Tuesday 22 March 2016
ROBSON GREEN OFFICIALLY OPENS HEXHAM FISH PASS
Robson Green officially opened Hexham Fish Pass (Tuesday 22 March 2016) using his expert fishing skills to cast a line to mark the occasion.
The fish pass was completed last year but officially opened today to coincide with the time of year when spring salmon begin to ‘run’ the river using the fish pass to make their way upstream. It also coincides with the opening day of the brown trout fishing season.
The fish pass is designed to make it easier for salmon and sea trout to migrate upstream to breed. Tyne Rivers Trust was the driving force behind the project which has taken more than 20 years to come to fruition.
Susan Mackirdy, Director of Tyne Rivers Trust says: “This opening marks many years of hard work and is testament to what can be achieved by several organisations working together.
There is a challenging leap for migrating salmon and sea trout at Hexham Bridge, too challenging for many fish especially in low water. A lot of leaps are unsuccessful and the fish can injure themselves by landing on the concrete. They also waste their energy in failed leaps, and are prone to disease while they wait for better flows, so they have less energy for spawning when they do eventually get upstream.
The fish pass gives migrating fish an alternative route by-passing the bridge footings to swim up two low-gradient channels to continue on their journey up the Tyne.
Susan continues: “We’re so pleased that Robson wanted to be involved with the opening. He’s well known for his love of the Tyne and river life so he’s the perfect person to declare the fish pass open.”
Robson Green says: “It’s an honour to mark the opening of something which will help salmon and sea trout on their annual migration and ultimately improve what is the greatest salmon river in the country.
He adds: “Since childhood the draw of the Tyne always gives me a sense of belonging and goes some way into defining who I am. Salmon tend not to reside in ugly places so the fact that good numbers are still journeying up the Tyne is testament to its clarity and health.”
Tyne Rivers Trust is a charity which acts as the guardian of the river Tyne identifying and working on projects to improve the river and its catchment. It led the project to design and build Hexham Fish Pass working with Northumberland Council as its construction partner and the Environment agency.
Visit: www.tyneriverstrust.orgfor more information.