Anglers urged to return fish to rivers

The Environment Agency said that many anglers are already voluntarily releasing the majority of their catch back into rivers including the Lune and the Wyre.

However, the Environment Agency is urging more anglers to play their part, to help increase the number of salmon making it to their spawning grounds.

By voluntarily returning more salmon back to the river than the current regulations require, anglers can help boost salmon numbers in our rivers and lakes across the district and further afield into Lancashire and Cumbria.

Stewart Mounsey, Environment Agency environment manager, said: “We’d like to thank all the many anglers who are already voluntarily releasing the majority of their catch back to the rivers.

“Their actions, together with all of the other partnership work that is happening, will help improve salmon stocks across Cumbria and Lancashire. We will continue to work with partners to do all we can to reduce the risk to salmon stocks in future years.

“By releasing the salmon caught back to rivers, anglers will be playing a major role in the future of angling and enjoyment of the sport.”

The Environment Agency helps conserve salmon through byelaws and net limitation orders, which set out the regulations on the maximum amount of fish that can be kept, to help protect this iconic species. However, whilst a review of the current byelaws is underway on some rivers, anglers are being urged to help release more of their catch voluntarily, to help increase the number of salmon making it to their spawning grounds.

!It is important anglers handle the salmon they catch with care.

Mr Mounsey added: “The Environment Agency has produced a newsletter and accompanying leaflet on how best to release the salmon so that they are more likely to survive.

“If you would like a copy of this, please contact the Environment Agency on 03708 506 506, or email [email protected].”