The River Usk and four other Welsh Atlantic salmon rivers are set to benefit from a share of nearly half a million pounds as part of a project to boost migratory fish numbers.

There is also £379,800 to help protect vulnerable habitats at 14 Gwent Wildlife Trust nature reserves and a £258,446 grant to help manage Lower Wye Valley woodland.

With the Usk set to get around a fifth of a £497,000 rivers package to remove barriers to it flowing freely, the county is set for a boost of around three-quarters of a million pounds as part of the £7m Nature Network Fund unveiled by the Welsh Government.

The rivers project, led by Swansea University, will help ‘reconnect’ the Usk, West Cleddau, East Cleddau, Tywi and Teifi rivers by tackling obstructions that cause ‘habitat fragmentation’ and a loss of river biodiversity, which has led to a decline in salmon and other migratory fish.

Carlos Garcia de Leaniz, Professor of Aquatic Biosciences at Swansea University and Adaptive Management of Barriers in European Rivers project coordinator, says urgent action is needed to reconnect our rivers to ensure their long-term health.

“Even areas that were considered to be relatively pristine and well connected are in fact impacted by barriers,” he said.

Flowing rivers are healthy rivers, he added, with even weirs and other small structures preventing that.

The Nature Networks Fund was confirmed in March this year with the Welsh Government promising to invest in the ‘condition and connectivity’ of the protected site network, supported by the “‘active involvement of local communities”.

The Lower Wye Valley is set to benefit through a £258,446 grant for a collaborative project involving the Wye Valley Area of Natural Beauty, Gwent Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust, focussing on designated woodland sites, their management and ‘connectivity’.

Gwent Wildlife Trust has also been awarded £379,800 to enhance vulnerable habitats, including rich ancient woodland, flower strewn meadows and fragile wetlands.