Ray Walton
Senior Member
I have tripped this over from the river reports Hampshire Avon because of its importance and to make more public! https://barbel.co.uk/site/vbulletin/forum/showthread.php?t=3397&page=14 onwards.
Due for continued Hampshire Avon destruction this week for over a mile upstream.
Having received more information on this, the EA have now admitted that the weed cutting and dredging (under the original guise of gravel cleaning/raking) has nothing whatever to do with 'Salmon Conservation' or creating 'Salmon Redds' for spawning as previously stated!
It is, as suggested before, to satisfy the North End Farm 'Salmon Syndicate in clearing the channel and to remove the SSSI protected Ranunculus weed and root stocks so that weed future growth is reduced and so 'fishing can be practiced in these areas'!
Again, around a mile+ of pristine river will be raped of its weed cover and sanctuary along with the established macro invertebrate colonies (food for fish), fish fry including salmon parr and all coarse and migratory fish species including SAC protected species including Lamprey, Salmon, Bullheads, and also protected White Crayfish. As the area in question on the RDAA fishery will be somewhat left 'baron', it will leave the area wide open to Cormorant and Otter predation if any fish unwittingly moves up or down into the area.
The dredging of the stretch has no benefit for coarse fish, (especially barbel) or Coarse Angling and the exercise is totally Salmon Fishing orientated so that flies and spinners do not get caught on weed or snags and also to remove any cover or sanctuary for Salmon so that they are easily seen and caught. This last reason is at the expense of wiping out the coarse fish habitat in the process, to which Ringwood & District AA members pay good money to fish for 'coarse fish' and not salmon!
As RDAA officials and volunteers are participating in the destruction of their own fishery, it shows a total lack of understanding and knowledge regarding the river and its inhabitants and fish stocks and river conservation as a whole.
The EA/NE 'approved' destruction will start tomorrow Monday 15th August on the Hampshire Avon above Ibsley Bridge-North End-Gorley and will continue probably till Wednesday/Thusday.
Absolutely unbelievable and anyone involved should be condemned for their actions including the EA and NE for issuing such exemption and licence for this destruction to be carried out specifically for Salmon Anglers 'comfort and easy' fishing and disregarding their prime duties to protect the SSSI and its protected and endangered species present!
Due for continued Hampshire Avon destruction this week for over a mile upstream.
Having received more information on this, the EA have now admitted that the weed cutting and dredging (under the original guise of gravel cleaning/raking) has nothing whatever to do with 'Salmon Conservation' or creating 'Salmon Redds' for spawning as previously stated!
It is, as suggested before, to satisfy the North End Farm 'Salmon Syndicate in clearing the channel and to remove the SSSI protected Ranunculus weed and root stocks so that weed future growth is reduced and so 'fishing can be practiced in these areas'!
Again, around a mile+ of pristine river will be raped of its weed cover and sanctuary along with the established macro invertebrate colonies (food for fish), fish fry including salmon parr and all coarse and migratory fish species including SAC protected species including Lamprey, Salmon, Bullheads, and also protected White Crayfish. As the area in question on the RDAA fishery will be somewhat left 'baron', it will leave the area wide open to Cormorant and Otter predation if any fish unwittingly moves up or down into the area.
The dredging of the stretch has no benefit for coarse fish, (especially barbel) or Coarse Angling and the exercise is totally Salmon Fishing orientated so that flies and spinners do not get caught on weed or snags and also to remove any cover or sanctuary for Salmon so that they are easily seen and caught. This last reason is at the expense of wiping out the coarse fish habitat in the process, to which Ringwood & District AA members pay good money to fish for 'coarse fish' and not salmon!
As RDAA officials and volunteers are participating in the destruction of their own fishery, it shows a total lack of understanding and knowledge regarding the river and its inhabitants and fish stocks and river conservation as a whole.
The EA/NE 'approved' destruction will start tomorrow Monday 15th August on the Hampshire Avon above Ibsley Bridge-North End-Gorley and will continue probably till Wednesday/Thusday.
Absolutely unbelievable and anyone involved should be condemned for their actions including the EA and NE for issuing such exemption and licence for this destruction to be carried out specifically for Salmon Anglers 'comfort and easy' fishing and disregarding their prime duties to protect the SSSI and its protected and endangered species present!
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