YOUR article about record salmon numbers ascending the Tyne (Echo, Sept 9) is in sharp contrast to the recent depressing Tees Barrage Report carried out by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science on behalf of British Waterways.
According to the report, 76 salmon were tagged in the Tees estuary below the TeesBarrage and the progress of these fish was monitored.
Not a single salmon of the 76 tagged fish managed to negotiate the barrage or barrage fish pass to reach the upper river to swim to spawning grounds.
Of the 76 fish tagged, 72 per cent were killed by seals waiting for them at the entrance to the fish pass. The remainder were lost or returned to sea.
The Tees can never enjoy the increase in numbers of migratory salmon and seat trout seen in the Tyne or Wear while the Tees Barrage and its tiny, narrow and hopelessly inadequate fish pass continues in its present form.
One hopes that British Waterways and the Environment Agency will understand the true value of a healthy migratory fish population in the Tees. What’s good for the Tyne and Wear is surely good for the Tees.
Action to improve the fish pass and canoe slalom at the Tees Barrage is long overdue.
Michael Brown, Darlington.
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