Martin
Watkins - 22-Sep-2006 - Fish are able to return
to a south Wales river for the first time in over
100 years. A fish pass has been constructed on
the Nant Cynon, a tributary of the River Afan.
The £20,000 project constructed by Environment
Agency Wales will allow fish to reach the prime
spawning areas upstream of Afan Argoed Forest.
The River Afan is an important
local resource for the Port Talbot area with the
occasional salmon, and increasing numbers of sea
trout and brown trout migrating up the river,
returning to their native streams to spawn every
year. The river is recovering and fish numbers
are on the increase again after extensive efforts
from the Afan Anglers club and Environment Agency
Wales. However, as with many of our south Wales
rivers our industrial legacy continues to have
an impact.
Working with Neath Port Talbot
County Borough Council and Forestry Commission
Wales, the Agency constructed a baffle design
fish pass within an old culvert on the Nant Cynon.
The innovative design of uses large green oak
baffles that are fixed to the bottom of the culvert
in a chevron formation. These act to reduce the
water velocity and increase the depth within the
culvert allowing fish to swim through unhindered.
The baffles are cut from green
oak sourced from sustainably managed Welsh woodland
sites identified by Coed Cymru. These woodland
sites not only provide the environmental benefits
of an established deciduous woodland, but also
deliver a sustainable product that in this case
is very robust and ideal for this type of application.
Dave Charlesworth, Environment
Agency Sustainable Fisheries Project Officer says:
‘ This culvert has effectively prevented the migration
of fish since its construction in the 1890’s.
It is an exciting prospect to once again see adult
fish spawning in this important tributary of the
Afan. We will be monitoring this year to gauge
the success of the project. Partnership projects
such as this, would not be possible without the
continued commitment and support of the Welsh
Assembly Government.’
Chris Tucker of Forestry
Commission Wales added: ‘ We are already seeing
the benefits of the Fishing Wales project, led
by Environment Agency Wales. The riverside areas
are responding to the extra light reaching the
stream and forest floor following the managed
removal of excessive vegetation on the riverbank.
Hopefully now, as a result of the fish pass, the
fish numbers will also be on the increase. Both
from an ecological and visitor perspective the
Nant Cynon is an improving ecosystem.’
