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ASSOCIATION OF SEVERN ESTUARY RELEVANT AUTHORITIES
1. Relevant authority : Environment Agency
2. Activity &/or sub-activity: Fishing (commercial)
2.1 Why? (Why is this activity carried out? (if applicable) i.e. maintenance dredging is required to provide safe
navigation. Pipeline maintenance is required to ensure safe containment of substances.)
There is little or no commercial fishing activity for white fish (marine/estuarine species) within the
Severn Estuary. The only commercial operations are associated with the taking of either Atlantic
salmon, sea trout and eel/elver. Historically, both salmon and eel/elver have supported a significant
local industry, however, both species have seen a dramatic decline in numbers in the last twenty years
with a corresponding contraction of the industry / activity.
2.2 Location (Describe the area used for the activity. Please provide annotated maps, co-ordinates, postcodes etc so
that this information can be plotted into a GIS)
The Environment Agency’s management in the Severn Estuary is mainly aimed at conserving salmon
and eel fishing (commercial eel fishing to be covered in a separate pro-forma).
Adult Atlantic salmon pass through the estuary every year to spawning grounds in the tributary rivers.
The principal salmon rivers are the Severn, Wye, Usk and Taff/Ely.
As a general rule fishing in tidal waters is a public right. These waters extend into estuaries and out to
6 nautical miles measured approximately from the normal low tide around the coast. Exceptions to
this general rule exist, usually in the form of pre Magna Carta general rights and these rights operate
under the authority of Certificates of Privilege. These private rights exist in the Severn Estuary.
Despite the publics general right to fish in tidal waters, the right to fish with nets has been limited by
local Net Limitation Orders made under the 1975 Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act in order to
protect migratory salmon and trout. Fishing can also be prohibited under byelaw. For salmon and
trout, virtually all fishing in the Severn Estuary has become subject to net limitation, buy-outs or
byelaw control.
2.3 Frequency (Describe when/how often the activity occurs.)
National and local byelaws dictate the season and methods that can be used for fishing (see “Severn
Estuary Salmon Action Plan” 2003)
2.4 How (Describe how the activity is carried out (ie equipment used, number/type of people involved) and the
intensity (high, medium, low).
Commercial salmon fishing has declined in productivity and importance in the Severn Estuary. Five
main methods have been used in the estuary: Drift nets, draft nets (seine or long nets), “fixed
engines” (putts and putchers), hand held lave nets and stop boats. All draft net and fixed engine
fisheries and a substantial portion of the lave net fisheries are privately owned (for further explanation
of each method see EA Severn Estuary Salmon Action Plan 2003). Catches and fishing effort in all
estuary fisheries have declined in recent years. The last stop boats finished operating a number of
years ago and the drift net fishery based at Newport has been phased out subject to a net limitation
order through a buy out financed mainly by private fishing interests.
The estuary has also historically supported various forms of commercial sea fisheries including
trawling, longlining and the use of beach nets for cod, whiting, bass, sole, plaice and mullet.
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3. Management
3.1 General (Brief description of your current management.)
The Agency’s current management within the Severn is aimed towards the conservation of salmon
and freshwater fisheries (again, see commercial eel and elver fishing for details on eel fishing). This is
done using the following mechanisms:

Setting Net Limitation Orders for salmon and trout net licences. NLO’s cannot however be
subject to review under the Hab Regs. They are for a fixed period (usually 10 years) and, as they
are signed off by the Minister, the Agency cannot undertake a review.

Setting Byelaws. The illegal capture of salmon whilst ostensibly fishing for sea fish has been a
long standing problem and historically significant. Since 1992, sea fishing in areas controlled by
the Environment Agency has been highly restricted by byelaws under the Salmon Act 1986. This
was done to allow free migration of salmon and the massive illegal fishery was successfully shut
down.

Regulating and enforcing.
Virtually all fishing in the Severn Estuary has become subject to net limitation orders, fisheries byelaw
control or buy -outs. These mechanisms for the control of fishing can play an important role towards
the conservation of fisheries within the Severn Estuary.
3.2 Management objectives (Why are you managing this activity - if different to 2.1 above (please identify if no
management)?
The Environment Agency’s principal aim is to maintain, improve and develop fish stocks, the basic
fisheries resource, in order to optimise the social and economic benefits from their sustainable
exploitation.
3.3 Your role (Describe your role in relation to the activity (e.g. statutory duty, control due to land ownership, part of
normal working operations etc)
The Agency acts as a Sea Fisheries Committee under the terms of the Sea Fisheries Regulation Act
1996 for some areas of the Severn Estuary. In such areas it has powers to regulate sea fisheries under
the Sea Fishery Regulation Act 1966 and the Sea Fisheries (Conservation) Act 1967. The Agency
therefore has responsibilities for management of inshore fisheries out to 6 nautical miles from UK
baselines.
The Environment Agency also has a statutory remit to licence and regulate commercial eel fishing
under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 (SAFFA).
The Agency can set byelaws under the Salmon Act 1996.
The Environment Agency also has a statutory remit to licence and regulate commercial eel fishing
under the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 (SAFFA). The Agency’s involvement in this
activity is outlined in a separate “eels and elver fishing” pro-forma.
3.4 Existing regulation (Describe any existing regulation for the activity.)
The South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee regulates sea fisheries in the northern part of the Estuary
westwards from approximately the mouth of the Rhymney River, Cardiff. Elsewhere, the
Environment Agency Acts as the Sea Fisheries Committee (See 3.3 above for Environment Agency
regulatory role).
DEFRA deals with quota management and the licensing of fishing vessels and through its British Sea
Fisheries Officers and the Royal Navy Fisheries Protection Squadron enforces UK and EU legislation.
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The Eels (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 (enacted 15.01.10)
3.4.1 Nature Conservation (Does regulation of the activity already provide for the integration of nature
conservation interests? (Included to provide details of what measures already exist to incorporate safeguards for
conservation into current working practices).
Statutory duties are placed on the Agency by the Environment Act 1995. Section 4 of the '95 Act
places a duty on the Agency to protect and enhance the environment, taken as a whole, so as to
contribute towards attaining the objective of sustainable development. Sections 5, 6 and 7 of the '95
Act place duties on the Agency to prevent, minimise, remedy or mitigate the effects of pollution of the
environment, and to promote conservation and recreation.
The Agency also has a statutory duty under the NERC Act.2006 (Part 3, Section 40) to conserve
biodiversity.
3.5 Other management
3.5.1 Is your organisation developing any plans/initiatives/codes of conduct in relation to the
activity? (please give details & web site reference if available).
“Severn Estuary Salmon Action Plan ” – Environment Agency 2003
“National Eel Management Strategy” – Environment Agency 2001 (see separate eel and elver
fishing pro-forma for further details)
Allis and twaite shad – a conservation message – Environment Agency
The Fisheries Advisory service is available to the public, anglers and fishery owners, free of charge.
Anyone looking for general advice or an answer to a specific problem or query relating to fish, fishery
management and freshwater biology can contact the Environment Agency.
www.environment-agency.gov.uk
www.environment-agency.wales.gov.uk
Furthermore, numerous bylaws exist depending on the location of the activity.
3.5.2 Are you aware of any other plans/initiatives in relation to the management of the
activity (please give web site reference if available)
The following may have plans or initiatives relating to the management of fisheries

DEFRA/National Assembly for Wales – www.defra.gov.uk

South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee – www.swsfc.org.uk
Queens Buildings Cambrian Place Swansea SA1 1TW Tel (01792) 654466

Institute of Fisheries Management
www.ifm.org.uk/index.html - The Institute of Fisheries Management (IFM) is an international
organisation of persons sharing common interest in the modern management of recreational
and commercial fisheries.

North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO)
3.5.3 Outline any other known management of the activity (e.g. recreational clubs, voluntary groups).
See 3.4 & 3.5.2
Eel Management Plans for the UK. Defra. 2008
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4. Current information
4.1 Monitoring/research (Are you undertaking any current monitoring/research of the activity?)
Environment Agency core monitoring for migratory fish only:
Temporal Monitoring
Temporal monitoring looks at trends in fish populations and catches over long time periods –30 years
or more - and is useful for detecting background changes such as the impact of climate change.
Temporal sites are sampled every year – the minimum practical interval for fish - so that trends can be
detected as quickly as possible. Even so the programme can only detect significant trends over periods
of >30 years or so.
Spatial Monitoring
Spatial surveys aim to show differences between groups of sites, either in the same survey or between
two or more surveys at different times. Unlike temporal monitoring, where return period drives
statistical power, spatial survey power is governed by the number of sites in each group being
compared. Consequently, spatial monitoring looks at many sites, but only every 5 years.
Sentinel Monitoring
Reflecting the fisheries legislation and income streams, the core programme concentrates on waters
that are significant fisheries. However, recognising its Conservation duties the Environment Agency is
also collecting some data about fish in other waters. This sentinel programme looks at data to address
whether there is any reason to suspect that the fish population is not self-sustaining.
4.2 Why is it carried out?
Information on fish migration, recruitment, population distribution and dynamics is limited.
The Environment Agency core monitoring aims to provide the function with key fishery and fish
population data that meet its business needs.
4.3 Please list any research/monitoring reports and their format (e.g. paper, GIS, please give web site
reference if available)
Details of numerous annual reports, research developments and management initiatives area available
from:
National Salmon and Trout Fisheries Centre
Environment Agency Wales
29 Newport Road
Cardiff
CF24 0TP
4.4 Are you aware of anyone else who carries out monitoring/research of the activity?
The following organisations may carry out their own research of the activity:
South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee – www.swsfc.org.uk
Queens Buildings Cambrian Place Swansea SA1 1TW Tel (01792) 654466
Devon Sea Fisheries Committee Tel: 01803 854648
DEFRA/National Assembly for Wales – www.defra.gov.uk
CEFAS – Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.
www.cefas.co.uk
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Institute of Fisheries Management
www.ifm.org.uk/index.html - The Institute of Fisheries Management (IFM) is an international
organisation of persons sharing common interest in the modern management of recreational and
commercial fisheries.
European Register of Marine Species This site holds details of the research consortia funded by the
EU under the MAST (Marine Science and Technology) programme. It aims to produce a register of
marine species in Europe with links to identification guides, register of experts and collection
locations to help marine biodiversity research and management. The site is searchable by specific
species
North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO)
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