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River Wear Fishery Development Plan: Interesting Information from The Environment Agency
As part of Pete’s involvement in the Wear Fishery Development Plan Project Board, we have been sent this interesting article by Paul Frear, Fisheries Technical Officer at the Environment Agency. Paul writes:
As part of the R.Wear Fishery Development Plan run by the Environment Agency a sonar survey of the R.Wear has been undertaken on 11 March to examine the river depth profile and fish holding areas with the aim of finding locations that may be suitable to introduce fish refuges. Fish refuges are seen as a key improvement to fish stock protection from predation by cormorants.
The survey results indicate that despite a relatively shallow depth profile from Old Durham Beck to Framwellgate weir there are potentially three deeper areas that may be suitable for refuges. What the survey also revealed was that fish were associated with these deeper areas, with some notable aggregations at Elvet Banks, footbridge below Old Elvet Bridge and – surprise-surprise at the back of the County!
Sonar Depth Profile of the River Wear just upstream of Durham City Centre. The Diagram shows places where fish were observed to be congregating. ©2010 The Environment Agency
If anyone would like further details or a copy of the depth profile they can contact me on:
Paul Frear
Fisheries Technical Officer
Tel: 0191 203 4321
paul.frear@environment-agency.gov.uk
Environment Agency
Tyneside House
Skinnerburn Rd
Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7AR
[...] Interesting Info for River Wear Anglers A sonar depth survey has recently been conducted by the EA on the river Wear at Durham. The survey relates to the River Wear Fishery Development Plan, which is spearheaded by the EA Northumbria Division. The depth survey was done in order to find potential sites on the Wear for fish refuges to protect from bird predation – a key concern raised at a recent meeting attended by around fifty regular game and coarse anglers on the river. The article is found here: River Wear Fishery Development Plan: Interesting Information from The Environment Agency | The Fishi… [...]