Imerys help fish find an easier route on Dartmoor

THANKS to a partnership between Imerys and the Environment Agency, migrating fish will now find their journey up and down the river Plym a little easier following the completion of improvements to a weir near Sheepstor, on Dartmoor.

The work took four weeks to complete and was specially designed to improve the passage for sea trout and salmon. Before the improvements were made, many juvenile fish on their way downstream from the spawning grounds to the sea were swept into a leat supplying water to Imerys’ nearby quarrying operations. The fish were then unable to get back to the river to complete their journey.

The improvements, agreed voluntarily and jointly funded by Imerys, include a special screen to prevent fish from being drawn into the leat. A v-shaped ‘low-flow notch’ has also been cut into the weir, making it easier for adult fish to migrate upstream during the spawning season.

‘We are delighted to have been able to contribute to this project in partnership with the Environment Agency,’ said Matthew Arthur of Imerys. ‘We are aware of our responsibility to the environment and this simple measure should make a big improvement to the situation for migratory fish at this site.’