| International =
Conference=20
Heralds New Era in Partnership=20
Working |
Over 200 delegates from around the world =
travelled=20
to Newcastle-Gateshead in October for the 15th International =
Salmonid Conference, the first time the event has ever been =
held in=20
the UK. The event was hosted by the Association of Rivers =
Trusts=20
(ART), the umbrella environmental charity of the Rivers =
Trust=20
movement. It also incorporated ART's Annual Awards =
Dinner=20
and witnessed a significant step forward in the development =
of the=20
Rivers Trust movement in England & Wales with the launch =
of a=20
Partnership Agreement with the Environment Agency (EA).
The conference drew scientists and =
practitioners=20
from North America, Russia, Iceland, Scandinavia and EU =
member=20
states. Held at the impressive BALTIC Centre for =
Contemporary ART=20
overlooking the River Tyne and with the conference =
title=20
=93Salmonids in the 21st Century=94, speakers and field =
visits focussed=20
on four themes:
- Post Industrial River Recovery=20
- Marine & Climate Change=20
- River Basin Challenges=20
- Fisheries Management
![3D""](3D"cid:000a01c6fe6f$ca8ef7f0$0100007f@kenetic3arkgql"=20) |
Speakers on the first two days of the event painted =
a=20
complex picture and highlighted concerns over salmon =
survival=20
at sea, habitat degradation and disease including =
Gyrodactylus=20
Salaris. However there was much to be positive about, =
with the=20
recovery of the Tyne leading a number of post =
industrial=20
improving rivers in the North of England including the =
Mersey,=20
together with many smaller improving rivers in Wales.=20
Presentations from North America were able to contrast =
management issues relating to Pacific salmon and other =
native=20
species and compare surviving pristine habitats with =
those=20
impacted by the activities of man. 2006 has just =
recorded one=20
the highest average summer temperatures on record in =
the=20
UK, and James Savereide of the Alaska Department =
of Fish=20
and Game reminded us that even their vast wild salmon =
stocks=20
are vulnerable to climate change. With regard to =
global=20
warming all was not doom and gloom. In the face of low =
summer=20
rainfall, heavy abstraction and increasing =
temperatures, the=20
Spanish representative Juan Antonio L=E1zaro =
Men=E9ndez explained=20
how salmon and trout in Asturias not only survive but =
provide=20
exceptional sport for some 40,000 anglers in this =
picturesque=20
region of Northern Spain. The conference field visits =
taking=20
place on the final two days were strongly =
supported=20
by overseas visitors and were hosted by the Tweed =
Foundation,=20
Eden Rivers Trust and the recently formed Tyne Rivers =
Trust on=20
their respective rivers. Delegates saw salmon and sea =
trout=20
being tagged for research on the Tweed, the EA=92s =
Kielder=20
hatchery, fish research traps and counter on the Tyne =
and=20
habitat restoration and use of underwater =93ROV=94 =
cameras used=20
for education on the Eden. |
| Netting Salmon on=20
the Tweed for research |
ART=20
is extremely grateful to all our sponsors for their =
generous=20
support of the Conference, which effectively allowed =
us to=20
break-even. They were:- American Fisheries Society, =
Trout=20
Unlimited, WWF/HSBC, Environment Agency, Atlantic =
Salmon=20
Trust, The Fishmongers=92 Company, Union des =
Terres de=20
Rivieres ( EU Interreg IIIC), Atlantic Salmon Arc =
Project, APEM, Salmon & Trout Association, Barbour =
Trust,=20
ACA, Wild Trout Trust, Institute of Fisheries =
Management,=20
Blackwell Publishing and Fishway Engineering. Generous =
backing=20
was also given by Greggs, the bakers, who also =
provided=20
the packed lunches for the field visits.=20
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