Keith Elias’ family has fished the River Tywi for 300 years, but he says they caught just one fish during the latest season.
“Fishing has been a tradition in my family for a very long time, and I love continuing it. However, as the season draws to a close, we are reaching the point where there are no fish left to catch.
“You simply don’t want to go.”
The nearby River Teifi was recently identified as one of the most polluted rivers in the UK. In 2024, it recorded 2,232 sewage spills lasting more than 22,000 hours.
Several pollution incidents have also been reported to Welsh Water.
The company has announced plans to invest £889m in storm-overflow and flooding protection between 2025 and 2030. The investment includes six projects aimed at reducing pollution and improving water quality in the River Tywi.
A company spokesperson said: “We are determined to play our part in improving water quality in the River Tywi. However, this is not solely an issue for water companies and will require collaboration across multiple sectors, including industry and agriculture, to deliver lasting improvements.”
Local residents have also shared videos online showing water being discharged into the river. They claim the release may have come from Mechatech, a nearby electronics recycling company.
Mechatech holds a discharge licence issued by Natural Resources Wales (NRW).
The company said it shared concerns about the decline in fish numbers and had spent “more than 40 years developing and improving processes to ensure that we are not a factor in that decline.”
A spokesperson added: “Anyone who would like to learn more about our operations and environmental processes is welcome to arrange a site visit to see our work in action.”
Source: www.bbc.co.uk