Deal to secure future of historic Severn fishery

Tag : fishery net

A move that will ensure the future of a historic, traditionalfishery in the Severn Estuary, while protecting local salmonstocks, has been agreed between the fishermen and EnvironmentAgency Wales, who own the fishery.

The new lease will protect the rights of the Black Rock Lave Netfishermen to continue fishing the Severn, and protect the localfish population.
This formal agreement was signed last week following detaileddiscussions.
The lave net fishermen of Black Rock, near Portskewett inMonmouthshire, have fished a particular stretch of the Severn forhundreds of years.
They have succeeded in creating a unique tourist attraction tomaintain their tradition. With a set timetable for demonstrationsand a new net house opened in 2006, the fishermen are attractingthe public to see their highly skilled fishing method first hand.
Prior to the agreement, the fishermen were permitted to fish atBlack Rock by the Agency for many years. Both the Agency and theassociation representing the fishermen were keen to formalise thisagreement in the form of a lease of the fishing rights.
Now the agreement has been reached, the fishermen can continue withthis historic fishing method, providing a boost for the localeconomy as a fishery and tourist attraction.
Environment Agency Wales has concerns over the current stock levelsof salmon in the nearby River Wye, and this agreement will see bothstocks and tradition protected.
The new lease will mean that: Seven fishermen can fish the area covered by the lease, with onetrainee, to ensure the tradition continues There is a maximum catch of 15 salmon per season (7 fish werecaught last season) A tagging system is used identifying the salmon as being caughtfrom a sustainable source
Elin Jones AM, Rural Affairs Minister for the Welsh AssemblyGovernment, has previously recognised the heritage value of anumber of our traditional salmon net fisheries including the lavenets at Black Rock.
Welcoming the agreement, she said: