THE DWINDLING numbers of Severn estuary salmon fishermen ended their season last week facing an uncertain future.
In a bid to improve fish stocks the Environment Agency has recently produced a report suggesting estuary fisheries should be closed for 10 years.
Fisherman argue that the move would effectively close the fisheries for ever.
At Awre where the Cadogan family have been fishing for hundreds of years, Mr Chris Cadogan said be believed the ban would do nothing to improve fish stocks.
He told the Review: "This has been a slightly better season and it could be that stocks recover naturally. There have been poor seasons in the past and we could be at the bottom of that cycle."
There were other factors involved such as drift netting and the complete absence of a breeding programme in the Severn because of reduced government funding, he said.
Mr Cadogan said that to introduce a ban on traditional fishing methods would achieve nothing other than to destroy local heritage.
Local fishermen are to fight the closure proposals and are seek the backing of county MPs and councils.
A spokesman for the Severn Estuary Fishermen's Association said he believed there were other more positive ways to improve stocks without introducing a ban.
"We believe there is a future for fishing but what is needed is a proactive approach and the introduction of a large scale breeding programme. You can be assured that if these fisheries are ever removed it is highly unlikely they will ever return again.
"The Environment Agency is charged with the responsibility of improving fisheries not closing them and that is the way we believe they should be thinking."