caught in August. 2016; 29 salmon, 20 sea trout in welsh nets during August trap, Byelaw Reduce risk of salmon mortality caught on bait. All Rivers in Wales No Bait Fishing for salmon High mortality of salmon caught on bait >50% Byelaw Reduce risk of salmon mortality. All Rivers Barbless or de- barbed Using barbless or de-barbed hooks, markedly reduces handling time during hooks only unhooking and potential exposure to air during release phase. Promotes C&R good practice. Byelaw Reduce risk of salmon mortality following C&R. All Rivers Restricting the use of (50% mortality of fish caught on flying C type lures) treble hooks (or consider size restriction)
Sea trout measures Objectives & reasoning Fishery affected Byelaw Sea trout stock levels in some Welsh are considerably below Tywi, Taf, Nevern, Teifi, Dyfi sustainable or desirable limits. Delay the start of the net season on net Continuing to kill fish whilst stocks are depleted presents an fisheries exempt from unacceptable risk. Spring salmon Early run large fish amongst most valuable in terms of FLE, byelaws until 1 st May. 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 Byelaw Commensurate reduction in rod harvest (compared with net fishery) Tywi, Taf, Cleddau, Nevern, Teifi, Dyfi, Catch and Release of sea trout Before 1 st Plus At risk rivers: Rhymney, Taf, May Eastern Cleddau, ‘Probably at Risk’ rivers: Usk, Tawe, Loughor, Gwendraeth, Eastern Cleddau, Aeron, Ystwyth, Dysynni
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