Introduction to the Lynher River Association

BACKGROUND

The Lynher River Association was founded in 1989 and is an association of riparian owners, lessees, anglers and individuals interested in protecting and improving the river, its wildlife and environment.

The aim of the Lynher River Association, in conjunction with the Environment Agency, is to take action were appropriate to safeguard and improve habitat and to ensure a sustainable stock of native migratory and non-migratory fish.  Salmon, being the most threatened species, becomes our main focus of attention here. It is for this reason the hatchery was started.

Otters have made a fantastic come-back from their earlier persecution and now populate the river in ever increasing numbers. In addition we have a healthy population of dippers, kingfishers, herons, wagtails and many other riverside  birds, although duck, moorhen and coot are very scarce due to mink which were released in the past by animal activists. Mink as a non-native mustelid do an immense amount of damage and are trapped and shot where necessary. Otter, being a much bigger creature, will displace mink, so their success is of extreme importance and will reduce the problem. There have also been unconfirmed sightings of water voles which is exciting and needs further investigation. They too have been virtually eradicated in Cornwall by mink.

Salmon are the key species on the Lynher and to underline this we recently received this letter from Dr. Dylan Bright.

Dr Dylan Bright, Director of the Westcountry Rivers Trust  says, “salmon hatcheries can contribute significantly to a rational conservation strategy for the species if they adhere to best scientific principles.  In summary these are: 

·    Source broodstock as locally as possible to reintroduction sites to avoid outbreeding depression.· 

• Take enough broodstock and renew them frequently enough to avoid inbreeding depression.
• Ensure that you are attempting to tackle the problem which has led to the need to stock
• Understand local population structure and ecology to ensure stocking is supportive to the natural situation.

If hatcheries operate in this way then they can offer great support for our ailing populations.  Salmon are a vital part of our regions freshwater ecology and many other species rely on the presence of a robust salmon population.  Salmon use the entire length of the river system and a huge area of the north Atlantic during their life cycle and they are very sensitive to environmental stress.  Accordingly if we can keep salmon populations in tact we know that we are protecting a huge range of habitats.  In my opinion this makes the salmon a talismanic species for conservation requiring international political and scientific cooperation and local grass roots enthusiasm and effort to succeed. 

Salmon are also vitally important for the rural economy of the region which has one of the lowest GDP’s in the EU.  Recent reports from Brighton University for the SWRDA indicate that angling in the second most popular water based activity in the Westcountry, more popular than surfing and second only to swimming.   

Working with Lynher Hatchery recently I have been very excited and impressed by the way the team have naturally gravitated towards the best practice principles described, by taking a ‘common sense’ approach.  Their selfless determination and huge unpaid effort reminds me what good conservationists most anglers naturally are and what a huge resource of knowledge, manpower and goodwill resides within that community.  I look forward to working more closely with the team in the future.”

PRESSURES ON THE RIVER

Water abstraction – As a nation we have taken water to be a readily available resource. In the future this will cease to be the case. Already some streams in Hampshire cease to exist in summer months due to over-extraction. Here we see low summer flows.

Effluent discharges – Inadequate dilution during low flow periods.

Pollution – Well controlled by the Environment Agency but one incident can cause long term damage.

Flooding and siltation – Improper ploughing can lead to rapid run-off of rainwater, carrying high levels of silt. Silt is now classed as a pollutant.

Hydro-power schemes – Depleted reaches, and “fish paste”.

FISH OF THE LYNHER

Due to the acidity of its water, the river supports a limited number of fish species. These are primarily:

• Brown Trout – usually small, rarely 1lb in weight, the occasional larger fish being cannibals

• Sea-Trout – a variant of the brown trout which migrates to sea. Up to 15lbs, normally 3-5lbs in Spring, with smaller school peal during the Summer months.

• Salmon – migratory species, normally grilse to 8lbs, but larger fish to 40lbs have been captured. Salmon predominantly enter the river in late Summer and Autumn. Due to low Summer flows spring salmon have virtually disappeared.

LIFE CYCLE OF THE SALMON

• Adult salmon spawn November to March, the eggs hatching January to April.
• Fry will normally spend 2 years in the river growing to about 6”, the parr stage.
• In April or May of their second year they turn silver and move down to the sea as smolts.
• The smolts follow the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic, feeding as they travel.
• A percentage will return after one year at sea and are known as grilse
• Others will remain at sea for two or more years, returning as larger, multi sea winter salmon.

HISTORY OF THE LYNHER HATCHERY

In the 19th century, the Lynher, as with several other Cornish rivers, was virtually dead due to the impact of mining run-off.  After mining ceased an improvement in water quality saw a restocking of the river with fish from Scotland and Norway. The true Lynher salmon no longer exists.

Stocking of salmon from other locations is no longer permitted due to the Environment Agency requiring the genetic integrity of populations.

Catches peaked between the 1960’s and 1980’s, averaging some 500 fish annually, the majority taken in the net fishery.

SALMON IN DECLINE

During the early 1990’s there was a general downturn in salmon stocks arising from several factors.

High seas netting, coastal drift net fisheries, illegal netting, abstraction, hydro electric schemes, silting of spawning grounds and parasites all impacted adversely on stocks.

In the early 2000’s net catches had fallen to minimal levels, and the rod catch had also fallen significantly.  Without the introduction of salmon farming it is highly likely that the wild salmon stocks would have collapsed completely, and it could be argued that the farms saved the wild fish. However, farmed fish escape and diseases and parasites within farms create pressures on wild stocks.

REMEDIAL ACTION

• Buy-out of North East drift net fishery, and Irish drift net fishery. Government funded. High seas netting buy-out, funded by rod fishery interests in the North Atlantic. The value of the sport fishery has triggered these actions. The estimated value of a rod caught salmon to the Scottish economy is £6,000!
• Ten year buy-out of Lynher, Tavy and Tamar nets, partly funded by Association members.
• Implementation of catch and release by anglers, locally running at  approximately 70%.
• River works. Fencing to create buffer strips, weed clearance and silt removal on rivers, all help to create improved habitat for all river life, not just fish.
• Action to augment natural spawning.

LYNHER RIVER WORKS

• Regular cleaning of gravels undertaken to increase spawning capacity. Low flows, particularly during the summer, arising from water abstractions, plus the impact of bank erosion have resulted in concretion and silting up of spawning gravels.

• Developing available spawning areas.
• Fencing of buffer strips to prevent bank erosion, financed in conjunction with the Environment Agency.
• Creation of sanctuary areas where fish may spawn without interference.

EARLY STOCKING PROJECT

Seven years ago the Association obtained eggs from fish caught by anglers, held and stripped by the Environment Agency, and hatched these in a small scale egg-box scheme, stocking small numbers of  salmon fry into the river. This small project continued over 4 years, stocking varying numbers of fry each year.

Three years ago the Agency withdrew from the scheme as lack of funding forced the closure of their local hatchery. The Association then had to decide on a way forward, leading to the establishment of our own hatchery, operated on a volunteer basis.

For information about our salmon hatchery project, click the 'Hatchery' button on the menu, or click here.

SPONSORS

The Hatchery could not continue without the generous help and financial support of the following:

            Sir John Nott
            David Delag
            Brian Kirkpatrick
            Michael Latham
            John Body
            Paul Mugridge
            Clapper Syndicate
            Liskeard & District Angling Club