THE Government has given its backing to the latest efforts to restore the levels of salmon and trout in one of North Yorkshire's top fishing rivers.

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has confirmed a new Environment Agency bylaw aimed at protecting dwindling stocks.

Fishing in the tidal part of the River Esk will be restricted for a further ten years, until at least February 13, 2012.

The bylaw renews efforts which began in 1986. It prevents fishing for any fish at night and all fish, except sea-fish, during the day on the Esk tideway between Ruswarp weir, near Whitby, to Eskside Wharf.

The area is seen as one where fish are particularly vulnerable to over-exploitation both by legitimate anglers and poachers.

So far, the restriction has helped to stabilise salmon stocks, although they are still at a worrying level, and sea trout numbers, while improving, have still to return to their old levels.

"This restriction allows many more fish to return to their spawning grounds," said regional fisheries officer Steve Chambers, yesterday.

"In addition a lot of work has been done by the agency and people interested in conserving stocks, including habitat improvement, easing passage over obstructions and stocking with almost 400,000 young salmon.

"We look forward to the day when stocks are sufficiently recovered for us to be able to lift these restrictions."

The level of fish stocks in the river has declined dramatically over the past 30 years.

During the 1960s salmon catches were averaging about 400 fish a year, and in 1965 a total of 924 were landed.

Since then, catches have plummeted and last year, only 44 salmon catches were reported.

The situation with sea trout stocks is better, with an average catch of 440 a year, compared to almost 600 in the 1960s