Angling guide to save Dee salmon.

Byline: By ANDREW FORGRAVE Rural Affairs Editor

A SPECIAL angling guide is being launched in an attempt to curb the River Dee's salmon crisis.

Atlantic salmon in the river are failing to achieve sustainable spawning levels that will safeguard stocks in the future.

The Welsh Dee Trust says a compulsory season-long catch-and-release policy could be imposed on the river if anglers retain too many young fish.

Its postcard-sized guide will inform anglers how to handle caught salmon and includes a conversion table to measure the fish and estimate its weight.

Huw Evans, the trust's secretary, said: "At a time when salmon stocks are endangered, anglers must realise that they cannot kill every fish they catch.

"The returning of salmon is crucial to safeguarding sustainable stocks for the future.

"We appeal to salmon fisherman to use discretion in the number of salmon they keep."

The Trust, established in 1999 and relaunched last year, has identified a series of new projects as it embarks on a new round of fundraising.

Potential schemes include a new education centre at the Trust's Maerdy hatchery and plans to involve children and young offenders in fishing.

The Trust alsowants to undertake habitat improvements, including liming the Dee's headwaters jointly with the Conwy and Clwyd Trust.

It aims to train up volunteers to monitor fly life and launch an angler awareness campaign to increase salmon returns.

Details: [e-mail] or www.riverdeetrust.org.

THE spotlight falls on Llysfasi Agricultural College, near Ruthin, in a special edition of S4C's countryside series, Cefn Gwlad: presenter Dai Jones visited the college over six months to get a flavour of the different activities undertaken by its students, fromlambing and shearing to sowing and the silage harvest.

Tomorrow night's programme concludes with the annual awards ceremony in which Richard Rees from Pennal, Machynlleth, collected the DS Edwards Memorial Cup, awarded to the best agriculture student.

Assembly presiding officer Dafydd Elis- Thomas, guest speaker at the ceremony, told Dai: "The countryside is a vital part of the nation's life. It's important we pay a debt of gratitude to rural Wales, and continue to support the young generation."

Cefn Gwlad, S4C, Friday, 8.25pm.

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