DNaire project – A celebration of the return of Atlantic salmon
DNaire – Developing the Natural Aire (DNaire) is a partnership project between the Aire Rivers Trust and the Environment Agency. Their aim is to connect 60km of the River Aire to allow the return of Atlantic salmon to their traditional spawning grounds in the shallow river and becks around Gargrave.
DNaire want to celebrate the salmon’s return and the revival of the River Aire by erecting a work of art in Gargrave village. The artist who has been chosen to do the sculpture is Alex Blakey.
Absent since the latter half of the 18th century, Atlantic salmon found their way barred to the waters in Craven by the weirs that powered the textile mills of the Aire valley and historic pollution from Bradford and Leeds. Now a much cleaner river can sustain them and welcomes them back. Atlantic salmon have been caught during Environment Agency monitoring in Leeds and thanks to four new fish passes built the project in Leeds and Saltaire, the river is open to them.
If you would like to know any more information about the DNaire project please click on the link https://aireriverstrust.org.uk/dnaire/