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The WTT is delivering six Advisory Visits and project proposals in the upper reaches of the Itchen. The aim of the visits is to improve spawning habitat for wild trout and deliver gains to local biodiversity.
View: Report 1 Report 2
Background
The upper reaches of the River Itchen are primarily made up of three headwater streams, the Candover, Alre and Cherton. All of these streams have the highest levels of nature conservation protection forming part of the designated River Itchen Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and all provide the landowners with a modest income derived from fly-fishing for mainly wild brown trout.
Following a local consultation on policies contained within the Environment Agency’s National Trout & Grayling Fisheries Strategy, it was apparent that many of the fishing interests located within these areas were committed to maintaining the wild status of the fishery. In addition, several land owners considered the prospect of designation of their fisheries as Wild Fishery Protection Zones (no stocking) advantageous. Several have however, expressed concerns that changes to habitat, brought about by drought or the adverse impacts of predation, may necessitate stocking to maintain viable trout fisheries.
In order to encourage fishery interests to continue adopting sustainable fisheries management practices, it is proposed to give some assistance in implementing simple schemes designed to improve trout habitat and help buffer the population from the adverse effects of drought and increased predation pressures.
Proposal
To engage the Wild Trout Trust (WTT) to deliver a number of advisory visits with key landowners and fishery interests with a view to producing a prioritised list of recommendations and improvements.
Initially focusing on the Candover stream, it is proposed that the local Environment Agency fishery officer approaches the relevant fishery interest and arranges a joint advisory visit. It is envisaged that this work could be undertaken for the whole stream in two days.
A brief report on each site produced by the WTT consultancy unit aimed directly at effecting improvements to habitat through sympathetic management, and recommendations for targeted enhancement, should optimise the chances of landowner engagement. Supported by the EA, the output from reports will be targeted to deliver the objectives of the T&G strategy, particularly policy 22.
We would expect the project to provide advice to 3 key landowners, identify approximately 6 sites for targeted improvements and deliver three prioritised schemes. We do not anticipate works that require heavy plant machinery but believe there is real scope for habitat creation through fencing and planting schemes to provide holding habitat and reduce predation pressures. We understand and accept that the WTT will require a 10% administration commission.
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