INDICANG - UK

INDICANG - UKINDICANG - UK

UK PARTNER - Westcountry Rivers UK PARTNER - Westcountry Rivers TrustTrust

UK Project Manager - Dr Polly BownUK Project Manager - Dr Polly Bown

Geographical locationGeographical location

Camel Catchment

Camel Catchment

We are going to look at the Tamar We are going to look at the Tamar and Camel catchments, both in the and Camel catchments, both in the

Southwest of EnglandSouthwest of England

In addition to In addition to investigations on the investigations on the rivers Camel and rivers Camel and Tamar, we have been Tamar, we have been asked to help setup asked to help setup an eel monitoring an eel monitoring system, by the Field system, by the Field Studies Council, Studies Council, looking at Slapton looking at Slapton Ley and its associated Ley and its associated tributaries.tributaries.

Geographical locationGeographical location

Slapton Ley

River Camel

CAMELCAMEL A 413kmA 413km2 2 catchment that is approximately 40km longcatchment that is approximately 40km long A major tributary of the Camel is the AllenA major tributary of the Camel is the Allen The catchment is made of sandstone, slate and graniteThe catchment is made of sandstone, slate and granite Historic mining and quarrying within the catchmentHistoric mining and quarrying within the catchment

Physical Physical CharacteristicsCharacteristics

The Camel Valley is a Site of The Camel Valley is a Site of Special Scientific Interest Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a candidate (SSSI) and a candidate Special Area of Conservation Special Area of Conservation (cSAC). (cSAC).

93% of the Camel catchment 93% of the Camel catchment is agricultural landis agricultural land

TAMARTAMAR 975km975km2 2 catchment with 18-35km long tributaries catchment with 18-35km long tributaries Tributaries include the Tributaries include the Ottery, Inny and LydOttery, Inny and Lyd Most of the catchment is made up of sandstone Most of the catchment is made up of sandstone

and shale, known as the Culm Measuresand shale, known as the Culm Measures Copper and Zinc contamination through miningCopper and Zinc contamination through mining


There are several Sites There are several Sites of Special Scientific of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the Interest (SSSI) in the Tamar catchmentTamar catchment

SLAPTON LEYSLAPTON LEY Slapton Ley is the largest freshwater lake Slapton Ley is the largest freshwater lake

in South West Englandin South West England It is recognised as a National Nature It is recognised as a National Nature

Reserve (NNR) wetlandReserve (NNR) wetland The Ley was created geomorphologically The Ley was created geomorphologically

by the natural damming of an estuary by a by the natural damming of an estuary by a shingle bar, now known as Slapton Sandsshingle bar, now known as Slapton Sands


Environmental Environmental ConstraintsConstraints

Camel Catchment

Habitat Loss* -Habitat Loss* - Wetland loss. There are no data Wetland loss. There are no data

available for the Rivers Camel, available for the Rivers Camel, Tamar and Slapton Ley, however this Tamar and Slapton Ley, however this could be mapped through Indicang could be mapped through Indicang from past and present aerial photos.from past and present aerial photos.

Eel migration barriers (dams, weirs Eel migration barriers (dams, weirs and dykes). None of the rivers have and dykes). None of the rivers have been mapped for eel migration been mapped for eel migration barriers, but they could be mapped barriers, but they could be mapped through Indicang. There are no large through Indicang. There are no large barriers, such as hydro-electric barriers, such as hydro-electric power stations.power stations.

AFFECTING UK EEL POPULATIONS AFFECTING UK EEL POPULATIONS & WORK WITHIN INDICANG& WORK WITHIN INDICANG

* Identified from * Identified from Our Nation’s Fisheries ReportOur Nation’s Fisheries Report. . Environment AgencyEnvironment Agency


Camel Catchment

Pollution* -Pollution* - Siltation and nutrient pollution. Water quality Siltation and nutrient pollution. Water quality

data is available from the Environment Agency data is available from the Environment Agency but has never been mapped in relation to sites but has never been mapped in relation to sites where eels have been found. This work could be where eels have been found. This work could be completed through Indicangcompleted through Indicang

Effects of bioaccumulation on Eel reproductionEffects of bioaccumulation on Eel reproduction

AFFECTING UK EEL POPULATIONS AFFECTING UK EEL POPULATIONS & WORK WITHIN INDICANG& WORK WITHIN INDICANG

*Identified from *Identified from Our Nation’s Fisheries ReportOur Nation’s Fisheries Report. . Environment AgencyEnvironment Agency


Camel Catchment

Predation* -Predation* - Cormorants taking Eels Cormorants taking Eels

OTHER CONSTRAINTS ON UK EELSOTHER CONSTRAINTS ON UK EELSParasites* -Parasites* - Impact of Impact of Anguillicola crassusAnguillicola crassus on Eel populations (no on Eel populations (no

data for the Tamar, Camel or Slapton Ley)data for the Tamar, Camel or Slapton Ley)

Oceanic Climate change* -Oceanic Climate change* - Possible effect of Atlantic OscillationPossible effect of Atlantic Oscillation

*Identified from *Identified from Our Nation’s Fisheries ReportOur Nation’s Fisheries Report. . Environment AgencyEnvironment Agency

Eel ExploitationEel ExploitationFISHING EXPLOITATION & WORK WITHIN FISHING EXPLOITATION & WORK WITHIN INDICANGINDICANGTamar Tamar - There are a few registered official eel - There are a few registered official eel fishermen on the Tamar who use Fyke nets for yellow fishermen on the Tamar who use Fyke nets for yellow and silver eels. We are trying to find out if there are and silver eels. We are trying to find out if there are official records of these catches and if there are any official records of these catches and if there are any available data on sport fishing.available data on sport fishing.

Camel Camel - No registered eel fishermen. - No registered eel fishermen.

Slapton Ley Slapton Ley - Historical fishermen and a licence in - Historical fishermen and a licence in place for renewed Fyke netting for yellow and silver place for renewed Fyke netting for yellow and silver eels. We are hoping to gather data by contacting eels. We are hoping to gather data by contacting fishermen.fishermen.

Eel StatusEel Status Past data on yellow eels have been obtained on the Camel and Past data on yellow eels have been obtained on the Camel and

Tamar by the Environment Agency, but only through bi-catches Tamar by the Environment Agency, but only through bi-catches during electro fishing for Salmonids. Past information for the during electro fishing for Salmonids. Past information for the Tamar and Camel is currently being collected through Tamar and Camel is currently being collected through Indicang and will be added to current data. Past data is also Indicang and will be added to current data. Past data is also being collected for Slapton Ley but there is no current data. being collected for Slapton Ley but there is no current data. Through Indicang we hope to extend monitoring to eel specific Through Indicang we hope to extend monitoring to eel specific sites to gain more data on yellow eels.sites to gain more data on yellow eels.

There are no data on elvers and silver eels. We hope to There are no data on elvers and silver eels. We hope to improve this knowledge through Indicang by setting up improve this knowledge through Indicang by setting up monitoring.monitoring.

In the UK as a whole no river has data from all life history In the UK as a whole no river has data from all life history stages. After Indicang we hope to have data for all three (elver, stages. After Indicang we hope to have data for all three (elver, yellow and silver) on the Tamar, Camel and Slapton Ley.yellow and silver) on the Tamar, Camel and Slapton Ley.

Little data means it is hard to know if areas within catchments Little data means it is hard to know if areas within catchments have altered in eel density. Data from UK index rivers suggest have altered in eel density. Data from UK index rivers suggest that eels have declined to 1% of historic levels*.that eels have declined to 1% of historic levels*.

* ICES (2002). Report of the ICES/EIFAC Working Party on Eels, Nantes France 2 -* ICES (2002). Report of the ICES/EIFAC Working Party on Eels, Nantes France 2 - 6 6 September 2002 September 2002 International Council for the Exploitation of the Sea, Copenhagen, International Council for the Exploitation of the Sea, Copenhagen,

Demark. 87pp.Demark. 87pp.

Biological Studies on Eels Biological Studies on Eels within the UKwithin the UK

Electro fishing for Salmonids have previously Electro fishing for Salmonids have previously been conducted in a number of rivers, with eels been conducted in a number of rivers, with eels noted as a bi-catch (Environment Agency).noted as a bi-catch (Environment Agency).

Catch returns from UK commercial elver fisheries Catch returns from UK commercial elver fisheries have been noted for the river Severn and Bristol have been noted for the river Severn and Bristol Channel (which drain into the same area as the Channel (which drain into the same area as the Camel river). Camel river).

Data is currently being gathered for eels on many Data is currently being gathered for eels on many UK rivers by Bark, Williams and Knights at Kings UK rivers by Bark, Williams and Knights at Kings College London and Westminster University. College London and Westminster University.

The work through Indicang will supplement the The work through Indicang will supplement the current eel research.current eel research.

Possible Environment Possible Environment Constraints that may affect Constraints that may affect

eel populationseel populationsWITHIN THE CAMEL ,TAMAR AND SLAPTON LEY WITHIN THE CAMEL ,TAMAR AND SLAPTON LEY CATCHMENTS:CATCHMENTS:

Habitat Loss Habitat Loss - There is no research on mapping wetland - There is no research on mapping wetland loss in the catchmentsloss in the catchments

Migration Barriers Migration Barriers - These have not been mapped with - These have not been mapped with respect to eelsrespect to eels

Water Quality Water Quality - Although this data has been collected it - Although this data has been collected it has not been mapped with respect to eelshas not been mapped with respect to eels

Eel Fishing Eel Fishing - It is unlikely to be a constraint on the Tamar - It is unlikely to be a constraint on the Tamar and Camel due to low levels. It was thought to impact on and Camel due to low levels. It was thought to impact on eel populations in Slapton in the past, but there is no eel populations in Slapton in the past, but there is no supporting datasupporting data

ParasitesParasites - No data on parasites within these catchments - No data on parasites within these catchments Predation Predation - No data- No data

Summary of the UK Summary of the UK Indicang projectIndicang project

There has been little monitoring of the Eel populations There has been little monitoring of the Eel populations within the Tamar, Camel and Slapton catchments and within the Tamar, Camel and Slapton catchments and eels have only been caught as a bi-catch. Extend eel eels have only been caught as a bi-catch. Extend eel specific monitoring of elvers, silvers and yellows in all specific monitoring of elvers, silvers and yellows in all three river catchments, where possible.three river catchments, where possible.

Although attention to Salmonid barriers has occurred Although attention to Salmonid barriers has occurred Eel migration barriers have not been mapped. Eel migration barriers have not been mapped. Therefore, eel migration barriers will be mapped in all Therefore, eel migration barriers will be mapped in all three rivers, where possible.three rivers, where possible.

Wetland loss within the catchments has not been Wetland loss within the catchments has not been mapped. Where possible current and past wetlands mapped. Where possible current and past wetlands will be mapped for all catchments from aerial will be mapped for all catchments from aerial photographs.photographs.

Summary of the UK Summary of the UK Indicang projectIndicang project

Water quality has been recorded but not Water quality has been recorded but not analysed in relation to Eel populations. analysed in relation to Eel populations. Therefore, past and present water quality Therefore, past and present water quality data will be gathered and mapped for all data will be gathered and mapped for all rivers, where possible. rivers, where possible.

Contact current and past eel fishermen in Contact current and past eel fishermen in order to gather data on catches.order to gather data on catches.

Present findings and organise meetings with Present findings and organise meetings with river managers, eel fishermen and the river managers, eel fishermen and the general public to disseminate the work of general public to disseminate the work of Indicang.Indicang.

INDICANG - UKINDICANG - UK

UK PARTNER - Westcountry Rivers UK PARTNER - Westcountry Rivers TrustTrust

UK Project Manager - Dr Polly BownUK Project Manager - Dr Polly Bown

Documents

INDICANG - UK