WITH Kielder Salmon Centre set to see its first eggs hatch in the coming weeks, an Environment Agency boss has paid a visit to get clued up on the hatchery.

Sir James Bevan, chief executive of the Environment Agency, paid his first visit to the hatchery this month to meet the team and find out more about what they do.

Centre manager Richard Bond explained the annual cycle of the salmon and the processes at the centre.

The salmon eggs are due to hatch within the next few weeks, while the baby salmon which stocked the Kielder burn in 2015 will begin their journey out to sea.

Improved water quality along the Tyne and its tributaries, along with the work of the hatchery, have resulted in the River Tyne being the best salmon river in the country, improving the natural breeding process in the river.

The hatchery breeds 360,000 salmon and between 10,000 and 20,000 sea trout each year, as well as the endangered pearl mussels, which have homes in the North Tyne rivers.

Sir James said: “It’s great to see for myself all the excellent work at Kielder hatchery which is helping fish populations in the North-East not only recover but thrive. Up and down the country, our rivers are the healthiest they’ve been for 20 years.”

The Environment Agency’s North-East area director Oliver Harmar said: “So much hard work has gone into improving the water quality of the River Tyne over recent decades and now it boasts the title of the best salmon river in the country.

“The hatchery has played, and continues to play, a significant role in helping the naturally-breeding salmon population and ensuring the quality and ecology of the Tyne continues to flourish.

“I’m delighted Sir James took the time to visit the hatchery, meet the team and find out more about the great work they do.”