Many organisations are working extremely hard both in and outside Ireland to bring about a reduction, or the complete removal of the Irish drift-net fishery. ART has been pleased to lend its support to member trusts, led by Brian Marshall of the Wessex Salmon and Rivers Trust (WSRT), in a complaint dating from 2002 to the European Commission, in respect of the impact of the drift-nets on returning salmon bound for Special Area of Conservation (SAC) designated rivers, under the Habitats Directive.

Following an intense week of activity in Brussels and the European Parliament, which saw ART provide a briefing to MEP’s (our thanks to the EA for their data), backed up by Niall Greene of Stop Salmon Drift Nets Now, and separate presentations by Brian Marshall and Orri Vigfússon, news of the complaint being upheld was extremely welcome.

ART Chairman Ian Gregg in Brussels	Irish drift-netting boat

In his letter to Brian Marshall, Liam Cashman for the European Commission states, “Having investigated your complaint, the Commission has decided, on the basis of the information currently at its disposal, to send Ireland a Letter of Formal Notice (first written warning) for non-compliance with the requirements of Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna and Article 10 of the EC Treaty. More specifically, it appears that Ireland’s procedures for annually regulating the total allowable catch (TAC) of wild salmon by way of drift-netting do not take adequate account of the conservation objectives of sites that have been proposed as special areas of conservation (SACs) for the species and of the general EU objective of ensuring that the salmon is maintained at or restored to favourable conservation status. This is reflected in the lack of recognition by the Irish authorities of the applicability of the Directive to the setting of the TAC, the apparent formulation of scientific advice on the TAC that takes insufficient account of the mixed-stock nature of the fishery (i.e. the potential for adverse effects outside of individual fishery districts) and a non-adherence to scientific advice in decision-making."

ART recently attended a meeting of Union des Terres de Rivieres (U.TdR), a network of 24 partners across 10 EU countries, in Laguna de Duero near Valladolid in the Castilla y Leon region of Northern Spain. Although many parts of Portugal and Spain are currently suffering from a drought, this area is naturally rich in water and has five major watercourses including the River Duero, which flows out to the sea through Portugal.

Reports from U.TdR members, which include new member states like Hungary and Slovakia show how water resources and river basin management are becoming increasingly important issues, not least due to the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive. Under the Directive, member states that share river boundaries will now have to work together to write cross border River Basin Plans which integrate planning and management throughout the basin.

At a lesser level, individual states will also need to see their internal political boundaries broken down in the same way, where autonomous provinces and counties alike will need to cooperate in producing river basin plans. It is interesting to note the way in which historical political boundaries are set in different countries. For instance in Britain, rivers often form a boundary between county, district or parish while in France, the river is often central to the region or department and often even lends its name to it.

As part of the U.TdR Interreg IIIC programme of trans-national sustainable development a “University of Water” seminar will be held at Tortosa in North East Spain on Friday 23rd September with supporting regional events running from the 22nd to the 25th September.

U.TdR Technical Meeting - Valladolid	The mighty river Duero	The Duero flows to the sea from Spain through Portugal

For further information see the U.TdR information on the ART website or go to: www.terresderivieres.eu

There is an impressive line up of speakers for ART’s Autumn Seminar, hosted by the Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust and supported by the Celtic Rivers Trust Partnership and Interreg IIIA, via the Welsh Assembly Government. Following the seminar on the first day, day two is given over to field visits which are led by experienced guides and will further examine local community and environmental issues. Kicking off the first day, the keynote presentation comes from Frank Jones of the Welsh European Funding Office, examining opportunities for project funding under present and future European Structural Fund programmes. Andy Schofield of the Environment Agency will be focussing on sustainable fisheries development and Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust and Slaney River Trust (Ireland) will be reporting on work carried out under their Interreg IIIA, Celtic Rivers Trust Partnership. Other speakers include Pat O’Reilly, Chris Uttley of the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and Mark Lloyd the Director of ACA.

The development and potential of angling participation schemes will be discussed by a panel from Westcountry Rivers Trust, Wye & Usk Foundation and Eden Rivers Trust, respectively responsible for the hugely successful Angling 2000, Wye Usk Passport and Wild Eden Schemes. The value of community participation, developments in education and fundraising are also covered in the comprehensive programme.

Pembroke Mill Ponds & Castle	Pembroke Mill Ponds	Daugleddauat Llawrenny

Join ART at the Wolfscastle Hotel, near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire for the 2005 Autumn Seminar and Awards Dinner on the 27th September followed by the field visit on the 28th.

Seminar details are avaliable from: Alan Hawken (ART Secretary),
www.associationofriverstrusts.org.uk or e-mail alan@associationofriverstrusts.org.uk
Direct Tel: 01726-822343

Building on the success of ART’s inaugural awards ceremony in 2004 the Trust is opening up the nomination process and inviting you to help mark recognition of excellence and achievement in the rivers trust movement. ART welcomes your nomination (individual and/or organisation) in one or more of the following award categories in 2005, together with a brief reason. Nominations forms can be downloaded from the ART website or obtained from the Trust office and should be returned to ART by e-mail or post by 31st August 2005. The 2005 Awards Dinner (supported by Mazars) will be held in conjunction with the ART Autumn Seminar in Pembrokeshire 27th & 28th September. ART is extremely grateful to the sponsors of these prestigious awards carrying a combined value of more that £12,000

Westcountry Rivers Trust is pleased to announce that Dr Dylan Bright has been appointed the Director of the Trust. Dylan has been a senior scientist in Westcountry Rivers Trust for the last seven years and has been closely involved in the development of all the Trust’s projects and has led the Trust’s Research and Education operations. He is a member of the Atlantic Salmon Trust (AST) Honorary Scientific Advisory Panel and is well known and respected by all the public and private bodies concerned with water, rivers and fisheries management in the Westcountry. For more info see: www.wrt.org.uk

Association of Rivers Trusts recently became Wildlife and Countryside Link’s 36th and newest member: Wildlife and Countryside Link (Link), a registered charity, is a coalition of the UK’s major environmental non-governmental organisations, united by their common interest in the conservation and enjoyment of the natural and historic environment. Founded in 1980, Link acts as a forum for its members to develop their views on national and international issues affecting wildlife and the countryside, and to work together to influence domestic and relevant international policies. Link is not a representative body and issues statements only with the express support of its members. Link members which include WWF, RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts, have a collective turnover of over £700 million, they manage over 398,000 hectares of land, have the support of 7 million people and are helped by over 81,000 volunteers.

ART has also been invited to join the Link, “Water Policy and Legislation Task Force” established to influence the transposition and implementation of the Water Framework Directive in England. The group has worked on the Water Act, and also works on the Periodic Review of water prices and diffuse pollution from agriculture. For more information see: www.wcl.org.uk

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