Fishy tails at the Riding Mill open days

Anglers are being offered a chance to see behind the scenes at the
Environment Agency's fish monitoring facilities at Riding Mill near
Corbridge in Northumberland.

The facility monitors salmon and sea trout in the River Tyne and
collects information on the number of adult fish returning to spawn and
juveniles migrating out to sea. Hosting a fish counter, an underwater
video system and two fish traps, one for smaller fish and one for
adults. The information gathered at Riding Mill is used to help manage
the fishery.

Open Days are being held on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th of November.
Visitors will be given a guided tour of the Mill which will enable them
to see at first hand how the centre works.

They will also be able to take part on a fish scale reading workshop,
where the techniques used to assess the age and growth of fish will be
demonstrated, and see how electric fishing is used to survey populations
of juvenile salmon and trout in the Tyne.

Expert staff from the Environment Agency will be on hand to answer
questions and provide an update on progress with the salmon and sea
trout monitoring work underway on the river.

Niall Cook, ecological appraisal officer at the Environment Agency said:
"In providing valuable information on fish catches and fishing effort,
anglers play an important role in our monitoring work. These open days
give us a chance to explain to them how this and the information we
gather from our monitoring at Riding Mill helps us to conserve and
manage stocks of game fish on the river."

Visitors are being offered a choice of attending one of four sessions
spread over the two days.

Session 1 Friday 9th November 10am to 12noon

Session 2 Friday 9th November 2pm to 4pm

Session 3 Saturday 10th November 10am to 12noon

Session 4 Saturday 10th November 2pm to 4pm

Entrance to the open day is free but spaces are limited to a maximum of
15 visitors per session. To reserve a place on one of the sessions
please ring the Environment Agency's external relations team on 0191 203
4179 or email elizabeth.bunting@environment-agency.gov.uk