Thriving coarse fish populations are now present in more northern rivers than at any time in the past century, says a report out today.
The Environment Agency's Our nations' fisheries study is the most comprehensive report produced on the state of freshwater and migratory fish in England and Wales and reveals fish are returning to many previously polluted rivers.
Among the rivers highlighted in the report is the River Tyne, where major water quality improvements mean that today it is the best salmon river in England and Wales .
From a peak catch of 3,361 fish in 1927, the salmon fishery on the Tyne declined to the point where no salmon were reported caught in 1951 and 1959, mainly because of poor water quality in the estuary.
But as industry and pollution declined and the Tyneside sewerage treatment and disposal system was overhauled water quality improved dramatically and the salmon have returned. A valuable boost to the recovery came with the contribution from the Kielder hatchery, built to compensate for salmon spawning grounds lost through the construction of Kielder dam on the North Tyne.
Recent monitoring results show that currently between five and eight per cent of the rod catch comprises hatchery-reared fish.
One problem has been that in 1995 and 1996, around 2,000 and 1,200 fish respectively died in the estuary during the summer months when dissolved oxygen levels fell following extended warm weather.
Since then the annual losses have been fewer than 100 fish, with fewer than 50 in 2002. In 2003, however, 2,000 fish were reported dead in the estuary during the prolonged warm summer.
But the Tyne, Tees and Wear now support valuable salmon rod fisheries with the Tyne the most productive river in England and Wales in 2001 and 2002, when it provided rod catches of 2,513 and 2,585 fish respectively. The agency caught fish at 98pc of sites surveyed nationally, with 50pc of sites producing eight species or more. Major sewage and pollution clean-ups and restoration of natural habitats are behind much of the improvement.
As well as highlighting the natural value of rivers, streams and lakes, the report points out the increasing economic, recreational and social benefits of fish and fishing. Angling alone is estimated to be worth £3bn to the economy per annum and its recreational value - helped particularly by the improvement in many urban rivers - is beginning to emerge as a contributor to schemes tackling anti-social behaviour, truancy and offending in young people.
Steve Chambers, agency fisheries development manager for the North-East, said: "This report marks a key milestone in our monitoring and understanding of fish stocks and highlights the diverse stocks in fisheries across the north of England."
Page 2: Threat to coral reefs
