ANGLING NOTES:IN AN EFFORT to establish a back-up population of Arctic char, the Environment Agency Wales (EAW) released 800 juvenile fish into Crafnant Lake, near Trefriw in the Conway Valley, north Wales, last Tuesday.
The young char were collected from 25 adults caught at nearby Padarn Lake and raised at the Mawddach Hatchery, near Dolgellau for 11 months.
Last year, the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) concluded that the char population in Padarn was in imminent danger of extinction and that a back-up population should be established.
The lake suffered an algal bloom outbreak in 2009 caused by a combination of relatively high phosphates, weather conditions and high water temperature. But this year, no blue green algae were detected.
Environment Agency Wales is working with CCW, Gwynedd Council, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water and First Hydro Company on a long-term project to improve water quality in the lake.
A one-year study, due to end next month, examined the different conditions through the four seasons. The information will enable the agency to draw up an action plan to tackle the cause of the algal blooms.
Discharge consents at Llanberis Sewage Treatment Works have already been tightened to control the quality of effluent entering the lake.
A Padarn Forum of local businesses and community groups has also been established to give advice and feedback on this work.
David Edwell, area manager for EAW, said: “Llyn Padarn is a vital part of the community and economy in north Wales and the Arctic char are a unique and threatened species in north Wales and we are determined to protect them.”
- Sea trout should have a place on the list of priority marine features for Scottish waters, says Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) following pressure from the Sea Trout Group (STG) and others.
The list identifies the habitats and species of greatest conservation importance in Scottish territorial waters. Discussions between SNH and Marine Scotland Science on priority marine features have assured STG “these talks will not affect our stance on sea trout”.
Original assessments did indicate that sea trout should “pass”, based on the importance-criteria which have been used to assess whether a species or habitat should qualify as a priority.
But it was unfortunately omitted from the draft list. “We are glad that the peer review process was able to draw this oversight to our attention,” SNH said in reply to a letter from STG.
Dr Andy Walker, STG chairman, said: “We are delighted that SNH has made the recommendation to place sea trout on the list. The sea trout, which spends the marine part of its life cycle in inshore and estuarial waters, is among the best ‘sentinels’ for adverse change in these waters.”
- Twenty-five years after taking over the Blackwater Lodge at Ballyduff, Co Waterford, Ian Powell has decided to "take a back seat" and let his wife Glenda look after the management of the lodge.
- Patrick Walsh from Connaught Council has been elected president of the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers; he succeeds the late Brian Prendergast.
- The first of the winter league competitions got underway at Annamoe Trout Fishery in Co Wicklow last weekend. Gerard Wilkes from Dublin took top honours with seven trout followed by Noel Shiels with five and local angler Peter Byrne in third place also with five fish. The second event is scheduled for Saturday November 27th. Entries to Brian Nally on 086-259 8563.
angling@irishtimes.com