In the lead up to Christmas, over 2 million farmed salmon are likely to die prematurely each month on farms along the Scottish west coast and islands. Farmed salmon has no place on our festive menus, and certainly not on sustainable ones.
Salmon Farming: why it’s not a cause for festive cheer
Since the 1970s, global populations of wild Atlantic salmon have declined by around 70%, from 8-10 million to just 3 million today. Open-net salmon farming has been shown to be one of the causes of this decline.
As salmon farming in Scotland continues to grow exponentially it spreads potentially fatal parasitic sea lice from farmed to wild fish. The threat to wild fish is further escalated by a rise in farmed fish escapes and as a result increased likelihood of extinction from genetic dilution.
In 2021, the Scottish salmon industry produced over 200,000 annual tonnes of Atlantic salmon. By 2030 it aims to produce 400,000 tonnes per year.
While the industry looks forward to increasing revenues, the true cost of producing this volume of farmed Atlantic salmon isn’t a cause for festive cheer. Salmon farming wreaks environmental havoc
Salmon farming is not an environmentally-friendly menu option. It wreaks havoc on the surrounding environment, has severe costs in terms of resources and carbon use and it leads to the immense suffering of millions of fish – both wild and farmed.
The unsustainable practice of open-net salmon farming is a significant cause of the dramatic decline in populations of wild Atlantic salmon and the integrity of Scotland’s coastal ecosystems.
As we enter the winter season many keen sea anglers will be targetting the specimen fish that lurk within the waters off the North Devon Coast. Recent events highlighted the dangers that can be faced when fishing from this wild and rugged coast. The angler involved expressed his sincere thanks to the RNLI who undoubtedly saved him from a watery grave. Following on from this I was pleased to work with the local RNLI to promote the wearing of lifejackets and buoyancy aids.
On Saturday, November 26th, Pauline and I visited Appledore Lifeboat Station where my own lifejacket and our sons lifejacket were given a safety inspection. Both jackets failed to pass the criteria as both had inflation mechanisms that were past their use by date. New parts were promptly ordered from Summerlands Tackle at Westward Ho! Of the sixteen lifejackets presented for inspection 50% failed due to mostly minor defects. It has to be remembered that this vital equipment could save your life and failure at a critical moment could be as catastrophic as the brakes failing while descending a steep hill!
Simon McCarthy shares his wisdom on lifejackets. Simon is often at hand in Summerlands Tackle to discuss and advise on safety at sea
Many thanks to Owen Atkinson, David Inwood and Simon McCarthy for their expertise, advice and a fascinating insight into the valuable work undertaken by the RNLI.
The high magnification binoculars (Left) were kindly donated in the memory of popular local angler Cameron Atkinson 1999- 2019 They have already contributed to saving the lives of estuary users.
RNLI Education Volunteer Matt Cox offered useful advise for anglers and other water users and discussed the merits of modern lightweight bouyancy aids.
The RNLI carry out many rescues throughout the year and undoubtedly encounter many who are Ill-informed about the risks that are ever-present at the waters edge. I know that many believe that they will get away with it and that nothing will happen to them. On average I believe around ten anglers drown each year making angling a statistically dangerous sport.
The key messages to anglers are :-
Always wear a life jacket when fishing from shore or boat
Modern Automatic lifejackets are lightweight and comfortable. Those who wear them often forget they’re wearing them. Remember to regularly check and service your lifejacket inline with the manufacturers recommendations.
Always carry a means of calling for help on your person.
Whicever device you choose to call for help, you must be able to reach it Easily in an emergency. Consider taking a mobile phone with the Safe Trx app.
Always check the weather forecast and tide times
Anglers should check the tide times and predicted swell forecast. This is particularly important for shore anglers to reduce the risk of being swept away or cut off by the tide.
Tell someone else where you’re going and when you’ll be back
They can raise the alarm with the coastguard by calling 999 or 112 if yiu are overdue.
It is reassuring to know that the coastguard are there to work with the RNLI to rescue those who are in difficulty and do so without judging those they rescue. Chatting with those at the lifeboat station it is very apparent how passionate and dedicated they are to ensuring the safety of those who interact with the sea for recreational reasons or to earn their livelihoods.
Lifejackets hang serviced a ready for action.The lifeboat station crews kits at the ready.
Local Fly Fisher and enthusiastic Fly Tyer Eddie Tyas spoke with me recently to say how well Bulldog Trout Fishery was fishing with plenty of good quality hard fighting rainbows being caught. Always keen to wet a line I arranged to meet Eddie at the venue. Looking at the weather forecast I half expected a phone call suggesting we call the trip off. Strong to gale force winds and heavy rain were on the way. On the optimistic side the worst of the weather wasn’t due until 11:00am.
As I pulled into car park at 9:00am large drops of rain were already dropping from a grey leaden sky a gusty wind ruffling the water.
The water was slightly murky with the river swollen by heavy rain over previous days. After such a long dry summer the rain is of course to be welcomed but on a cold bleak November morning I did question our sanity. Tom Early suggested a bright white lure and this was what I put on after a few casts with my normally reliable olive damsel. Within a few casts a solid thump resulted in a rainbow of close to 3lb soon to be followed by a slightly smaller trout of just over 2lb.
Eddie persisted as heavy rain and wind increased, after a couple of hours Eddie did the sensible thing and called it a day. I was keen to get my last fish so persisted and tied on an even bigger white lure. After a couple of casts a savage pull resulted in my final trout of the day a well conditioned rainbow of just under 2lb. It was one of those rare occasions when I was actually glad to finish fishing for the day.
I hope to join Eddie again when the weather is a little less hostile..
Are you involved in any type of watersports, including fishing from land?
Come along to our free lifejacket clinic and get advice about your lifejacket – Is it fit for purpose? Are the essential elements in date and in working order? When is it due for its next service? Not got a lifejacket or floatation devise and not sure which type to buy?
Appledore and Clovelly RNLI Water Safety Team are holding a free lifejacket clinic on Saturday 26 November between 10 am and 2 pm at Appledore Lifeboat Station and will provide advice and check over your lifejacket with you – and with the shop open you can buy your RNLI Christmas cards and presents at the same time, and meet the Face to Face Fundraising Team.
Please do not be the one we can’t save – Please come down and have your lifejacket checked.
As Christmas approaches many will be stocking up on culinary delights. I am joining with Pete Tyjas of Fly Culture magazine to raise awareness of the environmental disaster that is salmon farming. Please consider the facts and do not endorse the industry by buying farmed salmon. More information on salmon farming can be found on the Wildfish website see link. https://wildfish.org/weekly-sea-lice-statistics/?mc_cid=281e974a7d&mc_eid=ebe0241b5b
Barnstaple & District Angling Association held their AGM at the Ebberly Arms on Tuesday, November 8th.
It was a pleasure to attend the meeting and share in the club members enthusiasm. John Webber the clubs Chairman is to be thanked for ensuring that the club continues to thrive and appears to be entering a new era of prosperity. The clubs roots stretch back over 100 years and it was fascinating to view some of the clubs historic trophies that carry the names of many well known local anglers.
I have been a member of the association on and off for close to fifty years and have many fond memorys of fishing with the club and on its waters. I am pleased to say that plans are being made to rebiuld the clubs hut on the River Taw. I have waxed lyrical on several occasions about the hut and the anglers that rested there as they talked of fish and fishing.
The clubs committee are enthiuastic and committed to the clubs future and that of the River Taw and the salmon and other species that swim within.
This year the club has used un-taken honorariums to give a little help to local worthy causes.
We chose two , The Wave Project , who run surf therapy programs to improve the mental health of children and young people. I watched them at Croyde beach .It was wonderful to see the beaming smiles on their faces as they surfed in with the help from the volunteer surf mentors
Our other choice was the local Barnstaple Ability Football Club, they are totally self funded and rely on just donations. They have nearly 80 disabled & special needs adults playing football in the club., including 30 new members and Lynn Ashman who helps run the club said our donation will go towards buying new kit for these new members
£150 to each one odf these commendable causes.
Full details on the club and membership can be found at the below link.
Keen local angler Tony Watkins is urging fellow anglers to sign a petition to promote efforts to improve water quality in rivers across the UK.
Increase penalties and fund increased enforcement for river pollution
We want the Government to amend legislation governing offences for polluting rivers, from industrial or agricultural sources, and fund increased enforcement action against polluters.
“6,000 trout and salmon die in ‘largest ever fish kill in Devon’
The Environment Agency blames a “pollution incident” for the deaths of at least 6,000 fish in a Devon river.”
South Molton Angling Club met at Bratton Water to take part in the Mac Trophy competition that is fished throughout the year at Stillwaters across the region. Bratton water is sheltered from most winds and offers great sport with rainbow and brown trout stocked on a regular basis. Members caught steadily from the start with trout succumbing to various patterns and tactics.
I started using a small black goldhead viva lure with a small nymph fished on a dropper. This proved effective with my three fish bag tempted within a little over 1.5hours. The best fish was a stunning looking brown trout of around 2lb.
Other members tempted fish on orange lures and small buzzers. The fish were a mix of browns and rainbows the best close to 3lb.
The colours of autumn are showing on the tree’s within the valley but considering it is early November there are still plenty of leaves remaining. We commented on how the seasons are changing with the onset of winter getting later each year.
