SEVERN fishermen using ancient and traditional methods to catch salmon are to mount a vigorous campaign to be allowed to continue fishing after suggestions by the Environment Agency to ban them for 10 years.
The EA proposal is contained in a consultation document aimed at protecting salmon stocks following a series of poor breeding years, particularly in the Wye.
The fishermen say a ban would effectively kill off fishing for ever while doing nothing to increase stock.
They point out that a similar ban was imposed on the Wye when the well known stopping boats were removed from their stations at Chepstow. Their demise, they say, has made no impact on the recovery of fish numbers.
A Severn Estuary (Nets and Fixed Engines) Fishermen's Association spokesman said the Environment Agency needed to launch a much more positive approach.
"For a variety of reasons not all connected with the fall in catches, there are now very few people fishing. It would be a tragedy if they disappeared as the possibility of them ever returning would be very remote," he said.
The fishermen have already had their season cut in half as part of a national move to maintain stocks.
The Environment Agen-cy has been charged with producing 'Action plans' for all river systems and a 10 year closure is one of a number of options contained in the Severn plan.
The fishermen will be seeking support from local councils and MPs in a bid to persuade the Environment Agency to think again.
"Instead of spending money closing fisheries down it would be of far greater advantage to launch a restocking programme. There has been a need for a positive and proactive approach for years," said the spokesman.
"It should also be remembered that a ban would almost certainly apply to rod and line fishermen as well with devastating consequences for many riverside hotels in the Wye Valley. It would appear to us to be impossible to close down one without the other," he said.