SEVERN estuary fishermen say the future of their ancient methods of catching salmon are threatened by the sudden decision of the Environment Agency to delay the start of the season.

The body blow arrived in a letter on Saturday morning — the first day of the new season — telling fishermen the EA needed extra time to review the current state of the salmon stocks and decide what protective action was needed.

Fishermen have been told the EA is considering an emergency bye-law which would prohibit catching salmon by draft net or putchers and require catch and release of any salmon taken by lave net.

Other alternatives could be catch allocation at lower levels than in previous years.

Fishermen say no-one is more keenly aware of the low level of stocks than them, but argue that a balance has to be struck to enable some fishing to take place.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK’S FORESTER