#salmon – Salmon and sea trout from the North Sea will create Yorkshire's most valuable fishery worth at least £12 million a year - in a river barred to them for nearly 40 years.
A barrage on the Derwent river, at Barmby on the Marsh, will be opened eight hours a day from next Saturday (May 24) instead of always being closed. It will allow thousands of salmon and sea trout migrating along the Ouse from the sea to enter the 72-mile river and its tributaries.
It is Yorkshire's biggest river system covering 2,057 square kilometres (794 square miles) and ideal for spawning.
East Yorkshire Rivers Trust masterminded the plan and estimates anglers will now catch 500 salmon and 1,400 sea trout in the river each year.
"That will add £12.5 million to the local economies in Ryedale and districts along the river," said John Shannon, the trust's Derwent restoration project officer.
The barrier was built in the mid 1970s where the river joins the Ouse near Drax power station, to help abstract water. Its boat lock was only opened occasionally so closing off the river to the tidal Ouse and migrating fish.
Mr. Shannon said opening it eight hours a day would safeguard the water supply. Later it was expected to be always open. "With more fish each year there will eventually be ten times more anglers further increasing the benefit to the local economy."
The last time salmon were reported in any numbers in the Derwent was 1976 at Stamford Bridge.
The formal opening of the barrage on Saturday is one of several events in Britain marking World Fish Migration Day.
There will also be an eel stocking when thousands of baby eels will be released. Other fish populations in the river including flounder, lamprey and shad are expected to increase.
At present Yorkshire's most valuable river is the Esk where anglers land 200 salmon and 600 sea trout each year.
East Yorkshire Rivers Trust will be partnered at the event by the Institute of Fisheries Management, the Environment Agency, Natural England and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.
Space is limited and anyone wishing to attend should e-mail Mr. Shannon at [email protected] to reserve place.
