Esk Fisheries Data Collation and Analysis

Project Description

The Freshwater Pearl Mussel Project aims to improve environmental/habitat conditions for the last surviving population of Freshwater Pearl Mussels (FPMs) in Yorkshire. Salmonid fisheries assessment can be used to support the evaluation of FPM habitat, especially as they both require similar habitats within freshwater systems, such as access to clean well oxygenated gravels. Furthermore, salmonid fish are a host for FPM during their glochidia (juvenile) life stage and therefore an understanding of salmonid composition and densities is an important variable to assess when looking at suitable habitats/conditions that support FPM. While the Esk does not have a self-sustaining FPM population, it is a future goal to potentially reintroduce FPM through a programme with the Freshwater Biological Association. To ensure this programme will be a success we need to ensure ‘optimal’ habitat is available for all FPM life stages within the Esk. One way to support the assessment and evaluation of ‘optimal’ FPM habitats is to use salmonids as a ‘key’ biological indicator species.

On the River Esk we have good, long term spatial and temporal salmonid data in the form of density estimates and HABSCORE. In some instances, the data has been reported annually and has numerous owners such as the Environment Agency and North Yorkshire Moors National Park Authority (NYMNPA), it is held in a variety of spreadsheets and reports. Collaboratively, as a partnership, we have agreed that the data should be combined in to one place and subsequently assessed to answer ‘key questions’ that will aim to underpin and prioritise future delivery of habitat works for fisheries and FPM