Pollution Threatens 300-Year-Old Coracle Fishing Tradition
Coracle fishers on the River Tywi in Wales say pollution has made it impossible to catch fish, threatening a 300-year-old tradition.
The River Tywi in Wales has been home to a centuries-old tradition of coracle fishing, but fishermen say pollution has made it impossible to catch fish. One fifth-generation coracle fisherman, Keith Elias, has only caught one fish in the three-month season between May and July, describing the situation as "dire".
The Impact of Pollution
Testing by campaign group Save the River Tywi has shown evidence of industrial, agricultural, and human waste pollution in the river. Fishermen often see dead fish bobbing up and down in the water, and the bad smell coming from the river is a major concern. Chairman of Carmarthen Coracle and Netsman Association, Andrew Davies, said the four coracle men on the Tywi had caught only 12 fish among them in the whole of the 2026 season, a significant decline from previous years.
The tradition of coracle fishing has been part of life on the Tywi for centuries, with fishermen using small rounded boats with nets to catch salmon and sewin. However, recent pollution has made it impossible for fishermen to make a living from the river. Davies said this year's season had been "a write-off" and that the enthusiasm for fishing had gone.
Efforts to Address Pollution
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said it took all reports of pollution seriously and had ongoing enforcement and compliance investigations within the Tywi catchment. Welsh Water has also announced plans to invest £889m on storm overflows between 2025 and 2030, including six projects to reduce their impact on the Tywi. However, local people have reported incidents of pollution from a nearby electronics recycling company, Mekatek, which has a discharge licence from NRW.
The Future of Coracle Fishing
The mayor of Carmarthen, Russell Sparks, said the river had been in a "really tough situation" and that the smell was a combination of pollutants and algae blooms. The annual Tywi River Festival had to be cancelled in July due to pollution, leaving people "absolutely devastated". With fishermen only catching a few fish last year, there is a strong possibility that they won't take up their licenses next year, threatening the end of the 300-year-old coracle fishing tradition.
Carmarthenshire MP Ann Davies wants "firmer action taken" against those who "constantly pollute the river", and emphasized the collective responsibility of farmers, people, and businesses to protect the river. Huwel Manley, head of south-west operations for NRW, said the agency took all reports of suspected pollution seriously and had ongoing investigations within the Tywi catchment.
