THE ENVIRONMENT Agency is introducing restrictions on salmon fishing on the River Severn and Severn Estuary in response to the decline in migratory salmon stocks.
The introduction of byelaws are in response to the decline in migratory salmon stocks. Numbers are currently among the lowest on record and are below sustainable levels.
They will prohibit the operation of parts of the Severn Estuary commercial net fishery such as the draft net and putcher fisheries.
They will require the release of all salmon caught by the lave nets in the estuary.
The number of available lave net licences will be maintained at a maximum of 22 through a new Net Limitation Order, to allow this cultural method of fishing to continue without impacting the fish stocks.
