[S]ummer heralds the start of West Cumbria Rivers Trust’s annual fish surveys in the Derwent catchment and the Trust is looking for volunteers to help with the mammoth task of surveying over 150 sites.
The surveys provide vital information on the populations and breeding success of salmon and trout and indicate the overall health of the rivers and becks within the Derwent system.
The data collected is vital to help inform West Cumbria Rivers Trust and other partner organisations, including those involved in Derwent River Corridor Group and West Cumbria Catchment Management Group, in deciding where best to focus efforts on improving river and riparian habitat for the benefit of all species, as well as the fish.
Previous surveys have helped understand the impact of floods on salmon and trout numbers, highlighted watercourses which on the surface appear suitable for salmon and trout but do not support any at all, and confirmed which watercourses in the Derwent system are the most important for salmon and trout. With a continued long-term general decline in Atlantic salmon numbers across our catchments, the surveys are vital to help properly target funding to the right places.
Although the programme is generously supported and funded by local Angling clubs, the River Corridor Group, and this year, Patagonia’s World Trout Fund, we are entirely dependent on the hard work of volunteers for the surveys to happen. We are particularly keen to find a volunteer survey assistant to help out our Project Officer on a regular basis over the summer.
Ruth Mackay, Project Officer at West Cumbria River Trust says, “We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help conduct the fish surveys and this is a fantastic opportunity for anyone who has a bit of spare time, to do something fun – something a bit different but also gain some valuable work experience and skills within the environmental sector, which will look great on a CV. If you’re interested contact me at [email protected] or ringing the office on: 017687 75429.”
The Trust would also like to thank the 100+ local landowners for their continued support for the project through allowing access to their land to undertake the surveys.
