2017 shad run monitoring
We monitored shad from where they entered freshwater in Gloucester, past the first weir in Tewkesbury, right up to the weirs that are currently a major impediment to their migration: Diglis Weir at Worcester and Powick Weir on the River Teme.
An estimated run of over 10,000, and possible as high as 15,000 shad was recorded migrating over Upper Lode Weir in Tewkesbury. This may sound a big number, but it actually represents a tiny proportion of the original population of shad that used to run the river Severn before the construction of navigation weirs in the mid 1800’s. It was however a very encouraging to show there is a sufficient residual population of shad to recolonise the upper reaches of the river when, over the coming years, we install fish passes past the four navigation weirs from Worcester to Stourport. By providing shad access to their historic spawning grounds, we aim to achieve a thriving population once again. This will significantly contribute to the Severn Estuary Special Area of Conservation achieving a favourable status for shad designation and becoming the only significant population in the UK.
