ANGLERS can now use a different kind the internet to check the movements of game fish in three north east rivers – the internet.
Figures from fish passes on the rivers
When a fish passes over a weir or fish pass, electrodes send a signal to the fish counter. The counters can distinguish between upstream and downstream movements of fish and eliminate counts caused by debris.
Results are checked by Agency fisheries scientists to ensure the counters are working properly and the figures are accurate.
Agency Fisheries scientist Jon Shelley said: “Fisheries officers were being approached by anglers for this kind of information, so we decided to make it available on the internet. It takes time to process the figures so the information available on the website is usually from a couple of months back, but anglers can also access historic data.
“Information from the fish counters is used to assist us in managing salmon and sea trout stocks in the area and also helps us understand how the stocks are performing.”
To access the fish counts, visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk . Click on Regional Information from the home page, North East and then the “NE fish counter information” link. There, you can select the rivers you are interested in.
The River Tyne fish counter has been located at Riding Mill, near Wylam, since June 1996. The River Wear counter has been in place at Framwellgate,
* The River Tyne has recorded the highest declared salmon rod catch in England and Wales for 2001. A total of 2513 fish were declared caught by anglers last year, the highest total recorded for the river since 1927. The figures are included in statistics on declared catches of salmon and migratory trout in England and Wales published by the Environment Agency today (3 October). The second highest declared rod catch was recorded on the Eden in Cumbria (1122), followed by the Derwent (1063), the Usk (857) and the Wye (733).
