A month into a new salmon fishing season and the scoreboard is ticking on both Taw and Torridge with five pristine Springers of between 8lb and 10lb from the two rivers. This is heartening in these days of decline as these iconic fish are often referred to as the proverbial canary in the mine.
These incredible fish were high on the agenda at the Torridge Fisheries Association AGM at the Half Moon Inn, Sheepwash, where William Entwistle gave a passionate and no punches pulled talk to a packed meeting room highlighting the efforts being undertaken by the South West Rivers Association who founded the West Country Rivers Trust in 1994.
William highlighted the catastrophic decline in salmon over recent decades and focussed on the industrial scale fishing in the open sea that is decimating salmon numbers taking thousands of adult salmon and smolts. The SWRA are lobbying the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation to work towards international action to protect salmon. William also emphasised the potential value of hatcheries and smoltification in aquaculture. William likened the artificial preservation of salmon stocks as a modern Noah’s Ark to ensure survival until political power provides a long term solution to overfishing.
The impact of climate change undoubtedly a major issue across the Northern Hemisphere. Salmon eggs need temperatures below 10 degrees if water temperatures are above 12 degrees in January the eggs will die. During last summer water temperatures on Dartmoor reached 25 degrees a level that will kill salmonids.
Prior to Williams talk Environment Agency Fishery Officer Sam Fenner had announced the total salmon catch for the Torridge in 2025 was twelve. This would have been a good days total thirty or so years ago!
Sam Fenner highlighted the work the EA are doing across the region despite the low numbers of fishery officers. Once again it was reiterated that any pollution or suspicions of illegal activity should be reported to the EA via their hotline 0800 807060. Anglers are the ears and eye of the river.
Beavers featured widely in debate at the meeting with varied opinions expressed regarding the environmental impacts they bring, both positive and negative.
Whilst there was a sense of sadness at the decline in salmon and sea trout there was a strong sense of community and an appreciation of the river. Brown trout are thriving and anglers are focussing on these beautiful fish and enjoying great sport with the emphasis on catch and release of all wild fish.
The association work tirelessly at their hatchery and have stocked out close to 23,000 salmon fry over recent days.
For more information on the Association visit their website :- Link below
http://www.rivertorridge.org.uk/the-association/
