River Rhymney, Sirhowy and Taff - Rhymney River FlyLife Monitoring Group and SE Wales Monitioring Group

Coordinator Dai Roberts   31 October 2007

Sites      River Rhymney - source to sea (18) , Nant Bargoed - Rhymney tributary (3), 
              River Sirhowy - source to River Ebbw (8), River Taff (13), River Ebbw (6 proposed)
Team     40+
Activity   Since 2005

Dai Roberts, working with the Rhymney Valley Federation of Angling Clubs, has since 2005 been involved in the development of the riverfly monitoring initiative in Wales in close collaboration with the EA. During this time he has organised 10 one day workshops.

The Rhymney Team has highlighted problems on the Rhymney, Sirhowy and Nant Bargoed. This has resulted in 2 prosecutions with fines and cost of more than £38,000 being imposed following prosecutions by the EA. See press releases. There are further investigations being conducted by the EA at present on the Rhymney and the Nant Bargoed and when these are concluded a further news item will be posted. The monitors include anglers, representatives from Keep Wales Tidy, Caerphilly County Borough Council and the EA. There is a good team spirit within the groups and the Rhymney Team have their own team kit, have monthly newsletters, quarterly meetings and an annual barbeque.
Anyone interested in joining an existing group or discussing the role of establishing a local monitoring group in SE Wales are invited to contact Dai via e-mail at dai.theduff@btinternet.com.

Sponsors, who have helped finance of workshops and equipment, include Sustainable Fisheries Wales, Environment Agency Wales, Natural History Museum / Natural England Partnership, Rhymney Federation of Angling Clubs, Caerphilly County Borough Council, Welsh Water and Wessex Water.
» Monitoring the Rhymney - Dai Roberts Salmo Trutta 2006 p.48-49 – PDF-File, 813.4 KB

» Pembrokeshire Rivers Trust Workshop March 2008 - Western Mail – PSD-File, 10.5 MB

Lugg and Arrow Fisheries Association

The Lugg and Arrow will be hosting Riverfly Partnership workshops on the 12 and 13 September 2008 with the plan to having a comprehensive monitoring programme underway in 2009. For further information/to join the initiative contact Dai Roberts via email dai.theduff@btinternet.com.