ANSWERS are being demanded from South West Water over a ‘catastrophic decline’ in fish in local rivers.

Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for the Tiverton and Minehead constituency, Rachel Gilmour, met local fishermen to discuss their concerns around water quality and fish populations in rivers, where particular concern was expressed about a decrease in salmon numbers.

Figures showed 1,000 salmon were caught in 2000 between Cowley Bridge, in Exeter, and The Carnarvon Arms, near Dulverton, but only two were caught in 2023.

Ms Gilmour said: “Invasive cray fish species are destroying the invertebrates that fish feed on.

“Pesticides and anti-flea ointments from dogs left in the river water also harm the water quality.

“One solution the fishermen recommend is 10-metre rough grass ‘buffer zones’ along rivers, which farmers and shoots would pay for as part of Countryside Stewardship schemes.”

Ms Gilmour said pollution was increasing as the rivers had less water in them.

Now, she has put 10 strongly-worded questions to South West Water, which were drawn up with the fishermen’s help.

Ms Gilmour said the River Exe was the late-poet laureate Ted Hughes’ favourite fishing ground.

She said: “It is deeply troubling that its banks, its water quality, and its fishing stocks are in such an appalling state.

“This is an entirely man-made problem.

“It is a combination of greed that puts shareholders ahead of the environment on the part of South West Water, and wilful neglect, along with the Environment Agency, has led us to where we are today.”