My family have fished this river for 300 years - now pollution has killed all the fish
Coracle fishermen in Wales report a collapse in fish populations on the River Tywi, attributing the decline to severe industrial and agricultural pollution. Despite the historical and cultural significance of the 300-year-old tradition, local fishers are struggling to maintain their livelihood.
Why it matters
The decline highlights the intersection of environmental degradation and the loss of intangible cultural heritage in rural communities.
Image source, Keith Elias Image caption, Keith's great-grandfather, William Elias - pictured here with Keith's cousin Malcolm - would make coracles
It is a centuries-old tradition in Wales, but coracle fishers on a major river have said pollution has meant there are "no fish" left.
Testing by campaign group Save the River Tywi showed evidence of industrial, agricultural and human waste pollution, with fishers saying they often see dead fish bobbing up and down in the water.
One fifth-generation coracle fisherman described the situation in Carmarthenshire as "dire" after only catching one fish in the three-month season between May and July.
Natural Resources Wales (NRW) said it took all reports of pollution seriously and had "a number of ongoing enforcement and compliance investigations within the Tywi catchment".
Image caption, Andrew Davies (left) and Keith Elias (right) worry that this could be the end of coracle fishing
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