Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee 25th April, 1977. Item Type monograph Publisher North West Water Authority Download date 26/09/2021 21:47:16 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/26978 North W est Water Authority Dawson House, Great Si Warrington WA5 3LW Telephone Penketh 432 18th April, 1977 To: Members of the Regional Fisheries Advisory Committee (Messrs. J. R. S. Watson (Chairman)j T. A. Blackledge; F. Burgess; J. M, Croft; E. P. Ecroyd; T. M. Farrer; J. H. Fell; W. F. Hobson? R. D. Houghton; P. W. Jennings; Wm. McKenna; R. A. Parkin; G. B. Robinson; G. Wilson; and the Chairman of the Authority (P. J. Liddell); and the Vice Chairman of the Authority (J. A. Foster)(ex officio)). Dear Sit, A meeting of the REGIONAL FISHERIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE will be held at 2.30 p.m. on MONDAY, 25TH APRIL, 1977, in the BOARD ROOM, at DAWSON HOUSE, GREAT SANKEY, for consideration of the following business. Yours faithfully, G, W. SHAW, Director of Administration AGENDA 1. Apologies for absence. 2. Minutes of the last meeting (previously circulated). 3. Proceedings of Local Fisheries Advisory Committees. A. South and West Cumberland - 28th March, 1977. [Recommendations in Minute No. 20:- Water Resources Development in West Cumbria] B. Eden and District - 29th March, 1977. C. South Lancashire - 30th March, 1977 [Recommendation in Minute No. 21:- Radioactive Discharges and Fishery Interests] D. Lune, Wyre and Furness - 4th April, 1977. E. Mersey and Weaver - 7th April, 1977. [Recommendations in the following Minutes:- 21. Angling leases on Authority waters. 22. Fisheries income and expenditure. (To be considered under Item 4 of the Agenda)] 4. Fisheries Income and Expenditure. 5. Distribution of Licences. 6. National Water Council Consultation Paper, Review of Discharge Consent Conditions. 7. Fishery Byelaws. 8. River Lune - Byelaws and Net Limitation Order. 9* Netting on the Solway Firth. 10. Importation of Coho Salmon Eggs. 11. Calendar of Meetings for 1977-78. 12. Any Other Business. NOTE: Lunch w ill be served in the Members' Dining Room at approximately 1.00 p.m. The Menu for the day is enclosed and members attending for lunch are asked to indicate their choice of main course to the officer on duty near the Members' Retiring Room. NORTH WEST WATER AUTHORITY MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE SOUTH AND WEST CUMBERLAND FISHERIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE 26TH MARCH, 1977 Presents W, F. Hobson, Esq. (Chairman) : ' F. Bunting, Esq, G. B. Sedgewiek, Esq. J. M. Mawson, Esq. R. J. W. Slack, Esq, S. G. Payne, Esq. J. R. S. Watson, Esq. E. Young, Esq. ' In Attendance: 3 .d. Colligan, Esq. 17. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE ' Apologies for absence from the meeting were received from Mr. E.H . Fleming Smith, Mr. P. J. Liddell, and Mr. G. N. P. Wingate 18. MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the last meeting of the .Committee held on 10th January, 1977, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 19. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMITTEE - APPOINTMENT OF MR. E ,. H. FLEMING SMITH The Chairman reported that Mr. E. H. Fleming Smith had been appointed to the Committee as successor to Mr. J. C. Wade. 20. WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT IN WEST CUMBRIA ' The recommendations made at the last meeting of the Committee in relation to Water Resources Development in West Cumbria were reported to the February meeting of the Regional Committee (Minute NO. 30 (A )) . At that meeting at the request of Mr. Hobson the Regional Committee agreed that the recommendations be referred back to this Committee to enable further consideration to be given thereto in the light of river flow information which had not been available previously. Mr. Bunting provided members with a report, compiled by the Egremont Angling Association, which set but the views of the Association together with their recommendations on the proposals of the Authority for water resources in West Cumbria. Mr. Bunting thanked Dr. Marshall on behalf of the Association for providing records of River Ehen flows. He then requested the Committee to withdraw support for the development of Ennerdale Lake for further water abstraction given at the last meeting, and further requested an opportunity for representatives of the Egremont and D istrict Angling Association to discuss the report with officers of the Authority. It was felt that in the light of the Associations Report, officers of the Authority should meet with the Association for discussions thereon. The Committee then gave formal consideration to the proposals contained in the original report, circulated to members at the January meeting and following detailed discussion of the situation and consideration of both reports it was:- RECOMMENDED: (1) in the absence of further details of the effect on fisheries, the Committee is unable to support either the Ennerdale/Ehen or Thirlmere/ Derwent scheme but request: (i) That the Authority ensure that in any scheme of water resource development for West Cumbria all practical steps are taken to protect existing fisheries adequately, that the possibility of improvement to fisheries be taken into , account in the design of works and operation of schemes, and that Associations and Riparian Owners be fully consulted on all such matters; (ii) That the Authority in connection with the development of water resource schemes for West Cumbria ensure that provision is made for the collection and assessment of V relevant data regarding the movement of migratory fish in order that all neces­ sary information is made available for the determination of residual river flo w s . (2) That as a general principle, significant water abstractions likely to effect fisheries be made as near to the sea as practicable; (3) That in view of the existing heavy industrial and domestic use of the Ennerdale Lake River Ehen system, both for water abstraction and waste disposal, alternative sources be reconsidered before a firm commitment is made to any major alteration of the . Ennerdale Lake weir level, or for further abstractions to be made from the River Derwent; . (4) That in so far as they can be incorporated into the interim scheme, favourable consideration be given to ensuring that: (i) The existing 7 mgd compensation water flow from Ennerdale Water to the River . Ehen is maintained at all times; (ii) Unless the water quality.in the Ehen estuary is significantly improved, the flow downstream of the proposed new BNFL abstraction point does not fall below 10 mgd; (iii) The BNFL sewer outfall to the River Ehen estuary at Sellafield is extended ' to below low water mark in the sea. FISHERIES INCOME AND EXPENDITURE It was reported that at the meeting of the Policy and Resource? Committee held on 28th February, 1977 (Minute No. 55) discussion had taken place on the financial situation on the Fisheries Account and :that the Committee had made the following recommendations which had subsequently been approved by the Authority on 21st March, 1977s "(1) That the structure and scales of rod and line licences and the nature and amount of expenditure charged to the Fisheries Account be referred to a working party of officers for further report ih due course. (2) That in the meantime as interim measures: (i) An application be made for an'approximate 30% increase on the present scale of rod and line licences to be effective from 1st January, 1978, to cover inflation since , the last application; (ii) The Policy and Resources Committee be authorised to approve the details Of iuch1 increases to enable the necessary appli- ' cation to be made to the M inister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; (iii) The provision in the estimates for 1977-78 to take account of the additional cost arising from the new conditions of service of the bailiffs be reduced by £16,000." The Committee were informed that it had been considered neces­ sary to ask for the 30% increase as an interim measure in order to prevent any further deterioration in the financial situation on the Fisheries Account w hilst the overall problems were examined in detail. A working party of officers was examining the problem in the long term with a view to making further recommendations to the Policy and Resources Committee before the end of the year. The Local Advisory Committees would be consulted prior to any proposals for a new licence structure being agreed by the Authority. LICENSING OF SALMON DEALERS The Committee considered a report setting out the current position in relation to the possibility of licensing salmon dealers. Although in the past the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food had always been against any scheme for the licensing of dealers in England and Wales, they were now prepared to consider, any practical and workable scheme put forward. At a recent symposium attended by the Regional Fisheries Officer, strong support had been given by fishery interests for a licensing scheme, of which the Authority had previously intimated it was in favour. ....... The Director of Fisheries and Recreation of the South West r . Water Authority was,obtaining the views and comments pf .$11 Water . A uthorities,with a view to making formal representations' through the National Water Council to the Ministry for .a licensing scheme. : Ihie Committee supported the action being taken. 23. SEA PATROL OF ESTUARIES WITHIN THE AUTHORITY AREA The Committee received a report on the possibility of B ailiffs carrying out sea patrols off estuaries in places where illegal salmon netting was believed to take place. RESOLVED: , ... .That the report be received and that the matter of sea patrol, of estuaries be reviewed a n n u a lly . 24. BRANTHWAITE WEIR - PROPOSED FISH PASS It was. reported that the owner's solicitors had confirmed acceptance of the Authority's proposals to construct and maintain the fish pass at Branthwaite Weir.