A move that will ensure the future of a historic, traditional fishery in the Severn Estuary, while protecting local salmon stocks, has been agreed between the fishermen and Environment Agency Wales, who own the fishery.
The new lease will protect the rights of the Black Rock Lave Net fishermen to continue fishing the Severn, and protect the local fish population.
This formal agreement was signed last week following detailed discussions.
The lave net fishermen of Black Rock, near Portskewett in Monmouthshire, have fished a particular stretch of the Severn for hundreds of years.
They have succeeded in creating a unique tourist attraction to maintain their tradition. With a set timetable for demonstrations and a new net house opened in 2006, the fishermen are attracting the public to see their highly skilled fishing method first hand.
Prior to the agreement, the fishermen were permitted to fish at Black Rock by the Agency for many years. Both the Agency and the association representing the fishermen were keen to formalise this agreement in the form of a lease of the fishing rights.
Now the agreement has been reached, the fishermen can continue with this historic fishing method, providing a boost for the local economy as a fishery and tourist attraction.
Environment Agency Wales has concerns over the current stock levels of salmon in the nearby River Wye, and this agreement will see both stocks and tradition protected.
The new lease will mean that:
- Seven fishermen can fish the area covered by the lease, with one trainee, to ensure the tradition continues
- There is a maximum catch of 15 salmon per season (7 fish were caught last season)
- A tagging system is used identifying the salmon as being caught from a sustainable source
Elin Jones AM, Rural Affairs Minister for the Welsh Assembly Government, has previously recognised the heritage value of a number of our traditional salmon net fisheries including the lave nets at Black Rock.
Welcoming the agreement, she said:
“I am pleased that agreement has been reached that allows the fishery to continue, whilst protecting our valuable salmon stocks.”
Chris Mills, Director, Environment Agency Wales, said:
“We are really pleased to have come to this agreement with the Black Rock Lave Net fishermen. We have to strike a balance between protecting salmon stocks in Wales and maintaining these historic fisheries.
“These highly skilled and ancient methods of fishing have been seen in the Severn for centuries. This lease will mean we will see them for many more years, and that there will be enough salmon for them to catch.
“The fishermen have created a real attraction for people to see how they have fished this stretch of the Severn. It’s a great way to keep a tradition like this going.”
Martin Morgan, Secretary of the Black Rock Lave Net Fisheries Association, said:
“This historic agreement between Environment Agency Wales and the fishermen will ensure the future of our lave net fishery during these difficult times.
“We are the first traditional fishery in Wales to agree to carcass tagging and a set salmon take limit for the season which ensures the salmon are taken from a sustainable source.
“Our fishermen now, with the security of this agreement, will be able to continue to develop the heritage and tourism value of our fishery, and in so doing ensure the fishery’s long term future and preserve our way of life.”
“We thank Environment Agency Wales for this opportunity.“
Environment Agency Wales is also looking to introduce byelaws to protect spring salmon in the future. Plans are being proposed to ban the sale of rod caught salmon and sea trout and to introduce a carcass tagging scheme.
This will ensure that only fish caught from sustainable net fisheries, including historic fisheries such as the Welsh lave and coracle fisheries, will be legally available in the market place.
