Latest S&TC News & Views
Below you can have a read of the latest S&TC news and views.
These articles describe what is happening in the industry (we always have one ear to the ground), our stance on important topics (based on our extensive scientific knowledge and 115+ years of experience), and how our campaigns are progressing (what your support helps us achieve).
Our work and news covers a range of topics and issues relevant to the health of salmon and trout in our UK freshwaters.
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Salmon Farming News & Views
S&TC announces new position on salmon farming
Given Scottish Government’s continuing refusal to regulate open-net salmon farming effectively, Salmon & Trout Conservation (S&TC) calls for the end of all open-net salmon farming as soon as possible In the face of continuing Scottish Government failure to introduce effective regulation of the industry, S&TC believes all open-net salmon farming in Scotland must now be […] Read More
Call for Scottish Government to substantiate its claim that salmon farming is “sustainable”
Salmon & Trout Conservation call for Scottish Government to substantiate its claim that salmon farming is “sustainable”. The failure to do so will mean that Scottish Government is guilty of blatant greenwash. Salmon and Trout Conservation in Scotland is challenging Scottish Ministers to justify their frequent claims that open-net salmon farming, as practised in Scotland, […] Read More
Dismay at Scottish Government’s continuing refusal to address the serious environmental issues associated with Scotland’s salmon farming industry
28 NGOs and community groups have written to Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary Mairi Gougeon expressing deep dismay at Scottish Government’s continuing refusal to address the serious environmental issues associated with Scotland’s salmon farming industry. In early August the Cabinet Secretary announced a two year “review” of salmon farming regulation, thus delaying any significant tightening […] Read More
Why Environmental Management Plans are doomed to fail
Why Environmental Management Plans are doomed to fail in protecting wild salmon from sea-lice. Not only do they fail to apply the precautionary principle, they will not work on their own basis. Following the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Economy Committee’s Report into salmon farming (published in November 2018), the Scottish Government has been relying (and for the time being […] Read More
What is going on with Environmental Management Plans?
You can read a copy of the letter in full below. What is going on with Environmental Management Plans (EMPs)? Whilst there is still no indication when the flawed proposals will be adopted by the relevant authorities, it does now appear that the constituent parts on which they depend, including basic goodwill, are already unravelling. […] Read More
Clear support for protecting wild salmon
83% of those expressing an opinion agreed wild salmon should be protected even if it meant possible job losses for the industry (notes 01). The same poll showed equally strong support for the proposal that salmon farms should not be permitted to dump their waste at sea. 79% of those expressing an opinion backed that […] Read More
Would you eat this?
Three years ago, the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform (ECCLR) Committee issued its highly critical report on the environmental impacts of salmon farming, noting in particular the extent of the industry’s unresolved environmental problems and the failure of Scottish Government to regulate it effectively. It emphasised that: In the context of “the planned expansion […] Read More
Sea lice rampant on salmon farms
Shocking photos show sea lice rampant on salmon farms in Scotland Shocking footage passed to Salmon & Trout Conservation Scotland reveals horrendous sea lice parasite problems currently occurring on salmon farms in Argyll & Bute, Skye and the Outer Hebrides. The appalling conditions documented on Vacasay salmon farm on the Isle of Lewis in September […] Read More
Don’t just take our word for it
The Salmon Interactions Working Group proposals to protect wild salmon and sea trout will not work. But don’t just take our word for it….. The Salmon Interactions Working Group (SIWG), which includes Fisheries Management Scotland (FMS), has proposed a system of adaptive management, through the sampling of sea trout in sea lochs by netting, “to […] Read More
SNH and EA formally notified of threat of environmental damage from escaped farmed salmon
Salmon & Trout Conservation (S&TC) formally notifies NatureScot (formerly SNH) and the Environment Agency of threat of environmental damage to protected wild salmon SACs following the recent major escape of farmed salmon off the Mull of Kintyre https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-53913708 Following the major escape from a salmon farm off the east side of the Mull of Kintyre […] Read More
Not just another escape
As a moderate late summer storm abated, rumours that one of Mowi’s salmon farms between the Mull of Kintyre and Arran was in trouble were confirmed by a statement from the company: “On August 20, 2020, Mowi’s salmon farm at Carradale North, consisting of 10 circular net pens containing 550,000 salmon (at 4.2kgs), shifted position […] Read More
S&TC leaves the Missing Salmon Alliance
After discussion and detailed consideration of the tactical approach, the Missing Salmon Alliance has decided to pursue an advocacy course by engaging with the Scottish government with respect to future regulation of the aquaculture sector. Salmon and Trout Conservation (S&TC) has decided to withdraw from the Alliance to pursue an alternative approach. The Missing Salmon Alliance […] Read More
Why a strict ceiling on sea lice must be applied to all Scotland’s salmon farms
Why a strict ceiling on sea lice must be applied to all Scotland’s salmon farms Wild salmon and sea trout populations in Scotland are dangerously low. For wild salmon and sea trout in the west Highlands and Islands to be properly protected from the negative impact of salmon farming, the effective control of sea lice […] Read More
NASCO 2020
Paul Knight reports on the 37th Annual Meeting of NASCO The North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) met for its Annual Meeting in the first week of June, although this year, uniquely, all the meetings were held virtually by video link, with those not directly involved being able to listen in by phone. Despite concerns […] Read More
Salmon farmers own data makes the case for much lower sea lice limits
Corin Smith writes, “Contrary to what you may believe salmon farmers go to great lengths to protect Atlantic salmon smolts from the harm caused by sea lice. The problem is they only protect the smolts inside the salmon farms, not the wild ones on the outside.” Analysis combining multiple industry and government datasets reveals the […] Read More
Review of the Report of the Salmon Interactions Working Group
Executive summary Download full review here: HERE Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland’s 2016 Petition to the Scottish Parliament led to the 2018 ECCLR and REC Committee inquiries into salmon farming. The REC Committee identified that “the ‘status quo’ in terms of regulation and enforcement of the fish farming industry is not acceptable”. In response, the […] Read More
Salmon Farm Regulation: S&TC initial response to SIWG report
Report fails to advocate the simple regulatory system urgently required to protect wild fish including adherence to the precautionary principle Initial response to the Salmon Interactions Working Group (SIWG) Report Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland […] Read More
Salmon Farming: New study shows economic costs never assessed by government
An independent economic report [1], commissioned by two leading Scottish charities [2], has revealed that the Scottish Government has failed to assess the costs the salmon farming industry causes to other economic sectors and has only considered those benefits the industry brings. As a result, the report proposes the Scottish Government’s policy of supporting the […] Read More
S&TCS writes to Scottish Ministers: MSA position on salmon farming regulation
Salmon & Trout Conservation Scotland (S&TCS) writes to Scottish Ministers to outline Missing Salmon Alliance’s formally agreed position on salmon farming regulation. Roseanna Cunningham MSP Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Fergus Ewing MSP Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy 2 April 2020 Dear Ministers Regulation of salmon farming with particular reference […] Read More
Missing Salmon Alliance: Urgent Implementation of new system of regulation for fish farms
The Missing Salmon Alliance members today published updated guidance on the need for the urgent implementation of a new system of regulation for fish farms in Scotland. 25 March 2020 Regulation must include: 1. The clear identification of a Scottish public authority with the statutory function of protecting wild fish from […] Read More
Scottish Ministers’ lamentable failure to regulate salmon farming
Scottish Ministers’ lamentable failure to regulate salmon farming to protect wild fish continues, while industry’s relentless expansion gathers pace Almost two years after first Parliamentary report said “the status quo is not an option”, S&TCS, other NGOs and Scottish community groups warn that their next step is to call and campaign for a boycott of Scottish farmed […] Read More
Can a “feed the world” mantra justify trashing our marine environment?
“The suggestion that salmon farming is somehow justifiable in order to feed the world simply will not wash.” Andrew Graham-Stewart, Salmon & Trout Conservation Scotland I have been cursing Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary in Scotland for the Rural Economy, of late. Of course, it is nothing personal. I will explain. On November 6 I […] Read More
S&TC and Patagonia deliver 170,000 strong petition to Scottish Parliament
Our partnership with Patagonia in this campaign has been extremely effective. Salmon & Trout Conservation Scotland (S&TCS) are pleased to have been able to orchestrate the delivery of Patagonia Inc’s “Artifishal” petition against open-net salmon farming, which we supported, to Gillian Martin MSP, Convener of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform (ECCLR) Committee at the Scottish Parliament. Patagonia’s credibility on […] Read More
Sea lice numbers on salmon farms double in a single year
Total sea lice numbers on salmon farms double in a single year. Industry and official SEPA data underline how the rush to expand salmon farm production is massively increasing the risks to wild salmon and sea trout. “A moratorium on salmon farm expansion is now more essential than ever” Andrew Graham-Stewart, Director of Salmon and […] Read More
Response to MOWI decision to close Loch Ewe salmon farm
Mowi (previously Marine Harvest) has announced that it is to close its highly contentious salmon farm in Loch Ewe, Wester Ross. Andrew Graham-Stewart, Director of S&TC Scotland (S&TCS), said: “We welcome Mowi’s decision to close the Loch Ewe farm. There can be no doubt that the decision is a vindication of S&TCS’ long campaign […] Read More
ARTIFISHAL & Patagonia Inc
“The thing that has struck us at the screenings we have attended is that the audience is far from being just anglers – it has been great seeing so many younger folk there and hearing their reaction to the issues” Paul Knight, CEO Salmon & Trout Conservation In 2019 one of Patagonia’s core global campaigns […] Read More
Salmon farming being supported by hands-off regulation and taxpayers’ money
FOI reveals hands-off regulation of salmon farming’s environmental impactand the lavish use of taxpayers’ money to support the industry Freedom of Information requests made by Salmon & Trout Conservation Scotland (S&TCS) to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Marine Scotland, the Fish Health Inspectorate and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have shown the extent of Scottish […] Read More
NASCO 2019
“With S&TC’s Chairman, CEO, Head of Science and Scottish Director actively involved in NASCO, we are playing a genuinely influential role within international wild Atlantic salmon conservation politics” The 2019 NASCO meeting was held in Tromsø, Norway, this year and was preceded by a 2-day Symposium for the International Year of the Salmon – Managing […] Read More
BBC Panorama: Salmon Farming Exposed
“We applaud Panorama’s focus on the abject failure of the regulators in Scotland to carry out their responsibilities.” Andrew Graham-Stewart, Director of Salmon & Trout Conservation Scotland For example, the Scottish Government’s Fish Health Inspectorate, that polices farms for parasites and diseases, has in the last five years served only two enforcement notices under the […] Read More
The Shetland Factor
Many believe salmon farming is an issue exclusive to wild fish in the west Highlands and Hebrides. However, controlling sea lice on farms in Shetland is just as important as our Scottish Director, Andrew Graham-Stewart explains… The official figures for rod catches of salmon in Scotland during 2018 were published last week. That they were […] Read More
We all have a responsibility to save the ‘King of Fish’
The publication of new Environment Agency byelaws banning the killing of salmon in the North East drift and coastal nets was very welcome news earlier this year and brought to a close a campaign by fisheries organisations that lasted some 30 years. Scotland banned drift netting in 1962 and closed down its coastal nets in […] Read More
Scottish Government inertia marks anniversary of Scottish Parliament’s Environment Committee’s report into salmon farming
Scottish Government inertia marks anniversary of Scottish Parliament’s Environment Committee’s report into salmon farming Industry allowed to persist with business as usual a year after Government was told ‘the status quo is not an option’ One year on from the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform (ECCLR) Committee’s report on the Environmental Impacts of […] Read More
S&TCS briefing as Scottish Government debate the future of salmon farming
TODAY: Scottish parliament to debate the Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) committee report on salmon farming Legislative impact is expected to follow on from today’s debate, Wednesday 6th February 2019, for which S&TCS have contributed the following briefing: S&TCS briefing for MSPs for salmon farming debate Feb 2019 STCS Briefing Addendum – SG’s response […] Read More
2018: A year in review
What have we achieved this year? 2018 has been our biggest year yet! So where has your support got us, and what have we done for wild fish protection and conservation? Our CEO’s Year In Review summaries our influence, accomplishments and campaigns over the past 12 months. View our full YEAR IN REVIEW HERE With […] Read More
Why you should go salmon-free this Christmas
A Christmas favourite it may be; but there is nothing festive nor joyous about farmed salmon. Salmon is considered by many to be a Christmas staple, its murky journey from net-pen to plate concealed behind tinsel-clad wrapping and slick marketing. Two parliamentary inquiries have this year confirmed the need for rapid change in salmon farming, which […] Read More
S&TCS warmly welcomes the Rural Economy Committee’s report on salmon farming
S&TCS warmly welcomes the Rural Economy Committee’s report on salmon farming Scottish Government must now act quickly to put in place greater protection for wild salmon and sea trout. View the REC Committee Report here Salmon and Trout Conservation Scotland (S&TCS) has warmly welcomed the Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) Committee’s report on salmon farming, […] Read More
Salmon farming industry blames wild fish for sea lice infestations
Sea lice on farmed salmon – the ultimate solution In September, following months of media exposes of salmon farming’s dire environmental failures, the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO) announced the appointment of a leading political journalist to the newly created role of “Director of Strategic Engagement”. In the SSPO’s news release, the appointee is […] Read More
Loch Roag Sea Lice: SSPO Defence Falls Flat
Mea culpa……mea what? On September 3 we issued a news release detailing the deaths, in the Blackwater River (Isle of Lewis), of a substantial proportion of this Hebridean system’s wild adult salmon run. The tip of the iceberg The corpses removed from the tidal Sea pool were likely just the tip of the iceberg […] Read More
Wild Adult Salmon Run Decimated By Sea Lice
Important Hebridean adult wild salmon run decimated by parasites as sea lice numbers on local salmon farms rise and dead farmed fish are taken ashore for burial Underwater video and photos show graphic evidence of wild salmon covered in parasites Above: A dead wild adult Blackwater salmon, fatally wounded after its skin has been stripped […] Read More
The curious case of the great salmon escape that wasn’t…
Scottish Ministers again failing to comply with FOI law over mysterious 2016 salmon farm escape of 300,000 fish that company now says never happened…. The reporting of the disappearance of 300,000 farmed salmon in 2016, understood at the time to be the industry’s biggest escape in many years, raises serious questions about the oversight […] Read More
Living Rivers News & Views
Changes forced on organic manure application policy
Salmon & Trout Conservation forces Environment Agency to change Regulatory Policy Statement on spreading organic manure on agricultural land Challenged by Salmon & Trout Conservation (S&TC), the Environment Agency has back-pedalled on its attempt to disapply the law on farmers not spreading manures this autumn where such spreading would exceed the needs of the soil […] Read More
Your unbounded generosity has raised over £97,000 for wild fish!
Your unbounded generosity has raised over £97,000 for wild fish! With over 170 lots that celebrated fishing and everything it entails, there really was something for everyone in our 2021 annual fundraising auction. The challenges facing freshwater have never been greater. The regulatory system put in place to protect our rivers is broken and as a […] Read More
Time to fix the broken water sector: a ‘shadow’ strategic policy statement
Under investment in water supply and a failing sewerage system are set to have disastrous environmental and economic consequences Angling Trust and Salmon & Trout Conservation (S&TC) have delivered a major report – ‘Time to Fix The Broken Water Sector’ – to Government on the management and regulation of the failing water and sewerage sector. […] Read More
S&TC submits formal complaint following failure to enforce sewage pollution laws to protect English rivers
Monday, 13th September 2021 Salmon & Trout Conservation has submitted a formal complaint to the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) on the failure of OFWAT and Secretaries of State to enforce law on sewage pollution of English rivers. This comes after Government admits that sewage infrastructure has not kept pace with population growth, or the […] Read More
FreshWater Watch: John’s Story
As you probably already know, SmartRivers is proud to be part of the Riverfly Partnership’s ‘Riverfly Plus’ toolkit, alongside other exciting citizen science projects like FreshWater Watch. We’re sharing the experiences of John Pratt, who monitors the River Evenlode through this brilliant scheme. FreshWater Watch is a global citizen science programme from Earthwatch Europe, […] Read More
Pink salmon alert
British and Irish environmental agencies and fisheries boards urge action to prevent pink salmon becoming established in local waters. The pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) is a native of the Pacific and the western seaboard of North America. Released into northern Russian rivers from the late 1950s until 2001 for commercial exploitation, they have succeeded in […] Read More
Chalk stream tributary of the River Thames joins Salmon & Trout Conservation’s volunteer led river monitoring
The South East Rivers Trust has joined Salmon & Trout Conservation’s (S&TC) SmartRivers programme to monitor water quality on the River Hogsmill in Surrey. SmartRivers uses invertebrate samples to monitor water quality alongside the rivers capability to support healthy populations of wild fish. Much loved by the local community, the River Hogsmill is one of […] Read More
Internship: species data
Job title: SmartRivers Intern Reporting to: SmartRivers Project Manager Contract: Fixed-term contract Deadline for application: Friday 16th July The role Salmon & Trout Conservation is looking for a student to process invertebrate species data, ready for use in autumn 2021 SmartRivers training. The candidate will be required to compile species data from multiple river sites […] Read More
Vacancy: Campaigns Research Officer
Job title: Campaigns Research Officer Reporting to: Head of Science & Policy/Deputy CEO Contract: Full time post, flexible working possible Deadline for applications: 01st August The role We are looking for a bright and personable individual who is passionate about improving aquatic habitats and achieving healthy wild fish populations to join our policy and campaigns […] Read More
Ofwat responds to sewage pollution
That announcement included the stark admission that sewage pollution was happening, at least in part, because “water infrastructure has not kept pace with population growth”. In response, S&TC wrote to the Minister and Ofwat, pointing out that, for the last 30 years, they had jointly presided over the water company asset management planning system put […] Read More
Salmon & Trout Conservation Cymru encourages catch and release to protect declining populations of sewin
Salmon & Trout Conservation Cymru encourages catch and release to protect declining populations of sewin Existing measures controlling their exploitation were extended in 2020 with the introduction of new fishing byelaws, placing additional restrictions on fishing methods and a requirement to return all fish over 60cms in length. Nevertheless, the continued decline in stocks clearly […] Read More
Salmon & Trout Conservation welcome River Alyn to SmartRivers programme
Salmon & Trout Conservation welcome River Alyn to SmartRivers programme In April, the Welsh Dee Trust and North Wales Wildlife Trust joined Salmon & Trout Conservation’s (S&TC) SmartRivers programme. SmartRivers is a monitoring project that uses invertebrate samples to monitor water quality alongside the rivers capability to support healthy populations of wild fish. The River […] Read More
The watchdog that lost its bite
Salmon & Trout Conservation (S&TC) has today published “Doing its job?”, a report on the state of the Environment Agency and its role in protecting English rivers, lakes and streams. The Report shows that: over the last decade or more, what little progress there had been in improving the overall quality and ecological status of […] Read More
A legal duty to “effectually deal” with sewage
Salmon & Trout Conservation (S&TC) has written to (read the letter here) the Parliamentary Under Secretary Of State at Defra, Rebecca Pow MP, to remind both her and the water companies that water companies already have a duty, under the Water Industry Act 1991, to effectually deal with sewage, which must mean treating that sewage […] Read More
The ‘other’ metrics
One of the greatest benefits of invertebrate monitoring is the ability to use the results to calculate values for river health. When we receive your SmartRivers invertebrate data, we generate a water quality ‘scorecard’ for your sites, made up of these values. Typically, policing of our inland rivers mostly relies on family-level invertebrate analysis of […] Read More
Dumping raw sewage in rivers
This wilful destruction of our rivers and their habitats is the result of incompetent regulation and a lack of investment in our sewage network because Government has prioritised customer bills and water industry profits over our environment. A bold Private Members’ Bill sponsored by Philip Dunne MP promised to end this practice of dumping raw […] Read More
We are recruiting
Water Policy Manager Job title: Water Policy Manager Reports to: Head of Science & Policy/Deputy CEO Location: Work from home, with travel to meetings as required Contract: Full time, fixed term contract of 3 years, with possibility to extend Salary: £30-32k pa, depending on experience The role We are looking for a bright and personable […] Read More
River Action UK announces advisory board
Latest news River Action UK launched in February this year and the creation of their new advisory board in their own words “creates a powerful weapon, which will play a major role in the coming campaigns against river polluters”. With backgrounds in government, business, media, angling, science, communications and conservation, River Action’s board members bring […] Read More
Anne Voss Bark Memorial Award
Who is the Anne Voss Bark award open to? The award is open to young fisheries or aquatic students and offers an unbeatable opportunity to study the practical elements of river restoration and management. The winner is awarded: One week work experience with the Westcountry Rivers Trust during which you will learn catchment management and […] Read More
Relief for Welsh rivers as Government commit to agricultural pollution regulations
Members and supporters of Salmon & Trout Conservation in Wales will be well aware of our relief that the Welsh Government has finally committed to the introduction of regulations to curb the scourge of agricultural pollution in Welsh rivers. The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) Regulations 2021 are due to come into force on […] Read More
Untangled Talks with Feargal Sharkey
On Thursday 18th February, over 260 guests attended an evening of conversation with Salmon & Trout Conservation VP, Feargal Sharkey. The first in a new series from Salmon and Trout Conservation (S&TC) in which host Matthew Wright seeks to untangle the people and issues associated with wild fish conservation. Nick Measham, CEO of S&TC, said: […] Read More
NRW’s planning advice on Wye pollution ineffective say conservation organisations Fish Legal and Salmon & Trout Conservation
Aquatic conservation organisations Fish Legal and Salmon & Trout Conservation (S&TC) have written to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) about on-going pollution of the River Wye and its headwaters and tributaries. Following the publication of NRW’s “planning advice” to Councils on development on or near the River Wye and tributaries, Fish Legal and S&TC have told […] Read More
Salmon & Trout Conservation sponsors wildlife filmmaker Jack Perks latest project
Salmon and Trout Conservation (S&TC) has announced its support of leading wildlife photographer and film maker, Jack Perks, in his latest project Britain’s Hidden Fishes. Nick Measham, CEO at S&TC, said: “we are delighted and proud to support this excellent initiative from Jack. We hope that this film will give the UK’s wild fish population […] Read More
River Lugg: EA issued with EDR
Salmon & Trout Conservation issues formal request to the Environment Agency under the Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (England) Regulations 2015 over horrendous damage caused to the River Lugg in Herefordshire. Salmon & Trout Conservation (S&TC) has today issued a formal request for action under Regulation 29 of the Environmental Damage (Prevention and Remediation) (England) […] Read More
Severn Trent to adopt SmartRivers
SmartRivers welcomes its first water company hosted volunteer hub We are pleased to announce that Severn Trent is the first water company to enrol into the SmartRivers programme. SmartRivers is the volunteer arm of the Riverfly Census, where invertebrates are sampled and analysed to species-level. The species lists are then used to calculate biometrics that […] Read More
Sewage (Inland Waters) Bill
Philip Dunne MP launches new Bill to tackle river pollution Salmon & Trout Conservation warmly welcomes the introduction of the Sewage (Inland Waters) Bill, aimed at tackling the unacceptable levels of raw sewage being discharged into our rivers and streams. Rt. Hon Philip Dunne MP for Ludlow has published his Private Member’s Bill designed to […] Read More
It’s the perfume that you notice first.
“If we can’t conserve the most protected, how can we ever conserve the rest?” Feargal Sharkey, recently appointed a Salmon & Trout Conservation Vice President writes, It’s the perfume that you notice first. Not in that pleasingly attractive CHANEL N° 5 kind of a way but more in that acrid, back of the throat, ammonia […] Read More
Time for bespoke regulatory targets for all chalkstreams
Chalkstreams are as internationally rare and ecologically important as coral reefs or rainforests, and 85% of the world’s chalkstreams are found in England. With this comes a responsibility to protect them, something at the moment we are failing to deliver, with evidence of many stretches running dry, whilst others are clogged with nuisance algae and huge […] Read More
SmartRivers developments and achievements during lockdown
As with everything right now, SmartRivers (the volunteer arm of the Riverfly Census) is navigating its way through the ‘new normal’. However, despite restrictions forcing us to postpone travelling and training courses this year, lockdown gave us the time to make SmartRivers even smarter. SmartRivers – now an IFM certified course We are delighted […] Read More
MoRPh: a tool for assessing river habitats at biological monitoring sites
As you probably already know, SmartRivers is proud to be part of the Riverfly Partnership’s ‘Riverfly Plus’ toolkit, alongside other exciting citizen science projects like MoRPh – the modular river survey River organisms respond to their environment and so it is important to monitor any environmental changes. Often the environment is characterised through water chemistry […] Read More
Persistence pays off in the pursuit of a pesticide problem
This is a terrific outcome for the river, wild fish, the wider environment and the local community. Nick Measham, CEO S&TC writes, Bakkavör is closing its salad washing plant at Alresford on the Upper Itchen. In simple terms this should result in an end to significant chemical pollution and provide much needed respite for all […] Read More
Phosphorus, Chickens and the River Wye
S&TC’s agricultural policy is simple; incentivise farmers to invest in their infrastructure and spread the word about modern soil management, but always be prepared to use the current legislation to regulate persistent offenders… Paul Knight, S&TC Fisheries Consultant George Monbiot writing in the Guardian recently highlighted the dreadful state of Welsh rivers. He focussed on […] Read More
Thirty-six toxic pesticides washed into headwaters of SAC chalkstream
Bakkavör washing unknown quantities of thirty-six toxic pesticides, which present real danger to aquatic life, into headwaters of SAC chalkstream Following on from our recent release about dangerous quantities of toxic neonicotinoid Acetamiprid being washed off salad leaves into the headwaters of a protected chalkstream, a further freedom of Information (FOI) request proves this is just […] Read More
Toxic neonicotinoid washed off salad leaves into protected chalkstream
Toxic neonicotinoid washed off salad leaves into protected chalkstream exceeds acceptable concentrations by up to 400%. NEWS RELEASE 23 June 2020 Data from a recent Freedom of Information request by Salmon & Trout Conservation shows that levels of Acetamiprid, a pesticide discharged by Bakkavör plc into the Upper Itchen catchment[1], have regularly exceeded acceptable concentrations. […] Read More
S&TC Cymru Update June 2020
Richard Garner Williams, S&TC National Office for Wales writes: In a spirited demonstration of enthusiastic collaboration S&TC Cymru, the Wild Trout Trust, the Grayling Society and the Game and Wildlife Trust recently joined forces in writing to Lesley Griffiths, Welsh Government Minister for Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs offering broad support for Natural Resources Wales’ […] Read More
SmartRivers launched in Wales
S&TC Cymru launches its first SmartRivers hub in partnership with the South East Wales Rivers Trust S&TC Cymru is delighted to announce that South East Wales Rivers Trust (SEWRT) is to host the first SmartRivers hub in Wales. The hub is certain to play a valuable role in assisting SEWRT restore the natural beauty and […] Read More
Increase in abundance: A dangerously simplistic view of river health
Species richness and assemblage gives a far more accurate assessment of invertebrate communities……….. Dr Janina Gray, Head of Science & Environmental Policy, responds to a recent article in The Times, Your article Boom in freshwater bugs bucks trend of disappearing insects (April 24th) sets a dangerously simplistic view of the health of our rivers and water life. […] Read More
Milk. A serious environmental threat?
So, here’s the shocking news about the potential of milk to pollute rivers. Paul Knight, S&TC CEO writes, One of the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic has been that the demand for milk has slumped and so dairy farmers have had to pour away their excess, cows still have to be milked, after all, so […] Read More
Chalk-Streams First
Abstraction is a major threat to UK rivers but is, arguably, at its greatest in relation to the chalk-streams, a globally unique ecological wonder located mainly in England, especially the highly populated south of England. S&TC Water Action campaign is working to counter the abstraction threat, terrifyingly highlighted in a raft of recent Government plans […] Read More
Agricultural Pollution – Educate, Encourage, Enforce
“Up to 2016, a staggering 95% of farms did not comply with storage regulations and 49% were polluting the River Axe. Environmental law breaking, albeit mostly through lack of knowledge, on a massive scale.” Paul Knight, Outgoing CEO Salmon & Trout Conservation writes, S&TC’s Census Report, published in May 2019, provided evidence that the main […] Read More
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