Indeg
Jones - 1-Sep-2006 - Environment Agency Wales
has obtained £1.13m to help secure a sustainable
future for migratory fish stocks in Wales. The
funding has been obtained from the Welsh Assembly
Government and the EU Financial Instrument for
Fisheries Guidance (FIFG).
Migratory fish species travel
between the sea and freshwater in order to complete
their life-cycles. Some, like salmon and sea trout
are returning to their native streams to breed,
whilst others, such as eels, come to our rivers
to grow before returning to the sea to spawn.
Several migratory fish, such as salmon and eels,
are of commercial value, whilst species such as
the sea lamprey and shad are endangered and of
great conservation importance.
Thankfully these fish are benefiting
from cleaner water in our rivers, but they still
face major problems. Man made barriers to migration,
such as weirs and dams can block fish migrating
to their spawning grounds severely restricting
fish numbers. Under the EU and the Welsh Assembly
Government funded Migratory Fish Habitat Enhancement
Project we will be able to open up rivers like
the Ely and Monnow. Building fish passes on these
rivers will allow fish to negotiate structures
that have been in place since the industrial revolution.
"This project is a massive
boost to Welsh rivers", says Dr Ben Wilson
of Environment Agency Wales. "We’ve been
able to deliver these sorts of schemes in West
Wales with Objective 1 funding, but with this
new funding we can look to the enhance the rivers
outside the objective 1 area. Our long term aim
is to ensure that all man-made weirs and barriers
are passable by fish for the benefit of future
stocks."
The project is funded through
the EU’s Financial Instrument for Fisheries Guidance,
with match funding from the Welsh Assembly Government.
Announcing the grant of European and Welsh Assembly
Government, Mr Carwyn Jones, Minister for Environment,
Planning and Countryside said that he was delighted
that Environment Agency Wales’ bid had been successful
and that following changes in the European scheme,
inland fisheries were now able to submit bids
for funding for the first time.
