ELLIOT Morley, the Government's Minister for Fisheries and the Countryside, is to meet local salmon fishermen to discuss the future of the centuries-old Severn fisheries.
Mr Morley has accepted an invitation from local MP Diana Organ and will visit the estuary in the New Year.
Fishermen are concerned that further restrictions on the length of the fishing season, mounting costs and increased licence duty will lead to the closure of the fisheries.
John Gower, vice-chairman of The Severn Estuary Fishermen's Association, said that while it was appreciated salmon stocks were under pressure it was not believed that the way ahead was to savagely curtail the fishing effort.
"At a time when there is a serious need for some meaningful scientific research into the reasons for the decline in catches it is most disturbing that the Government has cut its grant to the Environment Agency.
"The only way the Agency can meanfully gauge exactly what is happening to salmon stocks is from information supplied by fishermen. Without that they are in the dark.
"The fishing effort is already considerably reduced from previous years with only a handful of putchers and lave net fishermen left. There is a very real danger that the entire fishing heritage on the Severn will disappear within a year or two and that is surely not the Government's intention," he said.
"Stocks have always been variable and while the present situation is a cause for concern there is every indication that sufficient numbers of fish pass through to the spawning beds.
"It is what happens after that we need to be investigating. What is needed is some quality research and that will not be achieved unless the Government is prepared to increase its grant to the Environment Agency.
"In turn the Agency must not continue to take the easy option and ask the Government to squeeze the life out of what remains of our fishing heritage. Quite simply, we do not believe that is the way forward," said Mr Gower.