FRESH claims have been made that salmon and trout are virtually unable to pass through the Tees Barrage at Stockton.

A Sedgefield angler has backed a Darlington man by again claiming migratory fish cannot reach the middle and upper Tees because the barrage's fish pass is too narrow.

John Iceton contacted the D&S Times to support Darlington angler Don Taylor's campaign for an independent inquiry into the effects of the barrage.

Mr Iceton, of The Orchard, is a member of angling clubs at Darlington, Thornaby, Ferryhill and Chester le Street.

The 75-year-old remarked: "I've been fishing the Tees since I was a young lad. I know almost every stone in it, from the top to the estuary. But I've done 200 hours of fishing this year and I've hardly seen a fish.

"The problem is that salmon and trout are being prevented from getting upstream. The fish pass is useless. And if things go on like this, there will be nothing left in five years. The fish will go to rivers like the Tyne, where they can get upstream to spawning grounds."

He said he could catch more salmon during one day on the Tyne than from a year's fishing on the Tees.

"Before the barrage was built, salmon were seen at Winston, Gainford, Eggleston and Barnard Castle. Darlington dam at Broken Scar was wonderful, particularly in full spate. Salmon loved the frothy, white water. And even when heavy industry existed downstream, the fish took the opportunity to go upstream when conditions were right," he said.

"There's no doubt that the Tees is now cleaner and a lot of good work has been done. But it's a shame that an awful lot of money was spent on the barrage without putting in a proper fish pass. The designers and engineers should have had a look at the passes on Scottish rivers," he claimed.

Speaking about the apparent improvements at the Tees estuary, he commented: "Seal numbers are growing, but this is because they are feeding on salmon congregating there. The fish are almost bottled up. The seals wouldn't be there in such numbers if the salmon and trout could head upstream."

He also claimed that salmon lept over the barrage gate in sheer desperation.

"They become stressed, particularly when oxygen levels in the water drop during the summer. If they had a clear run upstream, people would hardly be able to see them."

Finally, he said many anglers shared his concerns but were reluctant to contact the press. "They don't want to be quoted. They're a bit hesitant about expressing themselves."

British Waterways and the Environment Agency have strongly denied the allegations. Both say salmon numbers have risen in the Tees and it is far healthier now than in the past. They claim anglers are independently reporting better catches.

Alan Slater, River Tees manager for British Waterways, which operates the barrage, recently said annual sample counts of fish had risen over the years from just 100 to 12,000. Fish also travelled up the white-water slalom course and over the barrage gates. Irish experts had advised designers about the fish pass.

* British Waterways was this week appointed to look at bio-diversity, leisure, employment, heritage and environmental opportunities downstream of the barrage.

Work funded by Stockton and Middlesbrough councils, One North-East and English Partnerships will focus on the stretch of river to the Middlehaven Dock site and Cargo Fleet.

Stockton Coun Bob Cook said: "This represents the next stage in achieving an exciting future for the Tees corridor."

Coun Ron Lowe, of Middlesbrough, added: "The long-term goal is to create a high quality environment and realise the full potential of the Tees.