SALMON and sea trout have been given a boost with the completion of a new fish pass on an important tributary of the Tamar near Ashwater. The Environment Agency has completed a £50,000 series of pools at Ashmill Weir on the River Carey so salmon and sea trout can reach the spawning areas above the large weir. Anne Voss-Bark, chairman of the Tamar and Tributaries Fisheries Association, officially opened the new pools last week by unveiling a commemorative plaque at the weir. Lesley Newport from the Environment Agency said: ?Ashmill Weir has been an obstacle to salmon and sea trout for many years and also a favourite poaching spot as the fish were held up below it. Improving the weir was a key action in our salmon action plan for the Tamar.? The plan pinpoints the main problems limiting salmon stocks on the river, sets a target conservation limit and then focuses on the work necessary to meet that target. The conservation limit is the number of salmon eggs needed to ensure enough salmon survive to sustain the population. ?We have already seen adult salmon and their nests above the weir, so we are really pleased to have been able to build the fish pass and it is excellent to see the fish are using it. We are very grateful to the landowners who have helped us carry out this important work,? said Lesley.
