8-Jun-2006
- Carmarthenshire's salmon are set to benefit
from a new partnership project between Carmarthenshire
Fishermen's Federation (CFF) and Environment Agency
Wales.
The project – Supporting Catch
and Release has been set up to help save Carmarthenshire
salmon by encouraging more anglers to release
their catch back to the river. Anglers that register
their released salmon will also have the chance
to win angling-related prizes, and all anglers
will receive limited edition CFF badges.
With salmon numbers throughout
the county's rivers declining, there may not even
be enough salmon to sustain stocks. Action aimed
at conserving and rebuilding these valuable fisheries
is urgently required. This project should help
ensure that our future generations can enjoy the
social and economic benefits associated with thriving
salmon stocks in Carmarthenshire.
Catch and Release is an effective
management tool which is supported by anglers,
the Environment Agency, sports governing bodies
and international salmon organisations. By practising
catch and release anglers can continue to fish
whilst still protecting the stocks.
Anglers that register their
released salmon will also be entered into an end
of season prize draw. An extensive list of reward-prizes
include fishing tackle and fishing permits on
the prime Tywi and Taf estate and club waters.
All anglers releasing salmon will receive limited
edition CFF badges, either bronze, silver or gold,
according to the number of fish released to river.
The Supporting Catch and Release
promotion will be open to all anglers fishing
the rivers Tywi and Taf and will run from 16 June
until 7 October. Claim forms will be widely available
locally to register a released salmon.
Philip Morgan Environment Agency
Wales Fisheries Officer for Carmarthenshire said:
‘Increasing salmon release rates
on the county's rivers together with other measures
such as building fish passes and restoring degraded
habitat, will help with the recovery of stocks.
All anglers can get involved and play their own
part in helping to conserve and restore our precious
salmon stocks.’
Garth Roberts, Hon Secretary
of Carmarthenshire Fishermen’s Federation added:
‘The rewards of releasing a salmon are modest
compared with the value of our wild salmon to
the local community. By working in partnership
we are able to achieve real benefits for fish
stocks on our rivers.’
