UP! - The Usk Project
Our first venture with the Usk fishermen and Owners was
the joint buy out of the putchers and nets in the Estuary in 2000. Working
with those involved showed how much there was in common with the interests
on the Wye and at the end of an appropriate 'engagement', we simply merged.
The absolute priority after joining forces was to submit a project under
EU Objective 2 and Transitional funding as these sources of major funds for
river restoration are coming to an end.
After several months work, the foundation succeeded in gaining approval for two paired projects in the Transitional and Objective 2 areas that jointly cover the Usk catchment from source to Abergavenny. The projects commenced in January 2004 and will run until the end of 2006. Together they are called the Usk Project, or more simply UP! and have a total projected spend of £0.9 million.
In 2007, a year's extension was granted to UP! (above Brecon) taking the total budget to £1.12m.
UP! is tackling the degraded and inaccessible habitat on the Usk tributary streams using our tried and tested habitat improvement regime and through the reopening of the blocked tributaries . A marketing strategy similar to that set up in pHish will bring the benefits of river improvements to the rural economy with the ultimate goal of making these improvements self funding and perpetuating. Our partners are listed below and includes for the first time Brecon Beacons National Park, through which most of the river involved in the project flows.
While the salmon fishing on the Usk may have improved since the net buy
off (funded by Wye Salmon Fishery Owners Association, United Usk Fisherman's
Association and the then Wye Foundation), there is still considerable
scope for improvement and the famous Usk brown trout is not as numerous as
it once was. Many regular fishermen are pointing out that while the average
size of trout has risen dramatically (2lb fish are now common), numbers of
small fish have declined. Stocking with hatchery reared fish is bad news
for the river as it is expensive, fails to tackle the underlying problems
and endangers the native populations. In addition, 'stockies' are no substitute
for the famous indigenous Usk trout.
Fishery scientists use the term 'lack of recruitment' to describe this phenomenon.
The solution lies in the smaller tributaries. Siltation, diffuse pollution,
habitat destruction and obstructions are the prime suspects and UP! is the
means of putting right these evils.
Many thanks to all those Usk owners and fishermen who have had faith in us
to deliver this project and supported it financially, and to our partners
who together have made it possible to assemble such a substantial and worthwhile
scheme.
Usk Project - Partners
Environment Agency
Countryside Council for Wales
Forestry Commission
Brecon Beacons National Park
University of Wales, Cardiff
United Usk Fishermen's Association
Keep Wales Tidy
Wildlife Trusts
Stock damage causing
excessive erosion problems on
an Usk tributary, the Honddu and an
impassable weir on the Cynrig,
a potentially important Usk spawning stream.
