last update:

30th January 2008

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How are fisheries monitored?

What influences fish stocks

South West salmon populations

South West sea trout populations

Commercial sea fishing

Recreational Sea fishing

Sustainable purchasing of fish

Monitoring fish populations

Shellfisheries

Marine Environment

Marine Strandings

Useful websites:

Environment Agency fish pages

Environment Agency fisheries statistics 2004

Buy your rod licence online

What's going on in fisheries

Defra conservation of fish stocks

Defra commercial sea fishing statistics

DEFRA's fisheries pages

Fisheries Action Plans

Get Hooked's Guide to Angling in the South West

Fish online

Fish

What's new on this page...

• Survey of Cornish estuaries serves up some fishy surprises
• New report predicts 50 years left for sea fish stocks
• 2005 data on sea fishing in the SW, including catch, value & employment
• Sustainable purchasing of fish - Marine Conservation Society's new guide to buying eco-friendly fish
• Buy local & handline caught fish - South West Handline Fisherman's Association

Fish are good indicators of the health of our freshwater environment. Angling provides a healthy and enjoyable pastime and contributes substantially to the economies of England and Wales

How are fish monitored?

The Environment Agency has a duty through the EC Freshwater Fish Directive to assess and safeguard freshwater fisheries and the waters they inhabit and have been monitoring national fish stocks through the National Fisheries’ Monitoring Programme since 2001. This programme looks at fish populations, habitats, participation in fishing, catch results and the effectiveness of different fishing methods. It covers more than 7000 monitoring sites across England and Wales.

While monitoring work has historically focussed on fish populations, attention is now turning to other aspects of fisheries. The Environment Agency's current national monitoring programme has four components: fish populations, habitats, participation in fishing and the benefits it provides to society, and finally catch results and the effectiveness of various fishing methods.

More information about monitoring fish populations is available here.

What influences fish stocks?

Factors influencing fish stocks include:

• Run-off from fields, including silt, pesticides and fertilisers, is causing serious damage to aquatic habitats, fish and other wildlife. The Environment Agency is committed to working with the farming community and others to get greater protection for freshwater habitats and the fish populations that depend on them.
• Domestic and industrial effluents and water abstraction can also degrade habitats and water quality, seriously affecting fish and the creatures on which they feed. We need to focus more attention on potentially harmful substances such as endocrine disrupting chemicals that can enter waterbodies.

South West perspective

Survey of Cornish estuaries serves up some fishy surprises

A survey of two of Cornish estuaries, the Fal and Camel, has revealed that some rare fish have taken up residence in local waters. Among those discovered by Environment Agency scientists are the Norwegian Topknot, Gilthead Bream and Seahorse.

The Environment Agency started monitoring in 2007. The range, diversity and relative abundance of fish is an excellent indicator of water quality and health of the coastal and estuary environment.

So far 43 species of fish have been recorded on the Fal and 32 species on the Camel. The commonest fish are sand smelt, sprats and common gobies. Mullet, flatfish, rays, gobies and bass are also found in both estuaries. Dragonets, blennies, wrasse, sea-scorpions and fish belonging to the cod family have also been recorded in the Carrick Roads.

Catches on the Camel included the venomous Lesser Weever, two species of sandeels and a variety of pipefish – long-thin fish related to seahorses. The research is being carried out  by the Agency’s ecological monitoring team under the European Water Framework Directive as part of a long-term ‘State of the Environment’ study.

The team uses a special shallow-draught boat that enables them to collect samples from parts of an estuary inaccessible to normal boats. Fish are caught in a seine net and, after being identified and examined, are returned to the water unharmed. A larger marine survey vessel is used to collect bottom living fish in the deeper stretches of water in Carrick Roads and the Camel.

As well as fish, scientists are looking at a range of ecological ‘indicators’ to gauge the health of the two estuaries. This year, in addition to water quality and phytoplankton sampling, scientists will be surveying saltmarsh and sea grass habitats. Seaweed surveys and studies of invertebrate creatures living on or in the seabed will provide an insight into the impact of chemical pollution on our estuaries.

The soft estuary mudflats exposed at low tide can be difficult to access. This is a particular problem on the Camel. The monitoring team are hoping to overcome this by using a small hovercraft to collect samples.

The Norwegian Topknot is a small flatfish that lives on rocky and stony ground. It is rarely caught by conventional fishing methods and could be more abundant than records suggest.

The Gilthead Bream is a warm water species that appears to be extending its range northwards possibly as a result of climate change. The seahorse was a single specimen caught during routine monitoring at Carrick Roads.

Data collected by the Agency will be shared with the Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the National Marine Aquarium and the Marine Biological Association.

Commercial sea fishing in the South West

Commercial sea-fishing makes an important economic contribution to some coastal areas. The fishing industry is a small sector but is more important to the regional economy than typical nationally. The 2001 Census found that 0.1% of South West residents worked in the fishing industry, almost four times the proportion for England as a whole.

There was a total of 7,017 fishermen in England & Wales in 2005, 85% (6,026) of which were regular fishermen and 15% (1,081) were part-time. This marks almost a 76% decline in the total number of fishermen since 1938 and a 35% decline since 1994.

Between 2004 and 2005, total employment decreased by 6% in England & Wales, regular employment decreased by 5% and part-time employment decreased by 10%. Split into fishing districts, total employment in fishing decreased by 9% in the South West district (4% higher than the average for England & Wales).

Regular (full-time) employment decreased by 13% in the South West district (8 percentage points higher than the national average) between 2004 and 2005.

The South West district had the 2nd highest increase in part-time employment between 2004 and 2005 - increasing by 92% this was 2nd only to the North East which saw a 100% increase.

In 2005, 40,134 tonnes of fish & shellfish worth £53.1 million were landed into major ports in the South West by UK vessels. This was a 13% increase on the 35,534 tonnes caught in 2004 and a 5% increase value.

Of this regional catch, 23,357 tonnes were fish (58%) and 16,777 tonnes (41%) were shellfish.

Major fishing ports in the South West include Brixham, Newlyn, Plymouth, Falmouth, Looe, Padstow, Poole and Weymouth. In 2005, Plymouth had the highest tonnage of fish landed by the UK fleet with 33% (13,218 tonnes), followed by Brixham with 26% (10,364 tonnes) and Newlyn with 19% (7,604 tonnes). In terms of value, Brixham had the highest value of fish landed with 35% (£18,303) of the regional total, followed by Newlyn with 33% (£17,575) and Plymouth (with 19% (£10,366).

Total fish landings have generally declined since 1999, a trend which accelerated between 2001 and 2004 when total landings declined by 41% (from 43,381 tonnes to 25,534 tonnes). This was predominantly due to a decline in fish rather than shellfish landings. However, there was a 57% (14,600 tonnes) increase on total landings between 2004 and 2005, marking the first increase since 2001. Again this increase was closely related to the increase in total fish landings (25% increase or 4,616 tonnes), rather than shellfish landings which decreased slightly (by 0.1% or 17 tonnes).

The total value of landings has remained relatively stable, fluctuating between just under £54 million to £56 million between 1999 and 2004. The fastest decline has been since 2002, with total landings reaching the lowest value in 2004 at £50.6 million. However, between 2004 and 2005 there has been a 5% increase (£2,493) in total landings. The majority of this increase is due to a 6% (£2,075) increase in total fish landings, although shellfish landings also increased by 2% (£418).

More detailed Information on shellfisheries is available here.

Salmon populations in the South West

Many factors affect salmon populations. In the South West the main reasons for decline are poor survival at sea and smothering of salmon eggs by fine sediments in river gravels.

Salmon are a significant resource in the South West. Only 3 (Fowey, Camel & Lyn) out of our 20 salmon rivers are predicted to meet the management objectives for salmon in 2008. There are 10 rivers predicted to fail (Stour Piddle Frome Axe Dart Yealm Plym Tavy Tamar Torridge) and 7 are uncertain whether or not they will pass or fail their management objectives in 2008 (Hants Avon, Devon Avon, Exe, Erme, Lynher, Taw, Teign). This means that there are insufficient salmon spawning to be able to populate the rivers to their maximum capacity.

There is a long-term national trend showing a decline in salmon catches. Total salmon catch fell to its lowest point in 2003, 75% below the 1994 peak. However, 2004 saw an increase of just over 50% on 2003 levels. Both rod and net catches mirrored this reduction, although net catches showed no increase between 2003 and 2004 (recording a decrease of just over 10%).

Summary of salmon catches (rod and net) in the South West 1994 - 2004

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Source: Environment Agency (2005)

1,295 salmon were caught by net and fixed engine in the South West during 2004, 23% below than the 5-year mean (1999 - 2003). The only region to experience an increase in salmon caught by net and fixed engine was Anglian (89%). The lowest decline was experienced in the North West (-19%), followed by the South West (-23%).

However, the 2,799 salmon caught by rod across the South West during 2004 showed an increase of 60% over the 5-year mean. This was in line with many other rivers in England, though the South West experienced the second highest decline on the 5-year mean behind the Midlands with 22% (nb. no data was available for Thames and Anglian).

% change in salmon caught by rod, net and fixed engine 2004 on 5-year mean

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Source: Environment Agency (2005)

Summary of salmon net and fixed engine catches by region

Summary of salmon rod catches by region

Source: Environment Agency (2005)

Sea trout populations in the South West

Total sea trout catches in the South West fluctuated between 1994 and 2004 but did not recover to 1994 peal level. 2004 saw the lowest total catch by rod and net, over 40% below 1994 levels and almost 27% below the previous year. Net catches remained fairly stable between 1994 and 2003, with the majority of change recorded in rod catch levels.

Summary of sea trout catches (rod and net) in the South West 1994 - 2004

click to enlarge

Source: Environment Agency (2005)

1,577 sea trout were caught in the South West by net and fixed engine during 2004, a 12% decrease on 2003 (1,798) and 23% decrease on the 5-year mean (2,043). All regions in England experienced a decline in the percentage change in 2004 on the 5-year mean, with the exception of Anglian which increased by 11%. The South West had the second lowest decrease behind the North West, the highest decline was found in the Southern region.

With 6,570 the South West had the second highest total of sea trout caught by rod during 2004 (behind Wales with 16,840), a 12% decline on 2003. All regions, with the exception of the North East and Midlands, showed a decline in 2004 on the 5-year mean (1999 - 2003). The South West experienced the second highest declines on the 5-year mean with -23%, behind Southern and Wales where catches declined by 26%).

% change in sea trout caught by rod, net and fixed engine 2004 on 5-year mean

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Source: Environment Agency (2005)

Summary of sea trout net and fixed engine catches by region

Summary of sea trout rod catches by region

Source: Environment Agency (2005)

Recreational fishing

Nationally, four million regular anglers each spending on average over £1000 per year on tackle, travel, accommodation and meals during their fishing trips support many thousands of jobs, mainly in rural economies; and participation in angling helps address social problems such as youth offending, anti-social behaviour and truancy. While offering a much smaller contribution, net fisheries for salmon, sea trout and eels can support local economies in some rural and disadvantaged areas.

Detailed information about where to fish in the South West is available from Get Hooked's Guide to Angling in the South West. Information includes where to fish, where to stay, featured fisheries, featured charters, tackle, tuition as well as editorials on coarse, game and sea fishing.

The number of fishing licences issued gives a broad indication of fishing activity in freshwaters. In the South West, this has remained roughly constant over the last 3 years.. These figures underestimate the impact on fish stocks as 40 % of anglers fishing in the South West buy their licences outside the Region. In addition, around 5 % of anglers in the South West fish illegally without licences (Environment Agency Website, 2002).

In the South West a total of 82,663 rod licences were sold - 7% of the total for England (1,235,989) between 1st April 2004 and the 31st March 2005. Of this regional total, 79,100 were for non-migratory trout & coarse fish and 3,563 for salmon & sea trout. Rod licence sales have remained relatively stable in the region with just a 6% overall increase since 2000. Licences for non-migratory trout & coarse fish increased by 8% but there was a 23% decrease in salmon & sea trout licences.

Sustainable purchasing of fish

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has launched its latest online guide to buying eco-friendly fish - www.fishonline.org is the one-stop-shop for consumers concerned about the sustainability of the fish they eat.

The website provides information for 150 species of seafood, with revised lists of ‘Fish to Eat’ with a clearer conscience, and ‘Fish to Avoid’ from unsustainable and damaging fisheries. A handy Pocket Good Fish Guide has also been produced, and is available free from MCS.

Fishermen from the South West are leading the way with several species caught in the area now listed as ‘Fish to Eat’, including: pilchards or sardines from Cornish waters, fished using a traditional method known as ‘ring-netting’; pot-caught crab from waters off Start Point, Devon; and line-caught and tagged pollack and seabass from Cornwall.

Species new to the “Fish to Avoid” list include:

• The European eel, as stocks are at an all-time low and closure of the fishery is recommended
• Anchovy from the Bay of Biscay
• Langoustine from North and North West Spain and the Portuguese Coast
• Herring and Greenland
• Halibut from overfished stocks.

The new MCS Pocket Good Fish Guide, featuring the 2006 lists of fish to eat and fish to avoid, can be obtained FREE - send a SAE to MCS, call 01989 566017, e-mail info@mcsuk.org or download a copy from www.fishonline.org.

MCS has expanded this website to include:

• A guide to when fish breed, to help consumers avoid buying fish during their breeding seasons
• A comparison of the effects of different fishing gears on the marine ecosystem
• A guide to where to buy fish in the supermarkets listed as Fish to Eat
• Additional information on farmed fish and other species.

The site and the Fish to Eat and Fish to Avoid list have been updated with the latest scientific advice available on sustainability, from international scientific organisations such as the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).

Fisheries Action Plans

Last year, five pilot schemes to improve freshwater fisheries in England and Wales were launched. Known as Fisheries Action Plans (FAPs), these schemes are local plans developed in partnership between the Environment Agency and local angling and fisheries groups and other interest groups. They cover a wide range of issues from fish habitat, through to angling promotion and land management.

Each Fisheries Action Plan is different and reflects the concerns and priorities of local angling and fisheries interests.

Already the FAPS have brought results, with local groups fully participating in important actions such as studies into the impact of stocking of brown trout and implementing improvements in juvenile coarse fish habitat.

There is one current Fisheries Action Plan in the South West in the Kennet & Pang valley. The Rivers Kennet, Pang, Lambourn, Dun and Enborne have historically had very high reputations as quality game and coarse fisheries. Problems on the upper Kennet began to become apparent during the 1980's, and particularly in the 1990's, when low flows (caused principally by several drought years, but exacerbated by abstractions to supply Swindon during that period the fastest growing town in Europe) caused several local and catchment-wide organisations to voice their concerns, finally leading to the Axford Enquiry. Concerns also began to be expressed by local angling associations and landowners about water quality and turbidity issues both in the upper Kennet where algal growths were having adverse effects on Ranunculus growth and on the aesthetic appearance of the river. On the lower river the turbidity is felt to be more associated with increased canal operations and with the growth of towns such as Newbury, Thatcham and Reading. The purpose of this Fisheries Action Plan is to enable the Agency to consult closely with local angling interests and to agree management objectives for the catchment. This will lead to a plan of action to identify how the objectives will be achieved.

New Fisheries Action Plans will be announced over the coming years

Monitoring fish populations

By using a range of techniques, from fish traps and automatic fish counters to electric fishing and echosounding,
we can obtain a realistic picture of the status and trends in fish populations across England and Wales. Our monitoring network comprises four tiers:

The Fisheries Classification Scheme is a means of evaluating the results of fish population surveys and translating them into a more readily understandable form. Measures of fish abundance ( in terms of weights or numbers of fish per 100 square metres of water surface) are compared with a set of standard abundance classes. These have been derived from surveys of 950 sites undertaken during the early 1990s and represent a baseline for comparison.

These classes are defined as:

• A – well above average (compared with the early 1990s baseline)
• B – above average
• C – average
• D – below average
• E – well below average
• F – fishless

More information about the Fisheries Classification Scheme is available from the Environment Agency.