Catch Reports Appeal from Ribble

Seal Damage Assessment

ANGLERS are being asked to report catches from the River Ribble to check on any damage seals may have done to fish stocks in the winter.

Seals, they can eat 8kg of fish a day

Two seals invaded the river, at Walton-le-Dale and one went as far up as Ribchester, where it stayed for three months. A world expert on seals estimated they could each eat 8 kilos of fish a day, which added up to a potential fish loss of two square kilometres of river in total.

The Environment Agency said there may have been “significant local damage.”

Lancashire Fisheries Consultative Association, a link between water-holding clubs and the Environment Agency, is widening its Ribble catch monitoring, which has been running since fish-eating sea birds, cormorants, struck in 1989.

Secretary John Weedon, who has monitored the Ribble's chequered history for 40 years in regional and national newspapers and magazines, explained: “The seals haven't put anglers off from fishing the river.

“Since this catch appeal was posted on club websites, I have had some terrific responses from dedicated anglers who really care about the Ribble with a lot of quality information.

“There have been some really good catches up and down the river, with some mixed hauls between 30lb and 70lb, mainly smaller chub and barbel. Several barbel into the low teens of pounds have been out, but mainly they have been 5-9lb with the best total 21.

“Bream to 8lb have been taken at Walton-le-Dale.

“There have been one or two promising quality roach catches, suggesting 2lb specimens might be caught again in a year or two.

“But worryingly one angler told me that he had caught a number of barbel about 1lb, which had bite marks.

"Now we want to extend this catch appeal as wide as possible, so I hope as many anglers as possible will join in and help. This exercise is vitally important.

"Reports of no fish are just as important as double-figure barbel and 6lb chub. I am quite happy not to reveal locations, if that's what anglers want.

“We'll go where facts take us, with no snap judgments and it will probably be into November before any damage assessments can be made.”

Reports can be posted to:

John Weedon
15, Elm Road
Abram
Wigan
WN2 5XG

Tel: 01942 866474

Or emailed to:

john@weedonjfreeserve.co.uk