I would like to bring this great project to your attention.
http://www.riverflies.org
My local stretch the Rhymney was one of the piolot Rivers, and it has improved vastly since we started this initiative(alone with the River care). It helps to respond quickly to any polution problems. And it also makes others think twice before poluting, knowing there are people on the look out. Check it out, and if you think you can get involved, then give them a call. Or PM me your contact, and i will put you in touch.
Cheers Chris.
Sounds great, a very wothry cause and something if I get any free time in the huture I would be happy to devote some time too. I will contact you if I can.
What kind of things do you do? And what do you do if you catch someone polluting the river?
Hi Bill, bide with me i am a bit useless at explaining things. But here is a link that would explain.
http://www.tauntonflyfishing.co.uk/html/...oring.html
If you still want to find out more, then i will put you in contact with a mate of mine(Dai the Duff), he is alot more in the know than me. And would be able to guide people in the right direction. You don't have to be a fisherman to get in volved.
One of the methods he use, is to put fresh water shrimp (Gammarus pulex) into a cage. Gammarus are very intolerant to polution and low oxygen levels, any dead specimens will alert him to a possible polution incidence. Then on the phone to the Environment Agency. Its a bit more to it than that, but hopefully you can get the just
Chris.
Here in the US we have a similar concept--'Riverkeepers'. There are a number of people who do this in my area. It does indeed help to have someone keeping an eye out. I would hate to think how much illegal dumping would go on without the riverkeepers.
Kingfisher
One of the methods he use, is to put fresh water shrimp (Gammarus pulex) into a cage. Gammarus are very intolerant to polution and low oxygen levels, any dead specimens will alert him to a possible polution incidence.
Chris.
The water equivalant of a parrot in a cage then! A very good way of measuring the pollution levels without having to resort to expensive technology. Has anyone managed to be prosecuted or is the scheme mainly to try and stop pollution in the first place by providing a deterrent?
There has been prosecutions, these have come from severe incidences. If you go up to top link in opening post and check out the article on the Shirowy, this is the other River that has taken on the scheme. Two major polutions last year
. Though, these were easily picked up visually.
Our stretch is/was getting small scale, not enough to directly kill fish but enough to kill inverts, which affects the Rivers food chain. The Riverfly monitoring helps let you know when this is occuring, and it helps lead you back to the culprit. This small scale polution is not truely devastating to the River, so the culprits would normally get a warning.
Chris.
It really does sound like a great project. It makes me happy to hear that people who think it is OK to majorly pollute a river are actually prosecuted and don't get away with it. I hope there punishment is enough to make them think twice about doing it again.