Hi

We currently have an intense debate in the local newspaper, and with local authorities, about the river access to the small river of Morrum (10-80m3/s). Currently all canoeing/kayaking activities on the river are banned, except winter time, but discussions are intensely ongoing where kayakers want to loosen up these restrictions.

The local fly fisher association are heavily opposing this and claim that kayaking and fishing can not be combined at all and that kayaking would destroy the fly fishing “industry” in the river. Instead they want extend the restrictions also further upstream to an area that is today open for kayakers.

The two main arguments from the fly fisher association are that the kayaks will
1. disturb the fish (sea-trout and Atlantic salmon) during the time they lay their egg's, causing severe negative effect of the reproduction (they refer to studies from aquariums and breeding plants for salmon where the reproduction was reduced when the population was stressed/disturbed)
2. disturbed the trout/salmon so that it will not take the fishermen's bait, spoiling that day for him/her

I'm looking for help in relation to the arguments above.
Do anyone have facts about these claims?
Is there any studies that contradict that statements above?
Or do you know of river in similar size, that is used frequently by kayakers, that actually have a healthy population of reproducing sea trout/salmon (to show good references)

If you can help in any way it would be very appreciated. Also feel free to send me a message to my personal e-mail adress: [mail address protected from spambots with javascript] .

I strongly believe that it is possible for kayakers and anglers to share this beautiful river. I hope that you can help us in the argumentation with some facts and good references.

Many Thanks / Peter Jonsson
Sweden

Advise them to look to Scotland for examples, We have a universal right of RESPONSIBLE access to all countryside and have one of the most famous fly fishing industries in the world.