Know Your River – Conwy Salmon & Sea Trout Catchment Summary Introduction This report describes the status of the salmon and sea trout populations in the Conwy catchment. Bringing together data from rod catches, stock assessments and juvenile monitoring, it will describe the factors limiting the populations and set out the challenges faced in the catchment. Action tables set out habitat improvements to restore freshwater productivity of salmon and sea trout populations. These tables also include some work which will be carried out by our partner organisations, not just Natural Resources (NRW). NRW has a duty, defined in the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 to have Sustainable Management of Natural Resources (SMNR) at the core of everything that we do. By applying the principles of SMNR in all of our activities - from agriculture, forestry and flood defence to development planning - we are undertaking catchment-wide initiatives that will deliver for fish stock improvements. Our reports highlight the importance of considering the whole catchment when identifying and addressing fisheries issues; and of working with partners. NRW is committed to reporting on the status of salmon stocks in all principal salmon rivers where, in the past, Salmon Action Plans have been produced, and/or, in SAC rivers, where condition assessments have been undertaken under the Habitats Directive. In addition, the status of various fish species in all our rivers is reported as part of Water Framework Directive (WFD) assessments. This report refers to these commitments. Its purpose is to provide, for our customers, an informative and useful summary of stock status and remedial work planned - specifically for anglers, fishery and land owners; as well as other partners. Catchment The Afon Conwy rises from Llyn Conwy in the Moors in Snowdonia and drains a predominantly upland catchment discharging into Liverpool Bay at Conwy. The catchment is mainly rural with limited industrial development. Land use is dominated by agriculture (75%), mainly sheep grazing with some dairy farming, and coniferous afforestation (12%). Tourism also plays an important role in the local economy.

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The ‘hard’ Ordovician rocks in the south and west areas of the catchment have given rise to thin, poorly buffered soils that are susceptible to the effects of acidification. The weather resistance of these rocks has also given rise to steep slopes that have rendered most of the sub catchments in the south-western area inaccessible to migratory fish. In contrast, the geology of the north-eastern area of the catchment provides more buffering which reduces acid sensitivity. Abandoned metal mine shafts, adits and spoil heaps act as point sources of metal contamination in parts of the Gwydyr forest just north of Betws y Coed. This contamination has a localised impact upon the Nant Gwydyr and minor tributaries of the lower Llugwy. The Conwy falls fish pass was constructed in compensation for any disturbance to the Conwy’s fisheries during the construction of the A55 expressway tunnel at Conwy. This was opened in 1994 and opened an additional 40% of spawning and nursery area within the catchment.

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Rod Catches The following tables show the total declared rod catches of salmon and sea trout on the Conwy and Catch Per License Day. CPLD is an estimate of the average catch per fishing day on a catchment. Salmon Rod Catch – declined declined compared to 2017. The release rate in 2018 was 91%. This is an excellent improvement once again, and must continue to conserve stocks.

Catch per Rod 10 Year Percentage Year Caught Rod Killed license Released mean released day 2018 92 8 84 133 91 0.09 2017 150 24 126 143 84 0.07 2016 89 26 63 147 71 0.07 2015 65 22 43 154 66 0.05 2014 73 40 33 164 45 0.06 2013 104 44 60 183 58 0.06 2012 141 65 76 187 54 0.06 2011 172 83 89 184 52 0.07 2010 304 130 174 189 57 0.08 2009 144 90 54 178 38 0.06

Sea Trout Rod Catch – declined compared to 2016 and 2017. The release rate in 2018 was 95%. This is an excellent result and needs to be maintained.

Catch per Rod 10 Year Percentage Year Caught Rod Killed license Released mean released day 2018 402 19 383 520 95 0.41 2017 774 145 629 524 81 0.35 2016 961 128 833 505 87 0.71 2015 272 56 216 437 79 0.23 2014 482 106 376 459 78 0.34 2013 521 86 435 457 83 0.24 2012 392 84 308 462 79 0.24 2011 482 134 348 486 72 0.21 2010 495 119 376 496 76 0.22 2009 423 113 310 486 73 0.19

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Stock status Conservation of Salmon Salmon stock status is assessed using ‘Conservation Limits’ which provide an objective reference point against which to assess the status of salmon stocks in individual rivers. This is calculated by applying assumed angling exploitation rates to catch data to derive run estimates; adopting standard sex ratios and weight-fecundity relationships to generate egg deposition figures. The numbers of salmon a river can produce (and consequently the catches that the stocks support) are a function of the quality and quantity of accessible spawning and rearing area. Therefore, in general, big rivers have larger catches and have correspondingly bigger total spawning requirements than small rivers. Thus, for any given rivers there should be an optimum level of stock which the conservation limit seeks to protect. The conservation limit represents the number of eggs that must be deposited each year within a given catchment to conserve salmon stocks in the future.

River Conwy Estimates of egg deposition, and compliance with conservation limit 1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

-0.5

Log (egg deposition, millions) deposition,Log (egg -1.0

-1.5 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 Year

Are enough salmon eggs being deposited to conserve stocks in the catchment? The red line represents the number of eggs required to be deposited to sustain a healthy salmon stock. The black trend line and its confidence limits (the yellow band) is fitted to the most recent ten- year series of egg deposition estimates (2009-2018).

• Current number of eggs being deposited puts stocks probably at risk

• In five years’ time the predicted status of salmon stocks will be probably at risk

• Based on current data, and the projection of the graph, the stocks of salmon on the Conwy will continue to decline (uncertain trend)

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Conservation of Sea Trout In contrast to salmon, no established methods of setting Conservation Limits or similar have been available for sea trout. In the absence of such analysis, NRW and the Environment Agency have, for several years, routinely applied a fishery-based assessment to the principal sea trout rivers. This method – used previously in this report - utilises time-series of angling catch per unit effort (CPUE) data (‘catch per day’) to examine sea trout performance on a river-by-river basis. Recently an alternative stock-based assessment method has been developed by NRW and is applied here. This utilises angling catch data to derive run and egg deposition estimates for sea trout in much the same way that similar data sets are used in Conservation Limit compliance procedures for salmon assessment. Further details on this method are given in the recent Technical Case supporting net and rod fishery byelaw proposals on all rivers in Wales and the cross-border rivers Wye and Dee (see: Technical case for fishing controls to protect salmon and sea trout).

River Conwy: Sea trout

Estimates of egg deposition, and compliance with conservation limit 100.0

10.0

1.0 Egg Egg deposition (millions)

0.1 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 Year

Are enough sea trout eggs being deposited to conserve stocks in the catchment? The red line represents the number of eggs required to be deposited to sustain a healthy sea trout stock. The black trend line and its confidence limits (the yellow band) is fitted to the most recent ten- year series of egg deposition estimates (2009-2018).

• Current number of eggs being deposited puts stocks probably not at risk

• In five years’ time the predicted status of salmon stocks will be probably not at risk

• Based on current data, and the projection of the graph, the stocks of sea trout on the Conwy will continue to decline (uncertain trend)

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Juvenile Salmonid Monitoring Programme In 2019 the temporal (annual) programme consisted of four sites on the Conwy. The temporal data is used to look at trends in juvenile salmon and trout densities giving an indication of how successful spawning has been across the whole catchment. The Conwy has been more consistent than other catchments in for adult/juvenile salmon numbers over the past few years. We have therefore monitored a number of additional sites from the spatial programme (six-yearly programme) that have historically had good numbers of salmon to get a better catchment overview. This meant an additional seven sites were planned in 2019, with three of these being timed surveys. Due to high river levels only five of the additional sites were completed. Salmon and Trout Classifications The following table presents the results of the routine juvenile salmonid population surveys from 2019 on the Conwy. The symbols display the National Fish Classification Scheme (NFCS) grades which have been developed to evaluate and compare the results of fish population surveys in a consistent manner. The NFCS ranks survey data by comparing fish abundance at the survey sites with sites across Wales and England where juvenile salmonids are present. Sites are classified into categories A to F, depending on densities of juvenile salmonids at the site.

Grade Descriptor Interpretation

A Excellent In the top 20% for a fishery of this type B Good In the top 40% for a fishery of this type C Fair In the middle 20% for a fishery of this type D Fair In the bottom 40% for a fishery of this type E Poor In the bottom 20% for a fishery of this type F Fishless No fish of this type present

Salmon Salmon Trout fry Trout parr Catchment Site code Year parr fry grade grade grade grade Lledr 19 2019 C B D D Merddwr 39.1 2019 C B D B Nant Y Goron 3 2019 E B A B Roe 10 2019 B B A B Crafnant 32 2019 C C B D Oaklands 56 2019 D C A B

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Five Minute Fry Additional Timed Surveys 2019 These surveys are carried out on riffles with the prime target being salmon fry. Fishing is timed for five minutes. The sites are generally on main river and would be too large for a normal survey. North Wales fisheries have created our own grading system for these sites by reviewing the historic data, and this is explained in the table below, with the results underneath.

Number of salmon fry Grade Descriptor caught A Excellent 25 or more B Good 15 to 24 C Fair 10 to 14 D Fair 5 to 9 E Poor 1 to 4 F Fishless 0

Catchment Site code Year Salmon fry grade

Conwy upper 19 2019 E Conwy upper 21 2019 E Llugwy 303 2019 C

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Catchment Population Trends The table below shows the average salmon and trout densities from the temporal sites across the Conwy catchment since 2010. NB – no surveys were carried out in 2012 due to an alteration in the programme.

Salmon fry Salmon parr Trout fry Trout parr Year density density density density

2019 37.5 15.6 49.6 12.5 2018 65.0 9.4 57.2 12.7 2017 87.6 7.0 106.7 8.2 2016 21.3 9.2 39.2 6.7 2015 55.6 9.8 51.2 10.7 2014 85.3 10.8 44.3 9.2 2013 75.6 18.7 16.2 8.1 2011 56.7 11.3 41.2 7.2 2010 56.9 9.3 47.2 7.2 Salmon fry densities are low compared to the historic data. Parr densities have improved on all tributaries in 2019. Trout fry densities in 2019 were consistent with the historic data. Trout parr densities are good compared to the historic data. The following table shows a simple comparison of the catchment average density of juvenile salmon and trout at our temporal sites in 2019, and compares this against 2018, and the five-year average. NB - The five-year average has been set from 2011 to 2015, as 2016 was a poor year.

0+ >0+ >0+ 0+ Trout Salmon Salmon Trout 2019 average density 37.5 15.6 49.6 12.5 2018 average density 65.0 9.4 57.2 12.7 Percentage difference to 2018 -42% 66% -13% -2% 5-yr average (2011-15) 68.3 12.7 38.2 8.8 Percentage difference to 5-yr average -45% 23% 30% 42%

The overall salmon fry densities in 2019 have declined compared to 2018 and are well below the five-year average. This is due to poor results on the Merddwr and Nant y Goron in 2019 (only two salmon fry were recorded on the Nant y Goron). The Lledr remained consistent, and the Roe had good results. The poor salmon fry results on the upper Conwy links directly to the lower number of fish that migrated through the fish pass in 2018 (108 up counts in 2018, 274 up counts in 2017). Adult salmon migrating throughout the Conwy catchment may have been impacted by the exceptionally warm summer, which caused low flows up until August. Salmon parr densities are excellent compared to 2018 and above the five-year average, and this links directly to the good salmon fry densities in 2017 and 2018. Our five-minute fry site by Padog bends had its highest density of salmon parr, and the Roe had its second highest density. Trout fry densities declined slightly compared to 2018, but are above the five-year average. The slight decline in the density links to the sea trout rod catch (rod catch 2017 – 774, 2018 – 402), www.cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk www.naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Page | 8 although rod catch declined far more than the juvenile densities. Sea trout migration in 2018 may have been impacted by the summer low flows mentioned above. Trout parr densities remained consistent with 2018 and are well above the five-year average. The tributary near Oaklands had its best result for trout parr. This was surprising as sections of the catchment dried out in 2018, leading to very poor trout fry densities during the juvenile surveys that year.

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Conwy Fall Fish Pass During 2019 we re-instated the monitoring camera above the fish pass. The picture quality is poor, but it has allowed us to validate the majority of fish movement through the pass. From this work we have come to realise that a number of counts, which we would have recorded historically, are actually false. Counts are sometimes being recorded when the sluice gates open and close due to flow levels. It has also been noted that counts with a signal strength under fifty are small fish (<20cm) and not large migratory adults. When the fish counter was re-instated in 2013 the overall sensitivity was altered, leading to over reporting. Historic fish counter data was available back to 2013. We have reviewed the results, removing the small fish and false counts, leading to a decline in the number of fish we recorded migrating through the fish pass. The graph below highlights the change in numbers, however the trends remain the same. In 2013 the counter was broken until mid-August, so counts are underrepresented for the earlier running fish.

Year Counts pre review Counts post review

2018 118 108 2017 433 274 2016 341 222 2015 166 93 2014 200 139 2013 282 216 Following our review we believe the data is now comparable with the pre-2013 data set. The table below shows the number of fish using the pass since 2004 (full counts since the pass opened in 1994 available in the appendix). NB – The counter was broken in 2009/10. It then broke again in early September 2011 and wasn’t repaired until mid-August 2013.

Year Annual counts

2018 108 2017 274 2016 222 2015 93 2014 139 2013 216 2011 108 2008 132 2007 215 2006 132 2005 189 2004 112

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Fisheries Action Table Timescale Site Planned actions Benefits Lead Partner(s) for delivery Habitat improvements: We More natural river will investigate where system, reduced there is opportunity to siltation, increased improve habitat for flow diversity, fish through improving NRW On-going improved spawning access over barriers, gravels and juvenile restoration of riparian habitat. Improved and instream habitat, fish numbers. including control of invasive species. Water Framework Directive: We will continue to work to ensure no Conwy deterioration, monitor Waterbodies the status of the NRW Wildlife protected and environment and trusts Local improved investigate the causes NRW authorities On-going WFD waterbodies of failures. Together Landowner achieving Good with our partners we DCWW Status/Potential. will look to put in place measures that protect and improve the status of the water environment. Enforcement: Action Reduce illegal to reduce illegal Stakeholders activity, more fish activity on information NRW North Wales On-going remain in the provided and Police system. investigations.

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Appendix Conwy fall fish pass The table below shows the number of fish using the pass since 1994. NB – The counter was broken in 2009/10. It then broke again in early September 2011 and was in this state till mid-August 2013.

Year Annual counts

2018 108 2017 274 2016 222 2015 93 2014 139 2013 216 2011 108 2008 132 2007 215 2006 132 2005 189 2004 112 2003 41 2002 210 2001 257 2000 103 1999 226 1998 125 1997 63 1996 33 1995 112 1994 60

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