Derwent Salmon - Can you help?

Here's an interesting letter from Steve Dolton, can you assist him in any way? E-mail Steve if you have any news or information - Ed.

I am a volunteer bailiff with Cromford Fly Fishers.

I have received two reports of salmon trying to negotiate obstacles on the Derbyshire Derwent during the last year. One relating to the weirs at Borrowash and one at Belper. On both occasions small groups of onlookers watched and shouted encouragement to the fish as they tried to leap the weirs!

I have begun to research current plans to help restore salmon to the Derwent and have discovered that the river lost out to the River Dove in the mid 80s as the Environment Agency's first choice Trent tributary for funding, despite a detailed study by Derbyshire County Anglers Club which made an excellent case for putting the Derwent before the Dove for the funding of fish ladders and the demolition of obsolete barriers to salmon progress.

It would now seem that the environmental improvements to the Trent have brought salmon into the Derwent off their own bat!

This being the case I thought you might help their cause by asking your readers whether any other sightings have been confirmed.

I can see that the story has little content at the moment, but I'm sure it will gain momentum over the next year or two. I have contacted Severn Trent and the EA this week asking for details of plans to improve the passage of fish up the river. I will keep everyone informed of any progress I make.

The Derwent was an important salmon nursery before Arkwright, Strutt and co. built obstacles to their progress. My hope is that, following the designation of World heritage status to the valley, extra funding might be found to build fish passes and remove obsolete obstacles. The fish have made it all the way from the waters around Greenland, perhaps the hand of man might just help them find their way the rest of the way back home!

Thanks for any help you can give, it is appreciated.

Kind regards,

Steve Dolton.