I MUST draw to your attention a matter of grave local concern and also of far-reaching national implication if the trend is repeated throughout England and Wales.

I refer to the imminent closure by the Environment Agency of Witcherwell fish hatchery. This is currently responsible for producing the whole of the salmonoid stock used by the agency in replacing fish killed and general mitigation stocking for the whole of the Ribble system; the major river system in Lancashire.

The consequence of this closure at the end of September this year is that the Environment Agency can no longer perform its statutory duty to maintain and enhance the quality of this river system and its water environment.

The move is contrary to the philosophy embodied in the 'Anglers Charter,' so publicised by the Labour Party prior to the election, and which caught them so many votes. The contention of the Environment Agency, that habitat improvement will negate the necessity for stocking, is as yet completely unproved, nor do the agency have the necessary powers to implement their habitat improvement proposals.

The agency and its predecessors have, in fact, watched helpless as the river system has slowly died over the last 15 years. This move is a clear case of muddled thinking, withdrawing the ability to produce young fish for stocking (lack of juvenile salmonoids is the chief problem here) before any proof that environmental work will cure the problem, is putting the cart before the horse.

The great emphasis the Environment Agency have placed over the past years on only introducing stock raised from fish caught within the system (genetic integrity) is gone at a stroke. Anglers will now have to foot the bill for stock replacement after pollution incidents or natural fish kills - this will inevitably lead to the demise of small fishing clubs without funds to cover.

The hatchery, a modern purpose-built establishment, costs £70,000 a year to run. Are the Government prepared to risk the blight of a whole river system to save such a paltry sum?

If and when the habitat enhancement programme is proven to be effective and the system is fully restored to a self-enhancing one (which it hasn't been for the past 100 years) then, and only then, should the facility be withdrawn or reduced in scale.

I ask the government to think again.

R D HALSTEAD, (Secretary, Mitre Angling Club; Executive Member, Ribble Fisheries Association), Parrock Road, Barrowford.

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