We are pleased to be a partner in a new four-year project which aims to increase the numbers of Salmon and Sea Trout returning to the River Teign and its tributaries.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £243,100 to the ‘Going, Going…? Time for Action’ fish and river conservation project, led by the Teign Angling & Conservation Association (TACA).
Chairman of TACA Roger Furniss said: “We have the opportunity to work with our partners to reverse the long-term decline in numbers of iconic wild salmon and sea trout.
“We will also help people’s understanding of the environment of the Teign, its fish and the rich angling heritage they support.
“We’re doing this for the future.”
The project will start work in earnest in January 2021.
Working at a catchment scale, it will: establish a volunteer workforce to help improve the habitat for migratory fish; raise awareness in the importance of the river for wildlife and the key pressures causing fish declines; capture oral histories associated with the rich cultural heritage of angling on the river; inspire local people – young and old – to take an interest in the river; produce a local book and a community play; and encourage more people to participate in angling.
Our Devon River and Fisheries Manager Adrian Dowding said: “It’s great to be working with the TACA on this project where our work will be monitoring the fish populations throughout the four years; providing advice, river improvement work, and support where its needed.
“The catchment-wide surveys each year will help direct the project efforts within the catchment and will help to measure the success of the project as we aim to improve and protect the River Teign’s watercourses and reverse the national trend of declining diadromous fish.”
Other partners include the National Trust, Environment Agency, MED Theatre and the internationally renowned artist Peter Randall-Page.
Stuart McLeod, Director London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said that caring for and having access to our heritage and our natural world will be ever more important as we emerge from the Covid-19 crisis.
He added: “Thanks to National Lottery players, this project will engage a wide range of people in recording the history of angling on the River Teign and in creating a healthy future for the river and its wildlife.”
An exciting opportunity exists to become the Project Officer on a self employed basis. For further information on this role contact David West via email [email protected] or phone 07534 862714. Tenders to be made by October 2020 for a January 2021 start.