River's salmon 'face extinction'

The number of salmon is on the decline in the River Exe

Salmon could become extinct in a South West river without urgent action to reverse a decline in numbers, a fishery owner has warned.

Dr Adrian Rogers, who owns fishing rights on a stretch of the Exe, near Exeter, wants to start a campaign to save the species on the river.

He is blaming net fishing in the sea for putting pressure of salmon numbers.

Ten years ago, rod fishermen on the river caught 1,611 salmon in total, but last year took only 143.

Killing ground

Dr Rogers, who has a home near the river, said extinction of the fish on the Exe was a real possibility "unless drastic measures are taken to save our salmon".

He added: "There is concern among the rod fishing fraternity. Fishermen are leaving the Exe because of dropping catch numbers."

He accepted the main problem was netting in the North Sea, but added: "For those salmon who do make it back to the Exe, the greatest killing ground is at the village of Topsham."

Dr Rogers said that at that location last year, net fishermen took 277 fish, compared with 473 in 2002.

Action plan

With the Environment Agency having no powers to ban netting, or plans to stock the Exe, he hoped the licensed netsmen would voluntarily cease their activity.

He called on local people not to buy or eat fresh Exe salmon.

"At least until successful measures have been taken to stop netting at sea, or properly stock the river with fish, netting should cease, and rod fishermen like myself may well have to practise catch and release every time," he added.

The Environment Agency said the risk of over-exploitation of salmon by net fishing had been identified in an action plan for the Exe.

The agency is reviewing a net limitation order and expected shortly to begin consultation, with recommendations to put before the Department for Food and Rural Affairs by September.