The River Taff is once again open to the free migration of salmon, trout and other fish thanks to the completion of a new fish pass at Blackweir, being officially opened today (Tuesday 2nd February 2010) by Environment Agency Wales, Welsh Assembly Government Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones and rugby legend Gareth Edwards CBE.

A smaller fish pass was previously constructed at Blackweir in 1989 to allow salmon and sea trout to travel upstream to spawn. But recent monitoring of salmon migration by Environment Agency Wales found that the fish were finding it difficult to locate the pass during high river flows. During the autumn the pass also often became blocked by debris, which was limiting the ongoing recovery of fish populations in the river.

The Agency’s new pass will also bring improvements to the migration of species such as eel, grayling, chub, lamprey and barbel. Located towards the eastern bank of the river, the pass takes in the main fish migration route to readily attract migrating fish.

Chris Mills, Director, Environment Agency Wales said: “The freedom of movement of fish is an important component of achieving and maintaining good ecological status. As part of the Salmon Action Plan for the Taff and in light of challenging new EU targets for water quality (Water Framework Directive) we are continuing to remove man-made barriers to fish migration and constructing fish passes on weirs, such as Blackweir, to enable the free passage of migratory salmon and other species of fish.

“At Blackweir we found that, often, large numbers of fish would gather below the weir during their upstream migration, denying them the opportunity to disperse and spawn in the catchment.

“The work we have done around the fish pass is already greatly benefiting wildlife and local people. Salmon and sea trout can now use our network of passes to travel up the Taff to spawn and produce future generations of Taff salmon, and people are regularly seen watching the fish use the pass. We have even tracked salmon as far up the Taff as Cefn Coed and right to the upper reaches of the Rhondda, which is an immense achievement.”

Elin Jones AM, and Gareth Edwards CBE and President of the South East Wales Rivers Trust, unveiled the fish pass plaque.

Elin Jones AM said: “I’m pleased to officially open Blackweir fish pass, which continues the good work being undertaken to improve rivers across South Wales. By helping fish such as salmon and sea trout to migrate upstream, the pass will bring environmental and socio-economic benefits to the local and wider communities. The fish pass will make a significant contribution towards helping Wales achieve its targets set by the Water Framework Directive and further meet the aims of the Wales Fisheries Strategy.”

The work involved a major excavation into the weir to construct the new fish pass which is based on a tried and tested design that allows even the smallest of fish to take advantage of it. Construction began on the new pass in 2008 but severe weather conditions and one of the wettest Augusts on record delayed the project’s completion. It was largely completed in September last year in time for the autumn run of salmon migrating upstream to spawn. Additional minor work was completed last month.

The pass, based on an Environment Agency Wales concept, was designed by Atkins and constructed by Carillion. The project was led by Environment Agency Wales working with Cardiff Harbour Authority and was jointly funded by both organisations.

Cardiff Council Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture Cllr Nigel Howells also spoke at the launch.

The Salmon Action Plan for the Taff and Ely sets the agenda for Environment Agency Wales’ work to restore salmon and sea trout to these rivers. An ambitious document, published in 2003, it set targets for assessments and actions throughout the catchment, and these are now substantially complete. The recently launched River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) contain new targets for additional improvements, and are intended to encourage the further return of wildlife to Wales’ waters, making them better places for people as well.