The first salmon in 70 years has been seen jumping a weir on theRiver Dove on its way to spawning grounds upstream. This is theculmination of a three-year programme by the Agency aimed atre-introducing the fish to one of its traditional nursery rivers.
For centuries, the River Dove was recognised for its value as aspawning ground for salmon. Rapid, stony rivers such as the Dove arefavourite places for salmon to breed. In a report to Parliament onsalmon fishing in 1864 Lord Devonshire said, “With respect to theDove, I have examined it carefully and there is not a finer breedingriver in the kingdom, nay, more than that, many persons enjoy goodsalmon fishing there also.”
By the end of the 1800s the Industrial Revolution had taken itstoll on water quality. Pollution and obstructions in the riverprevented the salmon from returning. The last salmon seen returningto the Dove was reputed to be in the 1930s and the Atlantic Salmon isnow recognised as a globally threatened species.
The Environment Agency has been working to create conditions whichencourage the fish to return and the work that has been carried outto improve water quality will benefit all river users includingcoarse fishermen. Over the last three years, the Agency has carriedout a programme of re-stocking the River Dove, including on stretchesrunning through the now organic Wooton estate. Young salmon have beenplaced in the river in the hope that they will survive and return totheir home river to breed.
Salmon spend the first 1-3 years of their life in fresh waterbefore migrating long distances to the sea, where they spend afurther 1-3 years before returning to their home river in late autumnto spawn.
Agency Fisheries Management Officer, Gary Cyster, who saw thefish, said, “I hoped that we would see the first fish return thisyear and I was elated when I saw a salmon jumping over the weir. Ihave been working towards this for the last twenty years. The workwill continue and, eventually, I hope there will be a self sustainingsalmon population in the River Dove.”
