SALMON and trout in Carmarthenshire have been given a boost as improvements to fish pass have opened 6km of prime new spawning ground.
Carried out by Natural Resources Wales (NRW), a series of weirs have been constructed on a tributary of the Rivers Cothi and Tywi through the Brechfa Forest
This raises the water level in Nant y Ffin by 400mm allowing fish to swim up a pipe to reach important spawning grounds upstream.
Baseline surveys were carried out before the work took place so NRW can monitor the benefits to fish populations in future years.
Dave Charlesworth, Sustainable Fisheries Project Manager, said: “Salmon and other migratory fish are iconic species in Wales and are an important part of the health of our rivers.
“Angling and angling tourism is worth millions to the Welsh economy, and we have a very important job to do in ensuring that our fish stocks are sustainable for future generations.
“Of course, removing barriers to fish migration is just one way in which we can help , and we continue to work with the angling community and others to make sure that habitats are improved and our fish stocks protected.”
NRW is also currently consulting on proposals to help sustain salmon stocks for the future. More information on the consultation can be found on the Natural Resources Wales website.
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