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Government curbs on catches threaten lave salmon fishing in Severn estuary Government curbs on catches threaten lave salmon fishing in Severn
(14 days later)
An age-old method of netting salmon in the swirling, dangerous waters of the Severn estuary could be at risk after the government that ruled each exponent of the tricky art of lave fishing could only make a single catch this summer season. An age-old method of netting salmon in the swirling, dangerous waters of the river Severn could be at risk after the Environment Agency ruled that each exponent of the tricky art of lave fishing could make only a single catch this summer season.
For centuries the lave fisherfolk of Monmouthshire have waded out with large nets in search of salmon but they claim the new restriction will spell the end of the tradition. For generations the lave fisherfolk of Gloucestershire have waded out with large nets in search of salmon but they claim the new restriction will spell the end of the tradition.
George Reeks, 83, who has been fishing the estuary since the end of the second world war, said the price of a licence (£60) meant the practice would no longer be viable. Jock Reeks, 83, who has been fishing the estuary since the end of the second world war, said the price of a licence (£60) meant the practice would no longer be viable.
The Environment Agency argues that the restrictions have been introduced to protect the fish.The Environment Agency argues that the restrictions have been introduced to protect the fish.
But Reeks characterised the decision-makers as government officials sitting in city offices looking at graphs and not really understanding the estuary or the fishermen. “It’s ridiculous. This will completely kill a tradition that goes back hundreds of years,” he said. But Reeks characterised the decision-makers as government officials sitting in city offices looking at graphs and not really understanding the river or the fishermen. “It’s ridiculous. This will completely kill a tradition that goes back hundreds of years,” he said.
For more than three centuries, people from three Monmouthshire villages have waded or boated out on to the estuary close to where the Second Severn Crossing now spans the water. For several years the fishermen have been limited to five fish each – which they thought paltry enough. But they were shocked when letters dropped through the post saying the limit was one salmon each.
Bylaws already restrict the fishing to June, July and August. And nature dictates that the fishing spots can be reached only at low water on big tides when the wind is in the right direction. The fishermen do well to get 10 hours in each month. Reeks learned the art of lave fishing from his father and first waded out into the river aged 10. He said the point was not really the fish but the challenge of getting into the water with like-minded people. “It gets in your blood,” he said. Only 27 people still carry out lave fishing on the English stretch of the Severn’s lower reaches.
For several years they have been limited to five fish each – which they thought paltry enough. But they were shocked when letters dropped through the post saying the limit was one salmon each.
Reeks learned the art of lave fishing from his father and first waded out into the river aged 10. He said the point was not really the fish but the challenge of getting into the estuary with like-minded people. “It gets in your blood,” he said. Only 27 people still carry out lave fishing.
The equipment used bears little resemblance to the hi-tech rods favoured by many anglers. The lave net is strung loosely on a Y-shaped frame made of locally cut willow; the handle doubles as a walking stick while getting across the gullies to favourite spots such as the Grandstand and Nesters Rock.
With the current moving swiftly, remaining upright can be a challenge. But then the tricky business really starts. There are two ways to catch the salmon. The first, called cowering, involves standing in a channel and holding the back of the net in the water. The fish hit the back of the net, are scooped in and dispatched quickly with a blow to the nose with a “knocker”.
The other method involves watching carefully for a fish as it reaches shallow water. A cry of “Fish!” goes up and the men try to corner the salmon, running through the water, doing their best to avoid the many holes and trying to get a catch before the fish makes it back to deep water.
An Environment Agency spokesman said: “While we understand the value of traditional fishing practices to our heritage, it is crucial we protect salmon stocks - especially in special conservation areas like the River Severn. The decision to review catch limits for the 2015 season is not one we have taken lightly, but we have done so in order to preserve our salmon for future generations.”An Environment Agency spokesman said: “While we understand the value of traditional fishing practices to our heritage, it is crucial we protect salmon stocks - especially in special conservation areas like the River Severn. The decision to review catch limits for the 2015 season is not one we have taken lightly, but we have done so in order to preserve our salmon for future generations.”
Across the border in Wales, the eight lave fishermen of the Black Rock Lave Net fishery in Monmouthshire have agreed a different quota with Natural Resources Wales. They are allowed five fish per month during the summer between the eight of them.
• This article was amended on 3 June 2015. An earlier version said that the one-fish restriction extended to lave fishermen based in Wales. That is not the case; they have a separate agreement with Natural Resources Wales.