Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Indicang – Interreg III UK PARTNER – Westcountry Rivers Trust UK Project Manager – Dr Polly Bown

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 INDICANG  Knowledge of the catchments (Environment)  Eel Population (Resource)  Fishing Pressure (Exploitation)  Project Contacts and Project Promotion  Summary of Progress in 2004  Summary of Future Work

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Knowledge of the catchments (Environment) Previous Knowledge  Tamar - 975km 2 catchment and 139km of river  Camel - 413km 2 catchment and 108km of river. The main tributary is the Allen  Fowey - 178km 2 catchment and 35km of river.  Slapton Ley and the River Gara The largest freshwater lake in South West England. It is recognised as a National Nature Reserve (NNR) wetland (73ha) River Fowey Slapton Ley River Camel

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Knowledge of the catchments (Environment) Rate of River Flow in m/s  Past data available from the Environment Agency on all river catchments  Many sites  Data taken monthly  Long data sets Environment Agency Gauging Station on the river Fowey  Future work – collect and use relevant data from these large data sets.

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Knowledge of the catchments (Environment) Water Quality  Water quality data from the Environment Agency for sites on the Tamar and Camel (2000 – 2004)  Water Quality parameters include: Pesticides – Aldrin, Atrazine, Benzo-[A]-Pyrene, DDE, DDT, Dieldrin, Endosulphan, Endrin, PCBs Nutrients – Nitrate, Nitrite, Orthophosphate, Phosphate, Phosphorus, Potassium Other – BOD, Conductivity, pH, Temperature, Wind Direction  Future work – Collect data for the river Fowey and Slapton Ley, identify and use relevant data from these large data sets.

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Knowledge of the catchments (Environment) Wetland Loss  Currently obtaining permission to use wetland habitat maps created by English Nature UK wetland and potential eel habitat  Future work – Potential to identify wetland loss from the use of past and present aerial photographs.

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Eel Population (Resource) Presence/Absence  Tamar Presence/absence of yellow eels* within the catchment with location of weirs and waterfalls *Data obtained from the Environment Agency (2005) Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. © Crown Copyright and database right All rights reserved, Environment Agency. Ordnance Survey Licence Number – – 2004

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Eel Population (Resource) Presence/Absence  Fowey Presence/absence of yellow eels* within the catchment  Future work – Collect and digitise data for the Camel and Slapton Ley *Data obtained from the Environment Agency (2005) Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. © Crown Copyright and database right All rights reserved, Environment Agency. Ordnance Survey Licence Number – – – 1986

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Eel Population (Resource) Length Data  Tamar Length data obtained from yellow eels* within the catchment 2002 – 2004 *Data obtained from the Environment Agency (2005) and Knights (Westminster University)

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Eel Population (Resource) Length Data  Fowey Length data obtained from yellow eels* within the catchment 1977 – 1987  Future work – Locate more data, collect and analyse data for the Camel and Slapton Ley *Data obtained from the Environment Agency (2005) and Knights (Westminster University)

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Eel Population (Resource) Density Data  Fowey Density data obtained for yellow eels* within the catchment 1977 – 1987 *Data obtained from the Environment Agency (2005) and Knights (Westminster University)

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Eel Population (Resource) Density Data*  Tamar Three densities estimate for three sites (1978)  Future work – Locate more data, collect and analyse data for the Camel and Slapton Ley *Data obtained from the Environment Agency (2005)

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Eel Population (Resource) Migration  No data for elver and silver eels  Collaboration with King’s College, London and the Field Studies Council to examine elver and silver eels at Slapton Ley Elver trap at Slapton Ley

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Eel Population (Resource) Age Data  Locating age data  Collaboration with King’s College, London and the Environment Agency to gather age data for eels at Slapton Ley, Fowey and Tamar Eel Health  Establishing links with the University of Exeter who have past data on eel parasites

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Fishing Pressure (Exploitation) Professional Fishermen Sport Fishermen Location of Fishing Areas  A number of local fishing groups and national fishing groups are currently being approached to determine numbers of fishermen and location of fishing areas. Fishing Statistics Characteristics of catches (past and present)  Currently attempting to retrieve and compile this data

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Project Contacts and Project Promotion Current Contacts  Environment Agency  CEFAS  Kings College, London  Westminster University  Field Studies Centre (Slapton Ley)  Local fishing groups  South West Rivers Association  Association of Rivers Trust Project Promotion  Press Release – WRT newsletter, local and national press  Seminar Presentation  Distribution of newsletters

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Summary of progress in 2004 Environment  Located data on catchment characteristics and river flows  Collected water quality data for the Tamar and Camel Resource  Collected past presence/absence data for yellow eels on the Tamar and Fowey  Collected past length data for yellow eels on the Tamar and Fowey  Collected past density data for yellow eels on the Fowey  Established contacts to gain data on elver recruitment and silver eel migration Exploitation  Fishing Groups and Environment Agency approached about catch characteristics Contacts and Promotion  Contacts and promotion with national and local groups (e.g. Agencies, Universities, Rivers Trusts, Local Angling Groups)  Seminar, press release and distribution of newsletters

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Summary of future work 2005/6 Environment  Collect further river flow and water quality data for all catchments, identify and use the relevant data from these large data sets  Investigate the potential to identify wetland loss from the use of past and present aerial photographs Resource  Collect data on yellow eel presence/absence for the Camel and Slapton Ley  Locate further length and density data for all catchments  Locate age data through collaboration with Kings College, London and the Environment Agency  Establish links to gain past data on eel parasites Exploitation  Retrieve and compile data on catch characteristics and fishing pressure for all catchments Contacts and Promotion  Promote INDICANG with local fishing groups

Séminaire Indicang 18 et 19 mai 2005 Westcountry Rivers Trust 10 Exeter Street, Launceston, Cornwall. PL15 9EQ Tel: (0870) Registered Charity No