Salmon: Improve access to habitats and reduce illegal catches
Based on a comprehensive fish-ecological analysis including priority measures for the further development and spreading of the stock of salmon, sea trout, allice shad and lamprey, the ICPR presents new proposals for measures aimed at the further development of the Rhine ecosystem, in particular for the programme on salmon restoration. It is important to improve the access to the Rhine watershed from the sea passing by the sluices of the Haringvliet. Appropriate measures will be implemented by 2015. Therefore, as a matter of priority, potential fish habitats in the Upper Rhine and the Rhine tributaries should be made accessible and obstacles to migration should be made surmountable. Once they are accessible, tributaries suitable for the target species are immediately re-colonized.
It is also important to reduce the pressure of fishery on the stock of salmon. In the entire Rhine watershed it is prohibited to catch and withdraw salmon and sea trout from water bodies. However, investigation results point out that salmon often figure among the by-catches of professional fishermen along the Dutch coast. Anglers equally illegally catch and withdraw salmon from the main stream of the Rhine. As this situation gives rise to concern, the ICPR has issued recommendations for the implementation of these interdictions on a national level. Among others, it is recommended to raise awareness of all institutions concerned, such as river police, fisheries’ associations and people interested in the salmon programme and to associate them to this programme.