Management Issues

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry | Department of Local Government & the Environment | Department of Transport | Bank Erosion | Invasive Plants | Poaching | Pollution | Obstructions | Habitat Diversity | Vegetation Management

Several Government departments have duties regarding watercourses on the Isle of Man. While their individual responsibilities vary, they seek, wherever possible, to work together to conserve rivers and streams for the benefit of the Island’s wildlife and human residents.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry

The DAFF’s duties include providing advice to farmers on how to prevent watercourse pollution, advising on the control of invasive plants, which can damage the biodiversity of riparian (bankside) zones, and acting as custodian of the Island’s 17 national glens.

The Inland Fisheries Section is responsible for the supervision, protection and development of freshwater fisheries. This includes monitoring salmonid populations, rearing salmon for boosting the rivers’ native stocks, and conducting rod licence checks and anti-poaching patrols.

Department of Local Government & the Environment

The DLGE is responsible for the Government Analyst’s Laboratory, which monitors and reports on the quality of the Island’s watercourses. Determining quality involves analysing both water chemistry and the invertebrate life at each sampling site. Chemical quality is assessed according to the UK Environment Agency’s methods, while biological quality is assessed using a scheme specific to the Isle of Man.

The DLGE’s Environmental Protection Unit administers the Water Pollution Act 1993. This involves issuing licences for discharges of trade and sewage effluent, investigating reports of pollution and taking legal action where necessary, and compiling annual reports on river pollution incidents.

Department of Transport

The Land Drainage Section of the DoT is responsible for the maintenance of watercourses designated ‘Main Rivers’ under the Land Drainage Act 1934. It also issues consents for works likely to affect any watercourses on the Island.

The Land Drainage Engineers conduct annual inspections of ‘Main Rivers’ and, where necessary, organise repairs of river banks and weirs. While their concern is primarily flood management and prevention, they are increasingly employing wildlife-friendly methods of bank engineering.

Bank Erosion

Erosion is a natural process but heavy grazing and/or trampling can accelerate it, as well as preventing the development of a diverse riparian zone. If damage to banks is extensive, the extra input of silt can smother spawning gravels, and, in time, lead to the stream becoming overly wide and shallow. However, once fenced off, stabilisation of banks and regeneration of the riparian zone often occurs rapidly without further management.

Sometimes it is necessary to repair banks or prevent a stream from migrating off a particular course. On designated ‘main rivers’ such work is the responsibility of the Department of Transport Land Drainage Section, whose engineers are increasingly employing ‘soft’-engineering techniques, which preserve and/or enhance ecological potential. On other watercourses, consent must still be sought from DoT Land Drainage before starting any work that may affect them (Tel 693512). Doing so not only avoids breaking legislation but also gives Government staff the opportunity to give advice which may make the job more cost-effective as well as wildlife-friendly.

Invasive Plants

Non-native invasive plants such as those shown here can form dense colonies on river banks. By shading out native vegetation they can reduce wildlife diversity and increase bank erosion. If you have any of these plants on your land, please seek advice from DAFF at Knockaloe (Tel 842335), as incorrect treatment can make the problem worse. Giant hogweed has a poisonous sap and should definitely not be strimmed!

Click here for DAFF factsheets on Japanese knotweed and injurious plants (including giant hogweed)

Poaching

Poaching can devastate migratory fish stocks. If you suspect anyone of poaching, do not approach them but call 812224/685857 immediately. Also, do not purchase Manx salmon or sea trout, even from licensed anglers, as it is now an offence under the Inland Fisheries (Duties) Regulations 2007 to sell, offer or expose for sale any fish to which a licence issued under these regulations applies.

Pollution

Even short-lived pollution can devastate fish stocks. Please dispose of waste in the proper manner, ensure correct plumbing of washing machines and dishwashers, and, if you are a landowner, follow the Code of Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Water. If you see a suspected pollution incident please report it on 697327.

Obstructions

Obstacles such as weirs and culverts can sometimes prevent fish passage, affecting the ability of salmon and sea trout to reach spawning grounds. They can also limit resident brown trout populations by preventing dispersal between areas. On designated ‘main rivers’ DoT Land Drainage engineers liaise with DAFF Inland Fisheries staff to identify and resolve such issues where possible. For other watercourses, please seek advice from the River Management Project Officer (Tel 651544, email river.management@gov.im).

Habitat Diversity

For a stream to support a healthy salmonid population, a range of physical features must be available. Where rivers have previously been straightened and/or dredged, the diversity of physical habitat and therefore the fish carrying capacity may be reduced. One of the objectives of the River Management project is to identify opportunities for enhancing such areas. If you own a stream, and wish to know if its wildlife potential could be enhanced, call the River Management Project Officer (Tel 651544, email river.management@gov.im).

Vegetation Management

Overhanging vegetation provides valuable cover for fish. However, extensive stretches of heavy shade can reduce salmonid populations by preventing the growth of algae on which many of their invertebrate prey feed. The lack of an understorey layer of plants in such areas may also reduce bank stability.

Leachate from compost heaps and large piles of grass cuttings can affect water quality, as well as exacerbating bank erosion by preventing plant growth. Try to site them at least 10m from the banks of streams and ditches, especially where land slopes steeply towards the watercourse.