I
Ian Cloke
Guest
Work to improve salmon numbers on the Little Exe is to be carried out by the Westcountry Rivers Trust this winter.
The work, being funded by the Exmoor National Park Authority, will entail coppicing along the banks of the river on Exmoor to increase light in shallow areas.
It is thought overshading from trees and vegetation along the river is a contributory factor in the decline of salmon numbers.
Research has found that "tunnelled" sections of the river greater than 100 yards in length rarely support more than 40 per cent of the juvenile salmon found in more open stretches.
Restricted sunlight limits the ability of plants to grow in the river, which cuts the number of small creatures providing food for young salmon and trout.
The reason trees and shrubs have grown over the river is that following the Second World War the practice of coppicing to provide thin timbers for charcoal or gunpowder died out, allowing trees to grow and create shade.
Dr Neasa McDonnell, the Westcountry Rivers Trust's project officer for the Exe, said: "Electrofishing surveys carried out by the trust in the summer have shown lower than expected salmonid fry numbers in overshaded sections of the river.
"The coppicing should boost invertebrate communities in these sections, increasing the food supply for salmon and trout fry, and ultimately increasing salmon numbers."
The work, being funded by the Exmoor National Park Authority, will entail coppicing along the banks of the river on Exmoor to increase light in shallow areas.
It is thought overshading from trees and vegetation along the river is a contributory factor in the decline of salmon numbers.
Research has found that "tunnelled" sections of the river greater than 100 yards in length rarely support more than 40 per cent of the juvenile salmon found in more open stretches.
Restricted sunlight limits the ability of plants to grow in the river, which cuts the number of small creatures providing food for young salmon and trout.
The reason trees and shrubs have grown over the river is that following the Second World War the practice of coppicing to provide thin timbers for charcoal or gunpowder died out, allowing trees to grow and create shade.
Dr Neasa McDonnell, the Westcountry Rivers Trust's project officer for the Exe, said: "Electrofishing surveys carried out by the trust in the summer have shown lower than expected salmonid fry numbers in overshaded sections of the river.
"The coppicing should boost invertebrate communities in these sections, increasing the food supply for salmon and trout fry, and ultimately increasing salmon numbers."