CONCERNS are mounting that fish stocks in the River Severn through Bridgnorth are declining to “disaster” levels, keeping anglers and their families away from the town, with a knock-on effect on trade.
The Environment Agency – which says it is continuing to make improvements – this week welcomed a move by a recently-formed group to meet them for a showdown over the issues. The Middle Severn Catchment Area Conservation Group is drawing up questions to fire at the EA in May.
“The river from above Shrewsbury to down past Worcester is getting towards disaster,” said Journal angling correspondent Brian Preece. “Immense pressure from predators, including cormorants, geese and swans have taken their toll on the river, but without any doubt it is the water quality which is putting the fish off.
“Hundreds of anglers believe the Severn’s roach, dace and gudgeon, besides other species, have practically gone. Trades and businesses will suffer and one local landlady has confirmed her bookings dwindled last year and that bookings are disaster for the coming summer being down 50 per cent.”
Mr Preece said the river water was going into mains drinking water and it wasn’t only anglers who should be concerned. He said anglers using all venues and traders would be invited to voice their concerns to the conservation group.
EA communications officer Emily Poyser said that the Severn’s fisheries were in good condition and that the agency continued to make improvements to habitats and fish stocks.
“The initial feedback from anglers at certain fisheries is that last year’s fishing for the popular species, namely barbel, chub and roach, was poorer than the previous year.
“The agency fisheries’ monitoring team are continuing to assess this; however in the experience of anglers and the fisheries team this is not unusual for the natural cycle of the river. We want to continue to improve our fish monitoring activities along the middle Severn catchment and for that we need anglers to give us information.
“We are keen to meet with angling and wildlife groups from across the catchment to discuss any concerns they may have in relation to water quality and fish species.”
She said that water quality in England and Wales was better today than at any time since the industrial revolution. And she explained that the EA has worked with a large number of people and organisations to produce a Severn river basin management plan, which sets even higher standards.
“Under the water framework directive 26 per cent of rivers in England and Wales are now described as of good or high ecological status,” she said. “The figure is 27 per cent for the Severn River Basin.
“The plan provides us with a mechanism to help achieve continued improvement in fish stocks by improving habitats, water quality and water flow.”
