Specialist Anglers' Alliance

Angling Trust gets under way

2009-05-05T15:33:00.001+01:00

As of January 5th 2009 the SAA was formally dissolved. It's work will be carried out by the Angling Trust.

As a result this blog will no longer be added to and all news of the Angling Trust can be found on it's website at www.anglingtrust.net

NEW CHAIRMAN FOR THE CARP SOCIETY

2008-09-19T18:30:00.000+01:00

Bill Ward has stepped down from his position as Chairman and Director after 7 years. Bill first joined the Society in 1993 and was invited by Tim Paisley to join the Steering Committee which he did from 1994 until 1997. He went on to be a Governor from 1997 – 2001, and held the position of Chairman from 1998 – 2000 and again from 2001 - 2008.

Bill retired from Rolls Royce three years ago and now travels the canal system on his narrowboat, ‘Wilver’ along with his wife Ginny and his trusty black Labrador, ‘Gunner’.

David Mannall, Director and Commercial Manager:
“We have been privileged to have Bill’s invaluable support over the years and are delighted that he has agreed to continue his association with the Society as Editor of the annual Carp Fisher Journal, which has recently undergone a re-design by leading publisher Medlar Press.

“In addition, we are pleased to have appointed Bill a Vice President and life member, in recognition of his efforts.

“We are happy that he is enjoying his travels and look forward to his continued input.”

The vacant position of Chairman was tabled at the recent Society board meeting and Malcolm Coller was unanimously voted to carry on the role.

Malcolm brings much business and legal expertise to the Society and was hugely instrumental in drafting the changes to its restructure in 2001 added to which his prowess as ‘Chef’ at Society events is legendary!

For more information contact:
David Mannall 01367 253969
davidm@thecarpsociety.com

Wild trout fishing on the River Ebble - Do you want it?

2008-08-16T20:20:00.000+01:00

There are just a few weeks to go for people who live in the Salisbury area to let the Environment Agency know what they think about plans to turn the river Ebble into a wild trout fishing river - one of the few in England.

The Agency has been consulting local people for the past few months about reclassifying the Ebble - one of the best trout chalk streams in England - into a Wild Fishery Protection Zone.

If local people agree to the idea, it would mean only wild trout would thrive in the river. Stocking it with farmed trout could no longer take place. Doing this would mean wild trout in the Ebble are not mixed up with farmed fish.

D-J Gent from the Environment Agency said: "Every response we've had to the proposal so far has been really positive. We are nearing the end of the consultation process, but there is still time to tell us what you think about reclassification proposal. From our point of view we are keen to protect the native wild fish population, but there is also potential benefit here for local angling businesses who will be able to
market themselves to the niche market of wild trout fishing."

The Environment Agency is keen to formally reclassify the river by the end of September, so if anyone has a point of view on the proposal, they are being urged to get in contact with us as soon as possible. People can do this by calling D-J on the Environment Agency customer service line on: 08708 506 506.

Koi Herpesvirus disease outbreak confirmed

2008-08-14T13:32:00.000+01:00

Movements of fish in and out of the Royal Horticultural Society Garden Ponds at Hyde Hall, Essex have been restricted, following the confirmation of Koi Herpesvirus (KHV) Disease.

Apparently the RHS was willing to accept donations of fish from members into their ponds!!

Defra has issued a Designated Area Order prohibiting the movement of fish to and from Hyde Hall (Top and Bottom Pond), Royal Horticultural Society, Hyde Hall, Hyde Hall Road, Rettendon Common, Chelmsford, Essex. Samples were taken from the affected pond following reported deaths of fish. KHV Disease affects common carp and carp varieties such as Koi. It can result in high rates of fish mortalities. There are no implications for human health.

It became a legal obligation to notify suspicion of KHV Disease on 6th April 2007. The measures developed in partnership between government and industry to help combat outbreaks were announced on 21st May. Suspicion of the presence of the disease should be immediately reported to: the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) in Weymouth.

Presence of the Citrus Longhorn Beetle in UK

2008-08-14T13:26:00.000+01:00

An invasive non-native insect which could harm woodland areas and garden plants in the UK has been identified. The Citrus Longhorn Beetle (Anoplophora chinensis) has been brought in on Acer plants (Acer palmatum or 'Japanese Maple') imported from China via the Netherlands and distributed by mail order. This pest is not established in Great Britain but there have been several recent findings in different parts the country.

Although the beetle is known to have been introduced in Acers, it can affect a wide range of trees or shrubs, such as oak, beech, ash, maple, apple, pear, willow, hibiscus, horse chestnut, hornbeam, hazel, birch, mulberry and rose.

Citrus Longhorn beetles develop inside plant stems and tree trunks, taking between one and three years to emerge, and are therefore difficult to detect.

Prior to emergence, there are no obvious symptoms of infestation or the presence of a larva or pupa within a plant or tree. However, large (6-11 mm) exit holes are left by the emerging adults in the stem. These exit holes may be just above ground level, but can also be just below ground level and as such are not visible. Other symptoms can include:

* Scraped sections of bark

* Chewed leaves and damage to the petioles by adults

* T-shaped egg slits in bark

* Saw-dust like 'droppings' or wood pulp around holes and larval tunnels in the wood under loose or thin bark.

Examination of the ground at the base of the shrub or tree for signs of wood shavings provides a rapid method of detecting activity of late stage larvae.

These large black beetles grow to between 21-37mm long and have distinct white markings and long "horns" or antennae. The antennae are longer than the body and are black with white bands. It could be found on a wide range of trees or shrubs.

If you see one of these distinctive beetles, please isolate it in a sealed container and contact your local Plant Health and Seeds Inspector (PHSI) details of whom can be found on the Defra website - http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/senior.htm or telephone 01904 455174. The PHSI should also be notified if there is other evidence of Citrus Longhorn beetle infestation.

Further information about the Citrus Longhorn Beetle is available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/pestnote/2006/citlong.pdf

All suspect alien invertebrate plant pests must be reported to the local Defra Plant Health and Seeds Inspectorate office or the PHSI HQ, York (Tel.: 01904 455174, Fax: 01904 455197).

Public enquiries 08459 335577;

Angling Unity Update May 2008

2008-05-23T13:12:00.000+01:00

Background
For the past year, the main national membership organisations representing anglers have been planning to unify into one body to represent all coarse, sea and game anglers. This is a move which has been long awaited and tried unsuccessfully in the past. We aim to make it a reality at last. It is widely known that there are millions of anglers in the UK, but they have never had a single professional, high-profile and well-funded organisation to represent their views.

Who is involved?
The organisations participating in unification are:
The Anglers’ Conservation Association (ACA) – uses the law to fight pollution and other damage to rivers, lakes and canals on behalf of its members
The National Federation of Anglers (NFA) – governing body for coarse angling in England, organises regional and national competitions, manages coarse angling development and provides services to its member clubs.
The National Federation of Sea Anglers (NFSA) – governing body for sea angling in England, organises regional and national competitions, manages sea angling development, campaigns on environmental and other issues affecting recreational sea angling.
National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives (NAFAC) – the national representative body for local fisheries and angling consultatives (groups or organisations set up to represent the interests of anglers, angling clubs, and owners in specific catchment or geographical areas)
The Salmon and Trout Association (S&TA) – recently registered as a charity, the body which represents the interests of the UK’s game anglers, fishery owners/managers and affiliated trades, in all issues relevant to angling and fisheries legislation, regulation, management and conservation
The Specialist Anglers Alliance (SAA) – represents the interests of specialist anglers and angling groups ranging from English Carp Heritage Organisation and the Pike Anglers Club of Great Britain to the Tenchfishers and the Eel groups, as well as member clubs and societies and individual angling members.

The process is being co-ordinated by the Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust (FACT) which is the existing umbrella body representing these and other angling and fishery organisations.

What will the new body do?
The new body will of course continue the work of these organisations, but it will also do much more. It will offer new services to its members, develop new campaigns, lobby government effectively, raise the profile of angling and fisheries conservation and fight to protect angling at a local and national level.

There are many important issues on which action is needed:
· Increased funding for teaching young people how to fish and recognition of the education value of fishing
· Continue and improve fishing competitions and success rates at regional, national and international levels
· Reverse the decline in government funding for fisheries despite increased revenue from rod licences
· Reinstate angling and fisheries to the heart of the Environment Agency’s and DEFRA’s policies and ensure representation on RFERAC and REPAC committees
· Support existing regional networks (e.g. consultatives and fishery associations) with professional staff
· Raise local issues at a national level and report back the results of lobbying and campaigns
· Support angling clubs with legal advice and provide guidance on: e.g. leases, access, constitutions, health & safety, fundraising and fisheries management
· Reverse the damage caused by commercial overfishing at sea
· Control sand and gravel extraction from rivers and the seabed
· Prevent unregulated access by canoes and other craft
· Secure management strategies for predators such as cormorants and goosanders
· Improve regulation of water pollution from industry, agriculture and sewage
· Reduce abstraction of water which has led to rivers and lakes drying up
· Clear up and prevent litter in rivers and on sea shores – there are currently inadequate duties to remove it
· Reverse the destruction of habitat by flood defence, land drainage and damaging trawling methods
· Remove barriers to the movement of marine, coarse and game fish in rivers and estuaries (e.g. Severn Barrage and weirs built in the industrial revolution which serve no purpose)
· Demand better enforcement and legislation to prevent fish theft, illegal sales of fish and poaching
· Protect angling from being banned from rivers, lakes, harbours, shorelines and piers due to health & safety or wildlife protection
· Keep fish disease such as KHV and Gyrodactylus salaris out of the UK
· Campaign to stop commercial fish farming causing pollution, sea lice infestation and escapes of farmed fish into the wild.
· Ensure Sea Fishery Committees have adequate angling representation and have a positive programme to protect and develop angling.
· To use the law to stop damage occurring to aquatic habitats owned or leased by our club, riparian and fishery owner members and to fight for compensation when it does occur.

These are all very important issues which need to be fought at the local, regional and national level with professional staff being employed to deliver programmes of work and to campaign and lobby government. This will only be possible if we can create an organisation which attracts the support of the majority of anglers to provide both the revenue and the political weight to get things done.

Getting the detail right is fundamental to the success of the new body and the next two sections help explain why it’s taking what seems a long time.

Progress so far

News of the plans for unification first broke in November 2007. Since then, all the organisations have been consulting their memberships about whether they should be involved. The response has been overwhelmingly supportive, although there are many members of the existing bodies who have concerns. Angling newspapers and magazines have all been very supportive of the plans, which have also been reported in national newspapers.

Each of the six organisations has now contributed £10,000 to a unification fund and a Transition Board, comprising the Chairmen of the organisations, has been seeking professional advice about the legal and financial implications of unification. It is naturally a very complicated process, given that the organisations are constituted differently (there is one registered charity, several limited companies, some purely voluntary bodies, and an unincorporated association involved). Most of the organisations employ staff and their employment rights will be protected.

All of the parties are currently undertaking due diligence – which means that all the organisations have to provide copies of their accounts and details of all their databases, supplier and staff contracts, office equipment, stock, assets and liabilities etc. Amalgamation of these across six differently constituted bodies is more complex than many business mergers. The Board has also been getting advice about how to ensure that the new organisation should be marketed to ensure that it can achieve its aim of mass membership.

What’s happening next?
The Transition Board is now supervising work in three main areas:

· Business planning – organisation structure, board memberships, charitable status, due diligence, membership rates and projections, costing of activities, developing partnerships with the tackle trade and other organisations to generate income
· Member benefits – developing a package of services and benefits to offer each category of members in return for their subscriptions
· National remit – holding discussions with organisations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to finalise arrangements to reflect devolution whilst continuing to deliver some services throughout the UK. We are also discussing the status of the unified body with Sport England.

When these pieces of work are complete, the organisation will be ready to set out its plans in more detail with regard to its activities, membership benefits, service delivery and organisation structure. When this detail is available, each organisation will need to go through a different process to secure the support of its membership and management to transfer its staff and assets into the new body. The plan is to launch the new organisation in January 2009.

Membership
The new organisation is not yet constituted and so it is not possible for anglers to join up yet. If you want to support the process, the best way is to join (or remain a member of) one of the participant organisations now. This will help them continue their important work while the plans for unification are being finalised. Your membership will be transferred to the new unified body when it is formed in 2009.

More information

This is the first of a series of free monthly e-newsletters about Angling Unity. To sign up to receive future editions, or for more information about unification, please visit www.anglingunity.co.uk

Spread the word

UK Bass Stocks Are Collapsing

2008-05-16T13:27:00.000+01:00

Recent scientific evidence shows that UK bass stocks are collapsing.

Bass Society demands urgent government action.

John Leballeur, Chairman of the Bass Anglers’ Sportfishing Society (BASS) Restoration Project Team says “In over 20 years of bass sampling I have never seen a period when the numbers of young bass have been so low for so long”.

Shocked by the emerging evidence the society has written to Jonathan Shaw, the UK Fisheries Minister, demanding urgent measures to halt the disastrous collapse, demanding that both the recreational and commercial bass fisheries are closed during the 3 month breeding season when spawning congregations of bass are particularly vulnerable, and suggesting the establishment of designated Marine Protection Areas designed to protect bass stocks.

Recommended as a species to be regarded as recreational only in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Units ‘Net Benefits’ report, bass was recently described by the current Fisheries Minister as ‘an important displacement species’ for the hard pressed commercial fishing industry when the Minister cancelled measures designed to protect the species last year, despite the superior value of the UK recreational bass fishery.

Even some commercial fishermen have since expressed concerns at the present unsustainable level of exploitation.

In his letter to the Minister, as well as offering the new evidence, John Leballeur points out to the Minister that he now faces a catastrophe on his watch as Fisheries Minister, unless he acts with urgency to bring in effective measures to protect the species.

Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society (BASS)
www.ukbass.com
Conserving the UK’s Greatest Sportfish

BASS is the society which promotes the interests of its members and bass anglers throughout the United Kingdom, seeking to influence Government policy to manage the UK’s valuable Recreational Bass Fishery to provide more and bigger fish.

Background

Since 1984 members of the Bass Anglers’ Sportfishing Society have collected information each year from estuaries such as the Tamar on the numbers of juvenile bass which are present.

The young fish are caught in nets from the same place at the same time each year to measure abundance and to estimate how healthy the bass populations will be in future years.

A variety of factors govern how many young bass survive including winter estuary water temperature, natural predation and food availability. Cold winters can significantly decrease the survival chances of young fish.

The numbers of young fish captured each year naturally fluctuate. In some years the numbers of young bass are low whilst in others it can be high. In general, where there are large numbers of young bass caught, it indicates that there will be a lot more fish maturing seven years later. Often these years of high abundance are reflected in later years by an increased abundance of larger bass caught from coastal waters.

In the period 1984-1986 the populations of young bass recorded from estuaries was very low due to very cold winters. In response to this the government introduced measures to protect bass to keep populations healthy.

Between 1986 – 2006 the numbers of young bass recorded from the Tamar have fluctuated each year. However, since 2000 the netting samples from this Westcountry estuary have shown a very worrying continual downward trend.

Between 1985 and 2006 there were 11 years where the numbers of young bass recorded each year were below average. Of most concern is that five of these poor years all fell between 2000 – 2006. Since 1984 when recording first began, there has not been another period where the numbers of young bass in the Tamar samples have been so low for so many years in such a short period.

John Leballeur of BASS who co-ordinates the sampling for young bass is very worried about what these results mean :

“In over 20 years of bass sampling I have never seen a period where the numbers of young bass have been so low for so long. With warmer winters giving ideal conditions for the survival of young bass and defra telling us that the spawning stock is healthy, we should be seeing healthy juvenile populations. I am very concerned that what we may be seeing are the first signs that adult spawning bass have been over fished from the Western Approaches and from autumn inshore marks, significantly reducing the number available to spawn and sustain healthy populations in south coast estuaries. Inshore fisherman who have run out of quota species have now upped their effort on bass which is also not helping matters “

Also I believe that the biomass has in fact halved since in recent years and not doubled as Jonathon Shaw was advised in the recent bass mls decision .
A consequence of the poor recruitment will be that, in a short time, the stock will decline further and catches by the much-increased fleet that fish for bass will exacerbate this. The fishery will then become uneconomical, or collapse, as has been seen with so many other stocks of fish.

I ask the Fisheries Minister to consider a closure in the breeding season for all stakeholders commencing in February 2009 for three months of each year so as to address the balance and also make the main offshore bass fishery area a Marine Protected Area to run parallel with the closed season. The breeding stock and cessations would be protected during the main reproduction cycle. All stakeholders would benefit by this precautionary measure and we would not witness the collapse in the bass fishery some years down the line. Another benefit would be the protection of cetaceans that have shown unacceptable losses due to this fishery.

Alarm bells are ringing loud and clear and the pre-recruitment survey indices are an accurate barometer of the future spawning stock.

Open Letter to Jonathan Shaw MP

Bass Recruitment Failure 15th May 2008

Dear Jonathan Shaw
Fisheries Minister

When you took office you inherited the postponed decision from your predecessor, Ben Bradshaw, of the BASS MLS (Minimum Landing size).

After a long drawn out consultation, which received over 2800 responses of which 85% were in favour of increasing to 45 cms, this was diluted down to 40 cm as a result of pressure from the commercial < 10m catching sector whilst ignoring RSA's desire for more and bigger fish.

You took the opportunity of meeting both the commercial catching sector and RSA before making the decision not to increase the MLS. You were advised that the bass biomass had doubled since the 1980s and the fishery was being fished sustainably. You stated that you did not want any collapse whilst on your watch, however, there is a danger that, in the English Channel, this may soon be the case. I have enclosed two CEFAS documents; one is a graph displaying the bass pre-recruit index for the Solent, Thames and Tamar of both '0' group and '1' year old bass sampling survey results, together with the worked up data from the named locations.

On examining the recruitment indices for the period 1989 – 1999 and also from 2000 until last year.

Solent
1989 – 1999 = 1.42 Average
2000 – 2005 = 0.60 * There is no up to date survey information for the years 2006 or 2007

Tamar
1989 – 1999 = 1.22 '0' Groups 1989 – 1999 = 1.34 '1 yr olds'
2000 – 2007 = 0.76 " 2000 – 2007 = 0.87 "

Thames
2000 – 2007 Average 1.45 This is a relative new sampling site, when compared to the Solent & Tamar whose records commenced in 1977 & 1984 respectively.

The Tamar clearly shows the failure of the recruitment for the years of 2005 – 2006 and last year 2007, which is also indicated by the Solent provisional figures and graphs, which samples 2 yr old fish and above. These figures suggest the beginning of a decline for the Solent, which is two years behind the up to date sampling data of the Tamar. These figures clearly demonstrate that recruitment has halved since the 1990's .

The last time we witnessed these figures and circumstances was in 1985 – 1986 – 1987 when MAFF immediately implemented the precautionary approach and increased the MLS and introduced the nursery area legislation.

We have had no up to date landing figures from IFREMER, France regarding the winter offshore fishery for a number of years since the last ICES BASS conference study in 2004, who concluded that fishing effort should be capped to the year 2000 and average for the preceding five years. This has never been implemented and effort has significantly increased since. Global warming has contributed to warmer winters, and higher sea temperatures around our shores for some time now, yet we are witnessing the failure of the recruitment year classes in the English Channel and Western approaches at a time when, according to scientists, we should be seeing strong broods.

It is now very obvious that the increase in fishing effort and the reduction of the breeding stock is now seriously contributing to this state of affairs Also I believe that the biomass has in fact halved since in recent years and not doubled as you were advised. A consequence of the poor recruitment will be that, in a short time, the stock will decline further and catches by the much-increased fleet that fish for bass will exacerbate this. The fishery will then become uneconomical, or collapse, as has been seen with so many other stocks of fish.

I ask you to consider a closure in the breeding season for all stakeholders commencing in February 2009 for three months of each year so as to address the balance and also make the main offshore bass fishery area, a Marine Protected Area to run parallel with the closed season. The breeding stock would be protected during the main reproduction cycle. All stakeholders would benefit by this precautionary measure and we would not witness the collapse in the bass fishery some years down the line. Another benefit would be the protection of cetaceans that have shown unacceptable losses due to this fishery.

Alarm bells are ringing loud and clear and the pre-recruitment survey indices are an accurate barometer of the future spawning stock. You indicated at our first meeting that whilst you are on watch you do not want any catastrophes. Please treat this very seriously and urgently consider the above recommendations so as to address the last three years of recruitment collapse of bass.

I look forward to your speedy reply upon this matter.

Yours sincerely,

John Leballeur
Chairman of the Bass Anglers Sportfishing's Society Restoration Team.

Fred's Funeral

2008-05-15T12:25:00.000+01:00

The funeral of F.J. Taylor MBE is to be held at St. Giles Church in Cheddington, near Leighton Buzzard, Beds. At 1:30pm on Thursday 22nd. May 2008.

Refreshments will be provided in the village hall following the service.

Fred’s daughter, Valerie, says that his friends both met and unmet are welcome to attend. She asks that instead of flowers she would prefer those who wish to make a contribution to send a small donation to one of Fred’s great loves – Angling Projects.

The address is, Angling Projects c/o Les Webber 5 Walnut Way, Tilehurst, Reading RG30 4TD

Fred J Taylor RIP

2008-05-08T09:07:00.000+01:00

Fred passed away just a few hours ago. He was a long time member of NASA and supporter of SACG and then the SAA, as well as many other angling associations.

Fred will be remembered for his writings on fishing and countryside matters, his kindness and generosity as an individual and a very good friend to many. The world is a poorer place for his passing but a wealthier place for his having been here.

God bless you Fred.

No Sea Angling Licence

2008-03-19T13:36:00.000Z

SACN welcomes yesterday’s statement by Jonathan Shaw MP, the Fisheries Minister, that he will not be introducing a Sea Angling Licence.

At the recent ‘Angling Summit’ held within the Parliament Buildings in Westminster, SACN repeated to the Fisheries Minister the advice previously delivered to DEFRA officials that now is not the time to talk about introducing a sea angling licence.
Having seen little but decline in the UK’s Recreational Sea Fisheries over the preceding decades, and following the Minister’s decision not to proceed with the introduction of a higher minimum landing size for bass (an important recreational species) there was a growing distrust developing amongst the country’s sea anglers towards the Government’s proposals contained within the Recreational Sea Angling (RSA) strategy consultation, which was being increasingly overshadowed by the proposal to introduce a sea angling licence.

SACN is pleased to see that not only has the Minister taken our advice to remove the distraction of a sea angling licence proposal from the wider debate which the RSA Strategy Consultation deserves, but that he has committed to take forward measures to benefit the UK’s Recreational Sea Fisheries.

With over 1 million participants in England and Wales, and a contribution to the economy worth over £1 billion, the Recreational Sea Angling Sector is capable of delivering far greater growth, generating business opportunities and supporting thousands of livelihoods as well as improving the sense of well-being and improving significantly the quality of life of people from all walks of life and in all regions of the UK. But to deliver that, the sector needs a quality product with more and bigger fish available to all anglers, as previously experienced within living
memory.

The Minister is to be congratulated on listening to the concerns that have been put to him, and on acting upon what he has heard, and we look forward to working with him and his officials to deliver UK Recreational Sea Fisheries that can be amongst the finest in the world, and of which he, the Government and all of the people of the UK could be justly proud.

Speaking to Leon Roskilly of SACN, and to Richard Ferre of the National Federation of Sea Anglers, Martin Salter MP, the Government’s spokesman on angling said “I want to personally congratulate you both (and your organisations) on the forceful and professional way in which you have made your case to Ministers on this issue and I really do believe that you have proved the value of regular and honest dialogue with MPs and Government Ministers.”

Leon Roskilly said “It is a relief to get the distraction of a sea angling licence off the agenda so that we can talk positively and with confidence about the delivery of benefits and a better future for Recreational Sea Angling in the UK”.

ISOLATION OF SPRING VIRAEMIA OF CARP VIRUS (SVC)

2008-03-12T19:19:00.000Z

From Defra Press Office, 12 March 2008.

Recent routine import checks have identified Spring Viraemia of Carp (SVC) virus in goldfish imported from a supplier in Hong Kong (Tung Hoi Aquarium Co, Hong Kong)

SVC has no implications for human health. It is nonetheless, a serious viral disease affecting common and ornamental carp, as well as a variety of other species including tench, roach, rudd, goldfish, pike and wels catfish.

The virus was found in a random sample taken directly from imported boxes of fish. The Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) at Cefas has placed movement controls on, and taken samples from, all sites receiving fish from the SVC positive consignment. The FHI has also provided advice to other businesses, which may have recently imported fish from the same source, to increase awareness of any potential SVC risk.

The Authorities in the exporting country have been informed of the isolation of SVC and they are conducting investigations to identify the source of the infection. Importation of fish from the affected source will be prohibited pending the conclusion of these investigations.

The clinical signs of SVC can include darkening of the skin, swollen eyes, abdominal swelling, pale gills, trailing faecal casts and protrusion of the anus. Infected fish may be lethargic and show areas of bleeding in the gills and skin.

Anyone noting deaths in carp or any other species susceptible to SVC, with signs of disease similar to those above, should immediately contact the Cefas Fish Health Inspectorate at the Weymouth laboratory on 01305 206673/4

Anyone who imports, keeps or retails carp or other susceptible fish should take strict precautions to prevent the spread of SVC and follow the advice set out in Defra's booklet "Keep Fish Disease Out", available from the Cefas Fish Health Inspectorate or through the following website: www.efishbusiness.com.

SVC is widespread in continental Europe. In 1998, there was a major outbreak in England and Wales with 40 sites affected. Prior to 1998, only 4 cases had been recorded in Great Britain. Previous recent cases include:

2001 - 1 case
2002 - 4 cases
2003 - 2 cases
2004 - 2 cases
2005 - 1 case
2006 - 0 case
2007 - 1 case

As far as imports are concerned, SVC has been detected in legally introduced consignments of fish on 5 separate occasions prior to this incident, since 1998.

Further information is available at www.efishbusiness.co.uk, from fishhealth@defra.gsi.gov.uk or from Cefas, Fish Health Inspectorate, Weymouth Laboratory, The Nothe, Barrack Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8UB.
Tel 01305 2006673/74, fax 01305 206602, email fish.health.inspectorate@cefas.co.uk

Angling Unity - New Website for updates

2008-03-11T09:08:00.000Z

The team putting the unification of angling representation together have opened a new website to inform anglers of progress and the issues. You can find it at www.anglingunity.co.uk

ANGLING UNITY – A MAJOR STEP FORWARD

2008-03-09T16:57:00.000Z

Chairmen of the major angling bodies in England have taken a major step towards a single unified body to represent all anglers. In a joint statement they said

‘We have agreed that the following bodies intend to wind up their organisations and form a single new organisation to represent all anglers. This will be subject to each organisation passing the necessary legal and financial checks – known as ‘due diligence’.

· Anglers’ Conservation Association
· National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives
· National Federation of Anglers
· National Federation of Sea Anglers
· Salmon and Trout Association
· Specialist Anglers’ Alliance

The transition process is being managed by the Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust, the umbrella body for fisheries and angling organisations. FACT has retained legal, financial and marketing professionals to advise on the formation of the new body.

Each of our organisations has contributed £10,000 to FACT to cover the new body’s start-up costs, a clear indication of our commitment. In addition to funding the essential due diligence much work is needed to improve marketing and our services to members.

The target date for incorporation of the new body, ie legal registration as a company, is early July with full operation by January 2009. Before then each organisation will seek approval to proceed at a general meeting - NAFAC has already done so.

As Chairmen of long-established organisations with loyal members we have not taken this step lightly. However we all believe that a single new organisation is needed to fight for the interests of all anglers and the fisheries they enjoy. We have already received many messages of support for the move and look forward to a bright future.’

Stephen Marsh-Smith, Chairman ACA
Martin Read, Chairman NAFAC
Terry Fell, Chairman NFA
Richard Ferre, Chairman NFSA
James Carr, Chairman STA
Chris Evans, Chairman SAA

No further statements are likely while the detailed due diligence and other preparatory work continues.

Not Fishing - But Important

2008-01-18T10:50:00.000Z

Number 10 Downing Street has approved a petition that was launched requesting a new
public holiday falling on the Monday after Rembrance Sunday in November each year. To be known as the National Remembrance Holiday, it's got three aims:
1. To emphasise the remembrance of those servicemen and women who have given, and
continue to give, their lives for Britain;
2. To remind people of the importance of protecting our Nation and what it stands for;
3. To break that 3 month period between the August Public Holiday and Christmas when
there are currently no long weekends, especially as the UK has fewer public holidays
than most European Countries.

If you agree to the idea, please sign up to the petition - it doesn't take long - and it would be great if you were to forward the link to other people as well. This is not just about another bank holiday, but more importantly about having a designated day to remember all those people that sacrificed their lives for our freedom to go fishing.

THIS IS A NOTEABLE PETITION THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAVE ASKED FOR PLEASE SIGN IF YOU WANT AN EXTRA BANK HOLIDAY .
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/remembermonday/
PASS THIS ON

PAC LAUNCHES SUSSEX PIKE CULL PROBE

2008-01-17T15:43:00.000Z

The Pike Anglers Club is investigating calls for a pike cull on Sussex's River Arun.

The PAC has contacted the Environment Agency over a local newspaper article, in which an angling club official stated pike should be removed from its stretch of the river.

It said:

Some ten years ago the Newbridge stretch of the River Arun was electro fished to remove pike. Billingshurst club competitions secretary Peter Stockwood, who helped in the operation, recalls that 99 pike were removed.

The two biggest went to Brighton Aquarium and the remainder were put into Weir Wood reservoir.

Billingshurst thought that was the end of pike spoiling their quest for other fish in
the river. But they are back – and bigger than ever with many in the 30lb region.

When pike are moving in swims during competitions the catches are very small. Stockwood said: “In a recent match every swim upstream had a pike in it and with the water crystal-clear the other fish were too busy avoiding being made a meal of to think about feeding.”

The club is now preparing to talk to the Environment Agency about another cull of the pike. The roach and perch stocks are badly affected by the feeding pike."

In a letter to the environment agency's regional head of fisheries, the PAC said: "As stakeholders in the River Arun fishery, we would urge you to refuse calls for a pike cull for a number of reasons. Notwithstanding the impact this will have on our members' enjoyment of this river, the collected body of scientific evidence concludes quite unanimously that such exercises are a complete waste of time. All they achieve is an explosion in small pike, which increase predation and cause yet more problems. The evidence for this is well-documented and in the public domain."

Calls for a cull on the Arun come just weeks after more than 500 fishery managers
and club officials were sent a copy of Pike In Your Waters with the winter edition of the National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultative's winter newsletter.

The magazine also included an article outlining why culls don't work.

Unification of Angling

2007-12-07T14:47:00.000Z

There have been some comments on the bulletin boards about SAA not signing letters of intent to join the new body, when it is formed, interestingly mostly from anglers who are not members of SAA.

SAA is fully supportive of the move towards unity and has been pushing the agenda for change for many years. We have no staff to transfer their employment and no assets, belonging to the organisation, so there is no need for us to sign any letter of intent as we only have our cash resources to transfer into the new body when it is up and running. SAA, and our members, has already pledged itself to the new structure and we want to see it up and running with professional management as soon as possible.

Rest assured that SAA will be in the new body and specialist anglers will be represented within that structure. At the moment none of us knows how and when – that is still being discussed.

Fishing industry gets cash boost

2007-12-05T10:02:00.000Z

News from the BBC - Northern Ireland's fishing industry is to be given a £25m investment by the assembly.

Details of the funding will be made public later on Wednesday by Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew. Ms Gildernew will make the announcement when she visits the fishing ports at Kilkeel, Ardglass and Portavogie.

The funding is ahead of key negotiations at this December's fishing council in Brussels.
ENDS….

So yet again government subsidises the commercial exploitation of our sea stocks.
SAA has to ask, “To what purpose?”

EA Extend Trout Stocking Consultation

2007-12-04T10:16:00.000Z

The Environment Agency's consultation on the future of trout stocking in rivers in England and Wales has been extended to January 18, 2008. So, if you are an angler, fisheries owner or fish farmer and you have not yet made your views known then contact the EA now.

Details of the trout stocking review and research can be found on the Environment Agency's web site at www.environment-agency.gov.uk . For further information e-mail: trout.stocking.review@environment-agency.gov.uk, or write Dr. Brian Shields, Trout Stocking Review, Environment Agency, Richard Fairclough House, Knutsford Road, Latchford, Warrington, Cheshire WA4 1HT. Alternatively, telephone 08708 506506 and ask for an information pack.

The Environment Agency believes long-term future of native wild trout populations is being put at risk by current stocking practices. That is the finding of an extensive review of more than 300 scientific papers looking at the potential genetic impact of stocking on wild brown trout populations.

"Our wild trout populations are still likely to be genetically diverse despite many decades of stocking, so we still have plenty worth protecting and enhancing. But there are concerns that the continued stocking of farmed fertile brown trout poses a real threat to the future survival of wild brown trout populations when the two successfully interbreed," explained Environment Agency Fisheries Scientist Brian
Shields.

"Stocking trout has been a widely practiced and legitimate fishery management tool for more than 100 years. An estimated one million farm-reared fertile brown trout are released into rivers in England and Wales every year to satisfy the demands of game anglers. We need to be sure we get the right balance between protecting native wild brown trout and continuing to stock rivers to meet the needs of anglers and fisheries owners. This review of the scientific evidence helps us to do this and informs our on-going consultation on how we stock trout in the future. But we also need to know what anglers, fisheries owners and fish farmers think.

Most farmed fish have been subject to long term domestication and are bred for an attractive appearance and rapid growth rates, but they are not well suited to survival in the wild. When farm-reared brown trout breed with wild trout their offspring do not survive as well as those of true wild trout, meaning you have less adults to produce the next generation. Using sterile stocked trout or locally-reared juveniles are likely to be better options."

Government plans “more and and bigger fish” to catch

2007-12-04T09:07:00.000Z

New measures to maintain and grow the £1 billion recreational sea angling (RSA) industry and provide “more and bigger fish” in the sea to support it, are revealed by the government today (Friday).

It follows a four-year campaign by anglers to put recreational angling high up on Whitehall’s problem agenda for the fishing industry.

The twin objectives of Defra’s Recreational Sea Angling Strategy for England are to “provide more and bigger fish within a healthy and sustainable ecosystem and environment” and “maintain and increase participation in RSA on a sustainable basis…across all groups in society to provide socio-economic benefits.”

It is seen as a positive move to assuage anglers who were outraged last month
when the fisheries minister (Jonathan Shaw) dumped his his predecessor’s
commitment to increase the minimum legal landing size for sea bass to conserve
the species.

Instead the minister consigned this valuable stock to continued and almost
unrestricted commercial predation allowing the slaughter of huge numbers of
immature fish before they were even big enough to spawn.

Today’s strategy is intended as a guideline, primarily for the 12 sea fisheries committees which regulate the marine environment, including fishing, for six miles out around the coast of England and Wales.

Defra says it wants to “realise real improvements” for anglers before any control of their activities, such as licensing. It concedes that “large and sustainable fish stocks and a healthy marine environment are the primary elements which affect the angling experience.”

Defra says there should be better access to angling sites, more boat launching facilities, artificial reefs to attract fish and areas of the sea reserved for angling or where only limited commercial fishing was allowed.

The strategy admits that angling is under-represented in sea fisheries management despite its increasingly significant social and economic contribution to the nation. Managements at national, regional and local levels should recognise the needs of RSA alongside other stakeholders.

The strategy idea came from the conservation group of the National Federation of Sea Anglers in 2004 and a wide group of sea anglers helped draft it.

”Ministers and civil servants had no idea then what a sea angler looked like, what they did or how valuable their activities were,” said Richard Ferré, chairman of the National Federation of Sea Anglers. “They have little doubt about that now.”

The anglers’ strategy was taken up by Defra’s coastal waters policy group and presented in detail to all the main stakeholders including commercial fishing, sea fisheries committees and environmental organisations.

“Discussions were vigourous but professional and a document with real positives for anglers has now emerged,” said Mr. Ferré.

“It calls for management plans at a local level for the species of fish most
important to RSA, makes a strong case for better control of trawling and gill
netting close to the shore and anglers’ desire for the “golden mile” concept
of no netting within a mile of the shore.”

He said the strategy calls for sea fisheries committees to be given the objective of developing sea angling, a duty they do not have today, and to make decisions based on socio-economic factors not just on concerns for commercial fishing.

The strategy contains some potential threats to angling, notably licensing and limits on the number of fish anglers could take home. However, these, can only happen under the Marine Bill due to be published next year.

It also calls for co-operation between anglers, sea fisheries committees, local authorities and others in developing voluntary sea angling codes of conduct and best practice.

Mr. Ferré urged all sea anglers to support the NFSA in its continuing engagement with government to achieve its goal of improving sea angling mostly through “more and bigger fish”.

END

National Federation of Sea Anglers
Hamlyn House, Mardle Way, Buckfastleigh, Devon TQ11 0NS
Chief Executive: David Rowe
Tel: 01364 644 643 Fax 01364 644 486 e-mail: ho@nfsa.org.uk

www.nfsa.org.uk

Promoting and protecting the interests of sea anglers nationwide

Proposed Defra Budget Cuts

2007-12-03T13:39:00.000Z

There are stories circulating (see below) of further cuts being proposed in Defra budgets for fiscal year 2008/9. Any cut in Defra budgets is likely to affect money available for fisheries work and the Environment Agency will be under pressure to save even more money than this year.

You can help change the decision, before it is made, by writing to the Chancellor,

Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP
Chancellor of the Exchequer
HM Treasury
1 Horse Guards Road
LONDON SW1A 2HQ

Or emailing ministers@hm-treasury.gsi.gov.uk

Fax number 020 7270 4580

There are many volunteer organisations supporting the environment in the country at national and local level. Many of these groups are dependent on small allocations of funds from the EA and local government to maximise their effect. Cuts in these important environmental funds not only damages the environment but also diminishes the perceived importance of the vital community groups. Why would people continue to volunteer when funds are constantly cut by central government for environmental issues?

The community needs volunteers and it should be government policy to ensure that volunteers and community groups can still be motivated by supplying sufficient funds to underline the importance of local contributions by individuals. Cuts in Defra funds will immediately impact on fisheries work by the Environment Agency as well as community works at a local level. The EA is already stretched to deliver on the Water Framework Directive and further budget cuts for Defra from the Treasury can only make matters significantly worse, just at the time when we are all facing increased impacts from climate change.

We are asking the Treasury to ensure that no cuts imposed on Defra have a negative affect on the work of community groups or of the Environment Agency.

Pikers Step Up Campaign Against Culls

2007-12-03T08:15:00.000Z

Fishery managers across the UK are being urged to think twice before culling pike.

Five hundred of them are being sent a booklet called Pike In Your Waters, which sets out the scientific case against culls.

The report was compiled by the Pike Anglers Club, which has campaigned to preserve the pike and pike fishing for 30 years.

It explains the vital role pike play in a vibrant, balanced fishery and why all culls usually achieve is an explosion of small pike and an even bigger problem.

Copies are being sent to every member of NAFAC - the National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives - with their Winter Newsletter, which also features an article on pike conservation.

The club stepped up its campaign after details of a number of pike culls emerged.

"We're sorry to find that even in this day and age pike are still being killed because they are a conventient scapegoat," A Person said.

"We're hoping fishery managers will read the booklet, weigh up the evidence for themselves and think twice before culling."

The PAC is meeting with Hadlow College, the Kent Fisheries Consultative and the Environment Agency to seek a more positive outcome for the River Darent, where a cull was carried out this season.

The action has won the backing of the Specialist Anglers Alliance (SAA) and NAFAC.

SAA secretary Michael Heylin said: “SAA and PAC have worked together for many years to protect pike in our waters. The natural balance of waters is disturbed by man’s intervention, generally to the detriment
of ecological balance.

"There is little point in all of us working towards stopping the illegal removal of fish from rivers when fishery
managers themselves take short sighted views on predator populations and the results are then widely published on websites.”

NAFAC executive chairman Martin Read said: ‘Fisheries management activities are difficult to carry out in isolation, particularly on river systems.

"Hopefully a dialogue between all the interested will go a long way to achieve a better understanding and outcome in future."

Copies of Pike In Your Waters can be downloaded for free from the PAC website. Just go to www.pacgb.co.uk and click on publications.

Sea angling welcomes freshwater initiative

2007-11-27T17:22:00.000Z

The move by the four main UK freshwater recreational angling organisations to work together to create a single body representing their interests is strongly welcomed by the National Federation of Sea Anglers (NFSA).

The NFSA has been involved in the early stages of the discussions but following a cut in funding from Sport England earlier this year is currently introducing a new subscription structure to ensure financial viability.

By spring next year our financial position will be clear and we will formally consider joining the new body after consulting our membership.

During the intervening period the NFSA representing sea angling interests, intends to work closely with the new body.

In the meantime the NFSA is seeking closer co-operation between the various specialist sea angling organisations and will continue to concentrate on RSA issues, particularly the critical need to conserve and rebuild fishstocks.

END

National Federation of Sea Anglers
Hamlyn House, Mardle Way, Buckfastleigh, Devon TQ11 0NS

Tel: 01364 644 643 Fax 01364 644 486 e-mail: ho@nfsa.org.uk

www.nfsa.org.uk
Promoting and protecting the interests of sea anglers nationwide

MAJOR DEVELOPMENT IN ANGLING UNITY

2007-11-26T14:22:00.000Z

Leading angling bodies have agreed in principle to establish a powerful new body to represent all anglers.

The boards of the Anglers’ Conservation Association, National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives, National Federation of Anglers, and Salmon and Trout Association have agreed to their Chairmen signing a letter of intent committing them to the development of the new body. The full membership of each organisation will be consulted before final agreement. The National Federation of Sea Anglers has been fully involved and will formally consider joining next Spring. Other fisheries organisations will also be welcome.

The new body will build on the benefits the four organisations already deliver to their members and become a unified, powerful voice to protect fisheries, the sport they offer, and the environment on which they depend.

The development has been led by FACT, the Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust, which already acts as an umbrella body for angling. FACT Chairman Jim Glasspool said:

“This is a major step forward towards a unified organisation which will be able to provide an improved range of services to millions of anglers and be an effective voice for them. Much remains to be done but there is an enthusiasm and commitment from everyone to achieve that goal.”

Jonathan Shaw - Smell the Ozone

2007-11-22T22:21:00.000Z

Let’s get to the lie regarding cod being wasted as by-catch because of its capture during prawn fishing and that cod being dumped because the British fleet is over quota.

The BBC correspondent, aboard the vessel concerned, missed the point; those cod are caught because the prawn fishing industry refuses to invest in gear which could select prawn, almost to the exclusion of other species. Prawn trawlers currently use fine-mesh nets with "escape hatches" of much larger mesh size in the top, which allows some species of white fish to escape.

Scientists at the Fisheries Research Service in Aberdeen found that increasing the mesh size in the top could allow a majority of cod to escape. They have also created nets that will catch haddock and whiting, but not cod.
"We found this out 25 years ago," said Dick Ferro, until recently head of the agency's fishing technology and fish behaviour group. "As the net approaches, we observed that haddock, whiting and saithe swim upwards, while cod, flatfish and prawns stay low."

The FRS design separates fish as they swim in, haddock heading to a higher enclosure and cod escaping lower down. However, some of these technologies lead to fishermen losing a small portion of their target catch as well.

"If all designs for bycatch reduction that are now gathering dust in various research laboratories were put to use, the world's fisheries would be in a better shape," commented Professor Roberts. "There are lots of good intentions out there, but there's been a lack of political will to implement them. If you want people to use these approaches, you have to force them through legislation, and you probably also have to supply some kind of transitional payment."

The Fisheries Minister has again bought the story as presented by the commercial fishing industry without fully understanding the drivers and the impacts of various gear types. For too long Fisheries Ministers throughout Europe have pandered to the economic demands of commercial fleets whilst disregarding the scientific evidence of declining stocks. We need a Fisheries Minister who stands up for the fishery and protects it from over-exploitation, not one who bends over backwards to satisfy the few who seek employment by destroying one of nature’s great larders.

In the 1970s the estimated adult stock of cod in the North Sea was 250,000 tonnes, it is now 35,000 tonnes and the fishing industry still wants to take more fish each year from the water, much of it never having had the chance to spawn, not even once!!

The prawn fishing fleet has by-catch as much as 85% of its’ total catch, yet appears to do nothing to reduce its’ impact on other fisheries. Until the fleet modernises its’ gear there should be no increase in quota to accommodate the white fish by-catch and we should be considering stopping the fishery entirely, since the stocks are being destroyed by an industry which wears blinkers when it comes to long term sustainability.

Discarding should be a criminal act. All fish landed should be taken to market and count against a national quota. If the skippers who “suffer” by-catch had to sell that fish at market they would rapidly invest in modern gear or go out of business. Both ways the fish win, they would either get large enough to breed and replenish the sea before being caught or they could swim freely forever and with a much reduced fleet the seas around Britain would again blossom with fish of all species.

If that were to happen sea angling would again approach its level of popularity in the sixties and seventies when many coastal communities supported large numbers of sea angling vessels, fishing six or seven days a week with a full complement of anglers. Go to the coast these days and you may see one or two boats going to sea with perhaps four anglers each, two or three days a week. Jobs have disappeared on the boats, in the harbours, in the tackle shops, for bait diggers, in hotels and overnight accommodation, in cafes and restaurants and in tackle manufacturing because the commercial fleet has consistently taken more than the sea could sustain.

12,000 jobs at sea commercially fishing could become 30,000 jobs at sea supporting sea anglers. Support industries would grow, onshore jobs would be delivered and the social benefits of healthy exercise for anglers would expand exponentially. This is what Jonathan Shaw denies when he backs the commercial fleet in its’ claims. This is what Jonathan Shaw fails to understand of his brief as Fisheries Minister.

SAA has only one thing to say to Jonathan, “Wake up and smell the ozone.”

Alarm at possible Defra cuts

2007-11-20T15:13:00.000Z

There are serious concerns over the prospect of further budget cuts at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Senior officials are reported to be considering cost cutting of up to £270
million to help balance the books after recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth
and blue tongue disease. The farm payments fiasco and the summer's floods are also believed to have contributed to the need to scale back spending.

Ministers are to be presented with cuts of between £130m and £270m.
Recycling, nature protection and Defra's efforts to reduce energy use could all
be affected. The savings are on top of Whitehall-wide annual administrative cuts of 5 per cent.

Tom Oliver, head of rural policy at the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is
worried that cuts are even being considered.
"Even if this is only an idea circulating around Whitehall, it shows how very
desperate the position of the environment is within the Government's
priorities," he said. "It is very difficult to see, given the pressure on resources on environmental aims anyway, for a whole range of things the Government is committed to, how it can cope with yet more cuts.

A Defra spokesman said: "No final decisions have yet been reached. Protecting and enhancing the environment remains an absolutely key priority for Defra."
© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

Minister’s “heartbreak” over cod - and over bass, too

2007-11-20T14:14:00.000Z

The fisheries minister (Jonathan Shaw) today described on BBC Breakfast as
"heartbreaking" that EU rules were forcing fishermen catching cod in the North
Sea to throw them back dead.

Richard Ferré, chairman of the National Federation of Sea Anglers, said today
that a month ago Mr. Shaw himself in a scarcely publicised move, committed an
equally heartbreaking act telling fishermen that they were free to go on
slaughtering in the sea and then selling, huge numbers of small "plate size"
immature bass.

"It is ironic that at the first sign that cod stocks may be recovering the
first thing the minister wants to do is to take more fish out of the sea,” he
said.

“The same philosophy no doubt guided his decision to allow the bass slaughter
to continue. In the longer term such actions threaten fish stocks and the
livelihoods of commercial fishermen and the 19,000 people employed in the sea
angling industry."

The bass fishermen are now allowed to kill are only 36cm (14 inches) long and
not big enough to spawn.

"He completely reversed a decision by his predecessor (Ben Bradshaw) who
after months of deliberation had agreed to protect baby bass from overfishing and
raise the landing size to 40cm (nearly 16 inches), " said Mr. Ferré. "It was
part of a plan to raise the size to 45cm (nearly 18 inches) by 2010 by which
time the fish caught would all have spawned."

It was to have been part of a programme to regenerate bass stocks, allowing
them to grow much bigger and develop valuable fisheries for both commercial
fishermen and sea anglers. The recreational sea angling industry is worth £1
billion a year and there are a million sea anglers.

But Mr. Shaw said he could not back the measure because the brunt would have
been borne by the inshore fishing fleet '"given its current pressures and the
present healthy state of the stock.”

His short sighted action has been condemned by the government’s own
parliamentary spokesman on angling (Martin Salter MP) who said he had seen nothing to
suggest, as the minister did, that raising the size limit would have a “
significant impact” on commercial fishermen. Mr. Salter added that the survival of
any species was dependent on its ability to breed at least once.

Help Save Sea Stocks - Give Fish A Chance

2007-11-02T17:35:00.000Z

Scottish Sea Anglers Conservation Network (SSACN) has launched its' Give Fish A Chance (GFAC) recommended size chart.

Enjoying a freshly caught fish is an integral part of the angling experience for many. Up to now anglers have used their clubs' competition size limits or government prescribed MLS (minimum landing size) as a guideline as to whether a fish is 'takeable'.
Unfortunately, neither offer a sustainable approach to stock management, indeed many fish species are given no MLS!

Voluntarily only taking a fish at or above the GFAC suggested size will enable anglers to do their bit to help ensure the future of the species, as anglers can be reasonably certain that the fish has had at least one chance to breed.

Each species also has an 'at risk' rating reflecting its general status in Scottish
waters; obviously SSACN recommend that anglers think twice before taking any quantity of fish rated 3 or 4 without recommending an 'open-season' on those rated 2.

Looking down the list you may well think you'll catch very few that are 'table-sized' and none rated as '1' - this is very much a reflection of the state of our stocks and perhaps even more reason why you should support SSACN and all our efforts.

Even though you may feel there are many other factors which cause greater damage to stocks, we would encourage everyone to consider applying the GFAC measure before taking a fish.

SSACN would naturally be grateful for any feedback, documented proposed changes etc. at gfac_updates@ssacn.org

www.ssacn.org

Please check with http://www.ssacn.org/all-we-are-saying-is-give-fish-a-chance/ for any updates.

Fish Name At Risk Rating MLS Match GFAC Size
Cm Cm Cm

Bass 3 36 38 45
Black Sea Bream 2 None 23 30
Brill 4 None 30 40
Coalfish / Saithe 2 35 36 60
Cod 4 35 3 50
Conger 4 None 90 90
Dab 2 None 23 25
European Eel 4 None 36 55
Flounder 2 None 25 30
Grey Mullet 4 None 30 45
Gurnard (Grey) 2 20 22 24
Gurnard (Red) 4 None 20 20
Gurnard (Tub) 3 None 20 20
Haddock 3 30 36 40
Hake 4 27 30 65
Herring 4 20 20 25
Horse Mackerel 4 15 20 25
John Dory 3 None 25 35
Lemon Sole 3 None 25 25
Lesser Spotted Dogfish 3 None 60 60
Ling 4 63 64 95
Mackerel 2 30 30 30
Megrim 3 20 25 30
Monkfish 4 None 20 85
Plaice 4 27 27 31
Pollack 3 30 35 55
Poor Cod 2 None 23 23
Pout 2 None 20 20
Smoothound 4 51 75 85
Sole 4 24 25 30
Turbot 4 None 30 35
Tusk 4 None 25 50
Whiting 2 27 28 30
Witch 3 None 28 28
Wolffish 4 None 25 60

Halibut, Tope, All Rays, Common Skate, Spurdog and Porbeagle Shark – Preferred No-Take, Catch and Return only

Sources :: SFSA, SWSFSA, cefas.org, defra.gov.uk, fao.org,
fishbase.org, wikipedia.org, members and contributors to SSACN.

Please email documented updates to gfac_updates@ssacn.org

------------------------

Perhaps Defra and the European Community Leaders might consider these sizes for inclusion in the Common Fisheries Policy quota and size system?

BTW I have had three goes at making this chart work. And I can't; nearly as good as my fishing has been recently!! Any geeks out there who know how to do it might want to email secretary@saauk.org with the info. Thanks.

Funding for Fisheries from European Union?

2007-10-31T06:53:00.000Z

LIFE+ Call for proposals
The first call for proposals for projects funded under the new LIFE+ programme has been launched.

LIFE+ call for proposals 2007-2008
The first call for proposals for LIFE+ was published in the Official Journal on the 4 October 2007 (OJ C232).

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

LIFE+ CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2007 (2007/C 232/05)

The Commission invites legal entities established in the European Union to present proposals for the LIFE+ selection round 2007.

Applications

Proposals must be written on specific application forms. These forms and the application guide that includes detailed explanations in regard to eligibility and procedures can be obtained from the Commission's website on the following address:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm

Proposals must be submitted on CD-ROM or DVD in an electronic PDF format that is based on a scan of the original printed A4 format paper forms.

Beneficiaries

Proposals may be presented by legal entities registered in the Member States of the European Union: Public and/or private bodies, actors and institutions may receive financing through LIFE+.

The following themes are covered by this announcement

1. LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity projects

Principal objective: To protect, conserve, restore, monitor and facilitate the functioning of natural systems, natural habitats, wild flora and fauna, with the aim of halting the loss of biodiversity, including diversity of genetic resources, within the EU by 2010.

2. LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance

Principal objectives:

— Climate change: To stabilise greenhouse gas concentration at a level that prevents global warming above 2 °C.

— Water: To contribute to enhanced water quality by developing cost-effective measures to achieve good ecological status in view of developing the first river basin management plan under Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Water Framework Directive) by 2009.

— Air: To achieve levels of air quality that do not give rise to significant negative impacts on and risks to human health and the environment.

C 232/10 EN Official Journal of the European Union 4.10.2007

— Soil: To protect and to ensure the sustainable use of soil by preserving soil functions, preventing threats to soil, mitigating their effects and restoring degraded soils.

— Urban environment: To contribute to improving the environmental performance of Europe's urban areas.

— Noise: To contribute to policy development and implementation on environmental noise.

— Chemicals: To improve the protection of environment and health from risks posed by chemicals by 2020 by implementing chemicals legislation, in particular Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council (REACH) and the Thematic Strategy on the sustainable use of pesticides.

— Environment and health: To develop the information base for policy on the environment and health (the Environment and Health Action Plan for 2004 to 2010).

— Natural resources and waste: To develop and implement policies designed to ensure sustainable management and use of natural resources and waste, and to improve the environmental performances of products, sustainable production and consumption patterns, waste prevention, recovery and recycling; To contribute to the effective implementation of the Thematic Strategy on the prevention and recycling of waste.

— Forests: To provide, especially through an EU coordination network, a concise and comprehensive basis for policy relevant information on forests in relation to climate change (impact on forest ecosystems, mitigation, substitution effects), biodiversity (baseline information and protected forest areas), forest fires, forest conditions and the protective functions of forests (water, soil and infrastructure) as well as contributing to the protection of forests against fires.

— Innovation: To contribute to developing and demonstrating innovative policy approaches, technologies, methods and instruments to assist in the implementation of the Environmental Technologies

Action Plan (ETAP).

— Strategic approaches: To promote the effective implementation and enforcement of Community environmental legislation and improve the knowledge base for environmental policy; to improve the environmental performance of SMEs.

Whilst any project proposal dealing with the above-mentioned priorities is welcome, the Commission would favour those dealing with climate change.

3. LIFE+ Information and Communication

Principal objective: To ensure regular and effective information flow to provide the basis for policy decisions on the environment, and to make information on the state and trends of the environment accessible to citizens.

EU Cofinancing rates

1. LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity projects

— The rate of Community financial support shall be a maximum of 50 % of the eligible costs.

— Exceptionally, a maximum cofinancing rate of 75 % is applicable to proposals which target priority habitats/species of the Birds' and Habitats' Directives.

2. LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance

— The rate of Community financial support shall be a maximum of 50 % of the eligible costs.

— This rate shall be a maximum of 30 % of the eligible costs for proposals ‘expected to generate substantial revenue’.

3. LIFE+ Information and Communication

— The rate of Community financial support shall be a maximum of 50 % of the eligible costs.

Deadline

Project proposals shall be submitted to the national competent authorities by 30.11.2007. Project proposals shall be forwarded to the national authority of the Member State in which the beneficiary is registered.

Proposals will then be submitted by the national authorities to the Commission by 15.1.2008.

4.10.2007 EN Official Journal of the European Union C 232/11

Budget involved

The overall budget for project action grants under LIFE+ in 2007 is EUR 187 000 000.

At least 50 % of the above-mentioned amount shall be allocated to measures to support the conservation of nature and biodiversity.

The indicative national financial allocations for 2007 are as follows:

Country Indicative amount Country Indicative amount Country Indicative amount

AT EUR 3 509 000 FI EUR 6 696 000 MT EUR 2 148 000

BE EUR 3 858 000 FR EUR 16 357 000 NL EUR 5 996 000

BG EUR 4 025 000 EL EUR 6 356 000 PL EUR 8 858 000

CY EUR 2 000 000 HU EUR 4 673 000 PT EUR 5 236 000

CZ EUR 3 710 000 IE EUR 2 944 000 RO EUR 8 139 000

DE EUR 21 762 000 IT EUR 16 457 000 SE EUR 7 685 000

DK EUR 4 591 000 LT EUR 2 574 000 SI EUR 4 029 000

EE EUR 3 098 000 LU EUR 2 044 000 SK EUR 2 857 000

ES EUR 20 028 000 LV EUR 2 500 000 UK EUR 14 871 000

More information

More information including the application guidelines and application forms can be found on the LIFE

website:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/life/funding/lifeplus.htm

It is also possible to contact the relevant national authorities:

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/crime/index.htm

Fishy tails at the Riding Mill open days

2007-10-30T16:32:00.000Z

Anglers are being offered a chance to see behind the scenes at the
Environment Agency's fish monitoring facilities at Riding Mill near
Corbridge in Northumberland.

The facility monitors salmon and sea trout in the River Tyne and
collects information on the number of adult fish returning to spawn and
juveniles migrating out to sea. Hosting a fish counter, an underwater
video system and two fish traps, one for smaller fish and one for
adults. The information gathered at Riding Mill is used to help manage
the fishery.

Open Days are being held on Friday 9th and Saturday 10th of November.
Visitors will be given a guided tour of the Mill which will enable them
to see at first hand how the centre works.

They will also be able to take part on a fish scale reading workshop,
where the techniques used to assess the age and growth of fish will be
demonstrated, and see how electric fishing is used to survey populations
of juvenile salmon and trout in the Tyne.

Expert staff from the Environment Agency will be on hand to answer
questions and provide an update on progress with the salmon and sea
trout monitoring work underway on the river.

Niall Cook, ecological appraisal officer at the Environment Agency said:
"In providing valuable information on fish catches and fishing effort,
anglers play an important role in our monitoring work. These open days
give us a chance to explain to them how this and the information we
gather from our monitoring at Riding Mill helps us to conserve and
manage stocks of game fish on the river."

Visitors are being offered a choice of attending one of four sessions
spread over the two days.

Session 1 Friday 9th November 10am to 12noon

Session 2 Friday 9th November 2pm to 4pm

Session 3 Saturday 10th November 10am to 12noon

Session 4 Saturday 10th November 2pm to 4pm

Entrance to the open day is free but spaces are limited to a maximum of
15 visitors per session. To reserve a place on one of the sessions
please ring the Environment Agency's external relations team on 0191 203
4179 or email elizabeth.bunting@environment-agency.gov.uk

Eurpean Shark Week - Take action today

2007-10-08T19:02:00.000+01:00

The Shark Alliance have launched the first ever *EUROPEAN SHARK WEEK* which will be
running from 8th -- 14th October. Using the catchy slogan /'Every Fin Counts!'/

Across Europe, aquariums, dive groups and conservation organisations will be getting
involved in numerous activities -- from holding presentations and talks, to running
participatory events and competitions to highlight the dramatic decline in European shark
populations, the role Europe plays in the global shark trade, and the threat that
European Union's poor shark policies pose to sharks around the world.

Throughout the week, as many people as possible will be encouraged to sign "fins" (hence
the catchphrase /'Every Fin Counts!'/), expressing their support for effective shark
conservation measures.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

1. Download Fins from http://www.sharkalliance.org/do_download.asp?did=28543 , or if you
prefer, we can send as many as you require to your address; just email Denis at
_Deniskelly9@aol.com mail to:Deniskelly9@aol.com>_ with the relevant info.

2. Take the fins into work, the pub, in fact anywhere you can get plenty of people to
sign ; Let the kids get involved as well.

3. Sign an online 'fin' at http://www.sharkalliance.org/makemyfincount.asp

4. Send an e-card to make others aware http://www.sharkalliance.org/ecards2.asp?cardid=21

When SOS was formed they identified four species of sharks that required immediate
management plans to stop the rapid decline; since SSACN came into being we have continued
to support this argument at every opportunity.

Defra and Scotland's new Marine Directorate will be taking proposals to this years EU
talks to restrict commercial fishing on two of these species; the Porbeagle and the
Spurdog.

Supporting 'Every Fin Counts' is essential if we are to help keep the pressure up and get
the politicians to put conservation ahead of commercial greed and political expediency.

Thanks and regards.

SSACN

RiverCare Handbook - Get it here

2007-10-05T20:26:00.000+01:00

If you manage a river section for your fishing club or if you want to resuscitate a river section in a town near you read the RiverCare Handbook, a joint venture by Anglian Water, EnCams and The Environment Agency.

http://www.rivercare.org.uk/downloads/rivercare_handbook_edition_1.pdf

Brilliant!!!

15th November 2007 - A Special Day at The Royal Geographical Society

2007-10-05T19:58:00.000+01:00

Earthwatch Institute Presents;

The Annual Earthwatch Debate: 'Precious Resources, Multiple Threats'.

Thursday 15th November 2007

7.00pm at the Royal Geographical Society, 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7

Chair: Alastair Fothergill

Series Producer for 'The Blue Planet' & 'Planet Earth'

Five scientists will be arguing why an investment of a trillion dollars in their chosen ecosystem - forest, mountain, freshwater, marine and polar - would most benefit the rest of the world. It is sure to be an entertaining evening, if a difficult choice, for you, the audience, who will be voting for the nominal winner.

Speakers:

Forest: Dr. Yadvinder Malhi
Reader in Terrestrial Ecology, Oxford University Centre for the Environment

Freshwater: Rob McInnes
Head of Wetland Conservation, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Marine: Dr. Matt Frost
Coordinator of the Marine Environmental Change Network, The Marine Biological Association

Mountain: Prof. Martin Price
Director, Centre for Mountain Studies, Perth College

Polar: Prof. Lloyd Peck
British Antarctic Survey

Doors open at 6.00pm (cash bar).

Tickets £10.00; student & senior citizen concessions £5.00.

Free to Earthwatch supporters and volunteers.
Followed by an optional buffet supper - tickets for debate + supper £25.00.

To book your space and for further information telephone (01865) 318856

or e-mail events@earthwatch.org.uk

Nearest Tube: South Kensington.

Details on http://www.earthwatch.org/europe/events/debates_2007.html

And earlier the same day –

Thames Estuary Partnership Annual Forum 2007

Come and join the TEP Annual Forum from 10.00 to 16.00 to discuss the theme of Living with the River in Drought and Flood. Ranging from the strategic to some of the fascinating detailed project work being undertaken on the River Thames today.

The format of the day has been developed in response to last year's feedback to allow two sessions for networking and display opportunities.

Details on http://www.thamesweb.com/event.php?event_id=239

Wandle Rehabilitation Project Launched In Wake of Fish Kill

2007-10-04T14:37:00.000+01:00

Following the pollution of the River Wandle on Monday 17 September, which killed thousands of fish and invertebrates, a meeting yesterday agreed an ambitious vision for a new project not only to restore the river to its pre-pollution condition but also to continue the improvement that had been in progress before the incident. The meeting was co-ordinated by the Anglers’ Conservation Association and was attended by the local angling clubs, the Wandle Trust, the Chief Executive of Thames Water, two of the company’s senior directors, fisheries staff from the Environment Agency and was hosted by the National Trust. Thames Water admitted responsibility for the pollution and apologised unreservedly to everyone concerned.

Agreement was reached between all parties that:

The announcement of this project will not have any bearing whatsoever on any future criminal prosecution of Thames Water by the Environment Agency, whose staff attended the meeting in an advisory capacity only;
There will be an immediate appraisal of the damage caused by the pollution by independent fisheries scientists and ecologists, jointly instructed by all parties;
Thames Water will commit to core funding and supporting a five year rehabilitation plan for the river in partnership with the local community and key land-owners;
Failsafe measures to provide state of the art pollution monitoring at the sewage treatment works will be in place by the end of 2007;
The feasibility of biological tertiary treatment – gravel and reed beds – to improve effluent quality and protect against any future incidents will be investigated on the outflow from Beddington Sewage Treatment Works;
Thames Water will pay compensation to the local angling clubs and angling businesses for their immediate losses;
A web forum should be set up immediately on www.wandletrust.org to capture the views of local people about the measures which should be taken to put right the damage;
A draft plan for rehabilitating the river will be published early in 2008 and the local community invited to comment, including at a public meeting before it is finalised;
Suitable fish should be identified immediately for restocking, which will be undertaken in line with the recommendations of the independent report, but only when it is clear that the river will be able to support the new stocks.

David Owens, Chief Executive of Thames Water, said: 'We accept full responsibility for this incident and apologise to the many people who have been affected. We know that rehabilitation will be a long process, and that significant costs will be involved, but we want to get started as soon as possible. The first step is to commission an independent survey of the river to assess the damage and identify what work is required. We are committed to working openly and co-operatively with the Environment Agency, the ACA, angling clubs, the Wandle Trust and the local community on a plan that will not just restore the river but - in the longer term - improve it, for the benefit of people and wildlife. We are pleased that the Environment Agency are closely involved in this process, which is entirely separate from the ongoing investigation into the incident by their legal team."

Bob Collington, Wastewater Operations Director of Thames Water, said: "My whole team are deeply upset by this incident. It is a huge disappointment after a year in which we have made big improvements to the performance of our sewage treatment works, with the lowest ever number of incidents. The work we were carrying out at Beddington was part of that process. Our investigation into what happened hasn't finished. But in summary we were cleaning the tertiary treatment filters to improve the quality of the effluent entering the river. Three of the four sets of filters had been cleaned successfully, using acid and a concentrated bleach solution. This is a routine operation. But something went terribly wrong. Until the investigation is complete, the process has been banned at all our sites. I can confirm that procedures will be tightened and that we will be installing advanced monitoring equipment, imported from the USA, as soon as possible."

Mark Lloyd, Executive Director of the Anglers’ Conservation Association said: “whilst everyone regrets that this incident ever happened, we are delighted that Thames Water has responded not only by accepting responsibility and promising to compensate those affected but they have also agreed to go the extra mile and commit to core funding the long term improvement of the river. This is a very welcome change from a company that the ACA has previously had to fight through the courts. We hope that this sets a precedent for any future pollution events not only by Thames Water, but by the rest of the water industry.”

Theo Pike, Trustee of the Wandle Trust and Senior Vice President of the Wandle Piscators said: ”we are delighted to have been assured of Thames Water’s commitment to working with the local community to mitigate the effects of this environmental disaster, and provide real partnership in restoring the Wandle to its rightful status as the best urban chalkstream in the world”.

Zoe Colbeck, Property Manager for the National Trust’s Morden Hall Park, said: “The River Wandle is an incredibly import resource for the local community and for wildlife. Over a number of years we have been working with the Environment Agency and other partners to improve the water quality and associated habitat. We are delighted that Thames Water have decided to contribute to this process and we are looking forward to working in partnership with them over the coming years.

We hope this experience will also help us work more closely with Thames Water across the whole of the SE region.”

Charles Rangeley-Wilson, presenter of the BBC’s Accidental Angler series, said: “Catching and releasing a 2 ½ pound trout from the River Wandle this August was probably the most significant moment in my fishing career. I'd dreamt about doing this for a decade. It meant a lot to me that this urban river was recovering from centuries of pollution. That trout was an old warhorse of a fish and to think that it had endured for so long only to die in this recent, disastrous pollution was very depressing. Despite my despair at that news I'm now really delighted to see that the ACA has worked so quickly with Thames Water and the local community to develop an ambitious plan to get the river back on its upward curve of recovery as soon as possible.”

Fishery Accreditation Scheme Launched

2007-09-21T13:05:00.000+01:00

Angling and fishery management have received a major boost with the launch of the Fisheries Accreditation Scheme, a major new initiative aimed at driving the competence of fisheries managers up and improving the management of fish in recreational fisheries.

The scheme is a joint venture by the Institute of Fisheries Management, the Angling Foundation and the Professional Coarse Fisheries Association, supported by the Environment Agency. Fisheries are invited to be inspected by qualified IFM professional member using the Institute’s ‘codes of practice’ as a baseline for the standards to be assessed. If successful, the fishery will be issued with a certificate – at gold, silver or bronze level - and will be entitled to publicise the accreditation under a two-year license agreement.

The media launch at Portcullis House, opposite the Houses of Parliament, was hosted by Martin Salter MP, Labour’s Parliamentary spokesman for Angling. He was joined by speakers from the Institute of Fisheries Management, the Angling Foundation, the Environment Agency, the Professional Coarse Fisheries Association and the Fisheries & Angling Conservation Trust.

This was followed by the public launch and workshop meeting, held in Nottingham, at which fishery owners and tenants joined in discussions on the Scheme and the IFM’s new Biosecurity Code of Conduct.

Initially, the Fisheries Accreditation Scheme will be restricted to coarse fisheries. There are plans to extend it to stillwater trout fisheries in future. Full details and application forms are available from:-

Suraj Roopra, Fisheries Accreditation Scheme, Federation House, National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warks, CV8 2RF. Tel: 02476 414999; Fax: 02476 414999; Email: suraj@sportsandplay.com; Website: www.fisheriesaccreditation.co.uk

The Scheme partners are:-

Angling Foundation

The Foundation awards its accreditation to fishing net manufacturers and wholesalers that meet its accreditation standards, issuing a licence to use its distinctive water-lily logo on accredited products. Its funds are used to assist educational and conservation initiatives.

Institute for Fisheries Management

The IFM is the competent body for fisheries management which trains future professionals through its Fisheries Management Diploma, validated by the Open University. The Institute is also author of the ‘Codes of Practice for the Management of Intensively Stocked Stillwater Fisheries’.

Professional Coarse Fisheries Association

The Association protects and promotes the interests of its member fisheries through political action, media campaigns and partnership with other bodies. It encourages best practice, the development of high quality, accessible facilities and the conservation of fish, wildlife and the water environment.

The Environment Agency

The Environment Agency is the leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales. It supports and helped develop the Fisheries Accreditation Scheme, and it has provided vital financial assistance to enable the Scheme to commence.

The active support and input of the national umbrella body for angling and fisheries, the Fisheries & Angling Conservation Trust (FACT), and the Fish Welfare Group were instrumental in the development and launch of the Fisheries Accreditation Scheme.

EFTTA Petition on Sea Angling Licences

2007-09-19T09:04:00.000+01:00

A sea angling license has been introduced in Portugal and has had a very bad effect on number of people going fishing as a result. Sales of tackle are down by as much as 60%.

In Portugal the funds raised from the license are used to subsidise the commercial fleet!!!

EAA will be sending a delegation to Portugal to lobby for change but have raised a petition as part of the struggle. You can support EAA by signing the petition here;

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/eftta-licences/index.html

The petition

The European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA) believes that all revenue generated by EU governments from recreational angling and boating licences should go back to recreational angling and sportfishing.

In January this year, the Portuguese government implemented a new sea fishing licence law with catastrophic effects on the tackle trade in the country.

Sales of fishing equipment have fallen by up to 60%.

EFTTA is pressing for the law in Portugal to be changed - and does not want other countries to suffer the same fate.

EFTTA does not argue against any well thought-out licence scheme as long the revenue is spent on:

* More and improved access to fishing waters for anglers;
* Improved marine environment including a halt to the loss of aquatic biodiversity;
* And increased efforts to conserve and restore depleted fish stocks.

Often overlooked in the biodiversity debate is the urgent need for a change in fisheries management to secure a more natural and healthy age structure in exploited fish stocks - there are far too few big fish around to secure biodiversity.

By signing this petition you support EFTTA's continued pledge to safeguard the European angling community – anglers as well as businesses dependent on angling - by ensuring that all money raised from anglers for sea licenses is invested back in measures safeguarding and improving the right to go angling, more and better access to angling waters, healthy and plentiful fish stocks and a sound aquatic environment.

Carp Deaths??

2007-09-03T21:01:00.000+01:00

ECHO has been getting a lot of reports of deaths of large carp at fisheries across the country. Some of these are due to KHV, which is being monitored now. Some are due to fish still holding spawn they did not shed during the spring and summer. Most are unexplained.

A single common thread through many of the waters affected is the colour of the water, a tea colour, just like peat water running off the moors.

This colour may be caused by a diatom, or an algal bloom, or by the stirring of the bottom strata during the recent floods, but not all the waters reporting kills have been flooded.

The pattern of deaths on many waters follows the pattern one would associate with a viral infection, although in most reports the fish are showing no signs of disease, parasite loading or any damage to gills.

SAA and ECHO are very concerned about this situation but much of what we are being told is hearsay.

We need to build a database of events and circumstances to even be able to project the size of the problem and to develop ideas of what may be the cause.

We need the nation’s anglers to report facts, seen with their own eyes.

If you have any information regarding carp deaths in your waters please email secretary@saauk.org, heading it Carp Deaths, with the following information; name of water, location, number of deaths, size and species of fish affected, colour of water, if the water was subject to flooding in the recent summer rains, the timescale over which the deaths occurred, what action the Environment Agency has taken to determine the cause, any explanation they might have given.

It may be that we can do nothing to prevent further deaths, but this information may allow those of us who are working on the problem to gain a better understanding of the cause and give our scientists some directions in which to conduct further research.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Fish “gumshoe” receives USA accolade for part in shark sting

2007-09-03T18:18:00.000+01:00

Building on 30 year’s investigative experience in the Dorset Police, an ex-Detective Superintendent currently working for Cefas (the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science) didn’t know how much his experience in the CID would be appreciated in the world of international marine enquiries.

But the recent presentation of a plaque from the USA to Fish Health Inspector Steve Maidment shows just how valuable those skills have been for cross-government co-operation.

After retiring from the police Steve took up his post at Cefas in 1997, to provide a much-needed investigative role for the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) based at Weymouth, Dorset. His duties included under-cover operations to crack down on illegal importation and other transgressions related to fish health in England and Wales.

Steve and the FHI made inquiries in the UK on behalf of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), based in California, USA.

The case, which lasted nearly two years, involved 200 California leopard sharks that were imported via Heathrow airport between 2000 and 2005. Once legally imported, the sharks were legitimately sold on to various aquaria around Great Britain.

Unfortunately, the sharks had been caught in San Francisco Bay and sold on while less than 36 inches long. Removing them from their natural habitat at that size is an offence under Californian State legislation.

Steve’s work on the operation helped to build a strong case against the criminal defendants. They were sentenced to imprisonment and given substantial financial restitution orders in California earlier this year.
Donald Masters, Special Agent in Charge of NOAA in California, commented: “Inspector Maidment distinguished himself as a very thorough and diligent investigator during his work on this case. He has been instrumental in overcoming this worldwide conspiracy. The tenacity and perseverance he demonstrated in conducting his investigation are hallmarks of his professionalism. His support and assistance in the protection of marine resources has enhanced the United States Federal Government’s efforts to manage our nation’s marine resources.”

US Attorney Kevin V. Ryan stated: “As a result of this local and international investigation, $1.5 million has been designated, by restitution and donation, to the restoration of wildlife habitat in the San Francisco Bay. The prosecution … has enabled federal and state authorities to devise means to further protect the California leopard shark.”

Helen Ghosh, Defra’s Permanent Secretary, presented an impressive blue and gold plaque to Steve Maidment recently at the Cefas laboratory in Weymouth.
Steve said: “I’m particularly pleased that the money, $1 million from the offenders alone, will be used to such good effect. It’s gratifying to see that our work here in the UK can have such a wide impact. But I must say, I was stunned by all the fuss about my role in the operation. After all, it’s what we do here: it’s our job. But I am pleased and proud to receive the citation on behalf of my colleagues in the Inspectorate, who were also involved.”

Steve is due for retirement from Cefas in spring 2008, however the FHI will continue to ensure fish health regulations and legislation are properly enforced. Those interested in the work of the FHI should visit www.cefas.co.uk/fhi or contact Cefas directly.

SAA and its member groups have worked closely with Steve, and his colleagues, at Cefas to stop illegal imports. He has always been supportive of our aims in preventing fish disease and stolen fish arriving through our ports. This award reflects his commitment and ability. SAA would like to add its congratulations to Steve and to record our thanks for all his efforts. He is a true friend to angling and the environment.

The Coarse Fish Meeting – September 6th 2007

2007-07-06T16:39:00.000+01:00

At The Wessex Centre, Sparsholt College Hampshire

Sparsholt College and Aquatic Consultancy Services are pleased to announce that following the success of the inaugural event in 2006 we are holding another meeting for all those involved in the coarse fish farming and fisheries world on the 6th September 2007.

A social event is planned for the evening of 5th September, with a guided tour of the College’s fantastic Fish facilities, followed by a Skretting-sponsored BBQ. This should be a great opportunity for all attendees to meet and relax over a drink.

The talks and workshops commence at 0915 hrs on the 6th with the day drawing to a close at 1700. A variety of topics, presented by leading experts in their field, will be covered through the day and include sessions on:

KHV research – Where are we now?
Finding fish viruses – the methods and problems
Probiotics – what are they and how can they benefit our fish stocks?
Fish and the Animal Welfare Act – Do we care?
Category 2 Parasites – To be or not to be?
KHV Vaccines – Their use in the Israeli Koi industry and are they of use in the UK?

After the event, for those that wish to avoid the traffic there will be the opportunity to spend a couple of hours fishing the College coarse fishery or partake in a spot of clay pigeon shooting at the College clay site. The shooting will carry an additional cost and must be booked prior to the event so that numbers may be established.

Tickets will be £30.00 per person, including a buffet lunch, refreshments throughout the day and a delegate pack detailing all the information from the talks.

For further information on the event, accommodation details and booking forms please contact Viv Shears on the details below or alternatively visit the Coarse Fish Meeting page at http://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/schwww/fish/coarsefishmeeting.htm.

Postal: The Coarse Fish Meeting 2007, c/o Fishery Studies Section, Sparsholt College, Sparsholt, Hampshire SO21 2NF
Telephone: 01962 797205
Email: coarsefishevent@sparsholt.ac.uk

New Ministers at Defra - Separates Water and Fisheries

2007-07-05T09:51:00.000+01:00

Ministerial responsibilities at Defra have now been announced and are as follows;

Hilary Benn: Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
overall responsibility for all Departmental issues;
represents the UK at theEU Agriculture and Fisheries Council and at the EU Environment Council; and leads for the UK in other international negotiations on sustainable development and climate change

Lord Rooker: Minister of State
Food and Farming
Animal Health and Welfare
Better Regulation
Agriculture and Fisheries Council Deputy
Departmental Administration

Phil Woolas: Minister of State
International Climate Change Mitigation and Energy (including Forestry)
Domestic Climate Change Mitigation and Energy
Climate Change Bill
Water (including Nitrates Directive)
Flooding
Sustainable Development
Fuel Poverty
Radioactive Waste
GMOs/Nanotechnology
Chemicals and Pesticides
Chair of Green Ministers

Joan Ruddock: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Climate Change Bill
Domestic Climate Change Adaptation
Sustainable Consumption and Production
Citizen Engagement
Environmental Transformation Fund
International Waste and Recycling
Environment Council Deputy
Sponsorship of Kew
Biodiversity
Ecosystems Services
Environmental Regulation
Domestic Forestry

Jonathan Shaw: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for theSouth East
Food and Farming - with Jeff Rooker
Animal Health and Welfare - Jeff Rooker
Marine and Fisheries
Rural Affairs
Coastal and Wider Access
Local and Regional Government (including Air Quality and Local Environment Quality)
British Waterways
National Parks
Land Management
Soils
RDPE
Landscape

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/ministers/index.htm

So water quality and fisheries are separated at Ministerial level, not very joined up!! Doubles the meetings load and briefing time. Let's just hope they all have the same policy.

Sorry to see Ben Bradshaw go. The new minister has a lot to live up to.

SVC Outbreak

2007-07-05T09:36:00.000+01:00

SPRING VIRAEMIA OF CARP OUTBREAK CONFIRMED

Movements of fish in and out of a North Yorkshire fishery have been restricted following the confirmation of Spring Viraemia of Carp (SVC).

Defra has issued a Designated Area Order prohibiting the movement of fish to and from The Willows, Hessay, York, North Yorkshire, following confirmation of the presence of the disease in fish at the site.

Samples were taken from the affected fishery following reported deaths of fish at the site.

SVC is a serious viral disease that affects common and ornamental carp as well as a variety of other species including tench, goldfish and Wels catfish.

There are no implications for human health.

SVC is a notifiable disease. Any suspicion of its presence should be immediately reported to the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) in Weymouth – 01305 206673 or 206674.

Anyone who imports, keeps or retails carp or other susceptible species should take strict precautions to prevent the spread of SVC and follow the advice set out in Defra’s advisory booklets Combating Fish Disease and Keep Fish Disease Out (see www.defra.gov.uk/fish/fishfarm/diseases.htm.).

The Diseases of Fish (Designated Areas) (England) Order 2007 restricts the
movement of any live fish or live eggs of fish into or out of the designated area
without the prior written consent of Defra.

The designated area is: The Willows, Hessay, York, North Yorkshire, and
comprising Goldrush Pool and Ridge Pool, which when mapped by Ordnance
survey encompasses the area which falls within the following grid references:
SE53305390; SE53405410; SE53505390; SE53405380 (bounded to the
south by the A59 road).

SVC is widespread in continental Europe. In 1988, there was a major
outbreak in England and Wales with 40 sites affected. Prior to 1988, only 4
cases had been recorded in Great Britain. Previous recent cases include:

2001 - 1 case
2002 - 4 cases
2003 - 2 cases.
2004 - 2 cases
2005 - 1 case

This is the first recorded case this year. There were no cases in 2006.

Clinical signs of the disease may include darkening of the skin, swollen eyes, abdominal swelling, pale gills, trailing faecal casts and protrusion of the anus. Infected fish tend to be lethargic and show signs of haemorrhaging.

Further information is available at www.efishbusiness.co.uk, from
fishhealth@defra.gsi.gov.uk or from Cefas, Fish Health Inspectorate,
Weymouth Laboratory, The Nothe, Barrack Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT4
8UB. Tel 01305 206673/74, fax 01305 206602,
email fish.health.inspectorate@cefas.co.uk

Marble crayfish - the next threat?

2007-06-23T11:53:00.000+01:00

Recently Cefas (The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science) has become aware of an increase in the numbers of illegal crayfish for sale in aquatic outlets and garden centres. Of particular concern is the number of marble crayfish being found.

Marble crayfish are a species that first appeared in the aquarium trade in Germany and Austria in the mid-1990s. It is thought to be an American species and therefore a carrier of crayfish plague, a fungal infection to which our native crayfish specie is highly susceptible. The marble crayfish can reproduce a-sexually, where one adult can produce 270 or more young every 6-8 weeks (under optimal conditions). This means that only one animal is required to establish a breeding population. Marble crayfish can survive in temperate water and there is a concern that it will become established in the UK.

We request that anyone holding marbled crayfish, or who may have information concerning the source of this species in the UK, please contact the Fish Health Inspectorate at Cefas on 01305 2066734 or e-mail on Fish.Health.Inspectorate@Cefas.co.uk. It is imperative that this species is stopped from spreading into the wild.

Please remember that it is illegal to keep any species of crayfish other than the tropical red-clawed crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) for ornamental purposes.

It is imperative that some basic facts concerning marble crayfish are established and that action is taken to prevent its establishment in the wild:

How extensively can this species be found throughout the aquarium trade of England and Wales.
The aquatics trade needs to be notified of the potential problems that this species presents.
Further introduction of this species into Britain needs to be prevented.
What is the true identity of this species?
Has this species been released into the wild in England and Wales? If so where and how established are these populations?
Can this species carry, or is it susceptible to the crayfish plague, and what other disease risks might this species pose?
Further information of the life cycle of this species is required
What impact would this species have on the wild if it were released into British waterways?
What is the capability of this species to compete with our native species?

Magistrates Fail in Environmental Cases

2007-04-19T15:57:00.000+01:00

Regardless of how much effort the Environment Agency puts into prosecutions to protect our fish stocks magistrates just seem to fail to appreciate how damaging illegal fishing is to the wider environment. See this story of illegal netting of salmon and then look at the penalty.

£200 costs could be paid for from one evenings illegal fishing. His equipment, including the boat, should have been confiscated.

"Devon fisherman Anthony Eastlake was today ordered to pay £200 in court costs after being caught fishing illegally with a net at Wembury. The case was brought by the Environment Agency.

Wembury Bay is the migration channel for salmon and sea trout coming in from the sea and entering the River Yealm to spawn. The River Yealm is presently failing its conservation limit for salmon. This means that the number of adult salmon returning to spawn is below the minimum required to maintain a sustainable population.

As this is a sensitive area it is illegal to fish using fixed surface nets as these trap the returning salmon on their way to spawn.

On August 20 2006, a member of the public reported to the Environment Agency that he had seen a man set a net from a green boat within Wembury Bay and then return to the beach.

The Environment Agency investigation led to Anthony Eastlake, whose fishing equipment was then seized.

When questioned by Environment Agency officers Anthony Eastlake admitted using the nets found in the bay to catch fish. He said he intended to take two lobster pots across Wembury Bay and lay them near to HMS Cambridge, which is approximately one kilometre to the west of the beach.

‘The Agency uses different approaches in the way it responds to illegal netting. Depending on the area, surveillance can be used to watch for when the offenders return,‘ said Mark Jacob for the Environment Agency.

‘The nets used hang like invisible curtains and indiscriminately catch all fish that swim into them. They eventually die even when released due to the nature of the injuries sustained.
The Agency’s policy is to prosecute all those who fish in this way.’

‘As well as enforcing the law, we are keen to work with the local fishing community. Most local fishermen have now changed their fishing methods and have demonstrated that fish can be caught in a way that complies with the law and protects salmon and sea trout,’ added Mark Jacob.

Anthony Eastlake, of 3 Crossways, Wembury, Devon, was today given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £200 costs by Plymouth magistrates after pleading guilty to using an illegal net in tidal waters, namely Wembury Bay, contrary to Section 6(1) and Schedule 4 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, as amended by Section 33 of the Salmon Act 1986."

Anglers check their flies for cleaner waters

2007-03-07T11:11:00.000Z

Anglers are set to become a key part of protecting Britain's rivers from decline. Launching tomorrow at the Natural History Museum, the Anglers Monitoring Initiative will provide a three-minute health check for our waterways by training anglers to use riverflies as a barometer for water quality.

The angler-led scheme will simplify how fishing groups share their knowledge about rivers with the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency by providing regular, coordinated riverfly updates. Not only will this make it easier to detect and respond quickly to sudden severe water quality issues such as pesticide spills, the frequent sampling also acts as a neighbourhood 'river watch' scheme deterring would-be polluters.

Good water quality means a river is better placed to support strong, healthy fish populations. Key examples of how the scheme can work include angling groups on the River Rhymney in South Wales and on the River Wey in Surrey highlighting separate pollution incidents that had seriously affected the water quality. As a result, the Environment Agency was able to investigate further with a view to tracing the source of the pollution and reducingthe threat to the river.

'All anglers have a responsibility to look after their rivers and this gives us a unique opportunity to make an impact,' said Dai Roberts, a member of Rhymney Riverfly Life Monitoring Group. 'On the Rhymney we've shown how anglers, working together with government agencies, can help ensure the better quality of our waters.'

While a river may appear to be healthy, its true health can only be gauged by thoroughly investigating its biological quality. The techniques for the Angler's Monitoring Initiative have been developed over more than a decade, involving over 500 anglers on rivers across the country as well as conservation, academic and fishing organisations and regulatory agencies. The methods are based on the biological monitoring conducted by the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, which assesses long-term water quality by examining chosen sites in spring and autumn.

The Anglers Monitoring Initiative offers one-day workshops to fishing clubs on their local river, helping them choose good sampling sites and explaining how to identify the eight groups of organisms that need to be tracked. The simple monitoring technique involves a three-minute kicksample of the riverbed which is then examined on the riverbank. To support their training anglers receive a guide published in partnership with The Field Studies Council which includes notes on the monitoring technique and the insect species to look for. Once trained, fishing clubs can record data from their chosen sample sites.

Anglers who want to know more about riverflies or to get involved in monitoring can sign up through www.riverflies.org

'Anglers know their local rivers better than anyone, and trials of this scheme have shown their expertise makes a real, noticeable difference to how we monitor river quality,' said Steve Brooks, freshwater insect specialist at the Natural History Museum. 'Healthy riverfly populations are a sure sign of healthy rivers, which means better water quality for everyone.'

Riverflies, including mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies, are a vital part of rivers. As well as providing food for fish, birds and bats, their well being is a sensitive indicator of the health of our watery environments. Severe declines could have serious implications for those who enjoy fishing. Riverfly populations may be damaged by a variety of factors, such as low river flows, poor land management, acidification, siltation, pesticides, climatic change and pollution.

The Anglers Monitoring Initiative is formally launched today at the Riverfly Partnership Conference, How Good is Your River? Many of the country's most experienced and knowledgeable aquatic entomologists and representatives of a wide range of environmental, angling and government bodies will discuss the conservation of riverfly populations and the associated impact of river management, farming and climate change. Keynote speeches will be given by Dafydd Evans, Head of Fisheries at the Environment Agency and Martin Salter MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Angling Group, followed by a panel discussion chaired byJeremy Paxman.

Fisheries Vision - More Meetings Dates

2007-03-07T08:32:00.000Z

Defra has added another 3 dates to discuss the Fisheries Vision. They are;

4th April Berry Head Hotel, Berry Head, Brixham 2 p.m.
12th April The Lifeboat College, West Quay Road, Poole 4 p.m.
19th April Thurrock Hotel, Ship Lane, Aveley, Essex 7 p.m.

FACT Meets the Home Office

2007-03-01T18:59:00.000Z

Following a meeting with Jim Glasspool and John Slader of Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust, FACT, and Martin Salter MP, Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker confirmed that the Government and the police take very seriously any unlawful activity that targets anglers. Mr Coaker also confirmed that new measures in the Serious and Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 can be used against animal rights extremists who target anglers. The new law came into effect on 1st July 2005.

Mr Salter organised the delegation to the Minister in light of the appalling incident which took place last summer at Bank House Fly Fishery when anglers where attacked by animal rights activists.

In the meeting Mr Coaker, who is the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Home Office with responsibility for animal rights extremism, reassured the angling community that such attacks on anglers are thankfully rare, and as such, is very keen that anglers are not deterred from the waterside.

Mr Coaker also confirmed that under Section 125 of the Serious and Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 "Harassment intended to deter lawful activities" a person must not engage in:

“a course of conduct which involves harassment of two or more persons and which he knows, or ought to know, involves harassment of those persons, and by which they intended to persuade any person not to do something that he is entitled to do or to do something that he is not under any obligation to do.”

The maximum penalty for breaching this section is 6 months imprisonment and/or a fine of up to £5,000. This law allows the police to deal effectively with intimidatory tactics by animal rights extremists and shows that anglers are protected by the law.

Now all we need is for the police to enforce the law!!

World Carp Classic 2007 - Book Early

2007-02-27T11:21:00.000Z

Welcome to the World Carp Classic 2007- THE biggest event year on year in the carp angling calendar.

For the second consecutive year we are pleased to announce that we have secured the mystical Lac d'Orient in the Champagne region of France and home of the Bulldozer. This year promises to be another battle of the Titans for the title and the £50,000 prize table.

This is a priority invite with a loyalty early bird discount valid until the 31st March, pass that date and the price will automatically go up by a £100. You can now review the event, register yourself and make online payment securing a place into the event by following this link www.regonline.co.uk/wcc07

For 2007 we have been allocated even more space than we had last year. This is great news and to ensure a fair and unparallelled event experience we are capping the numbers at 132 places. This is 37 less than last year (the equivalent of 3 entire sections). In addition we are restricting the number of rods to 4 per pair so this will reduce the number of lines in the water by 428.

The pegging this year will be done by respected experts on the Orient including Andy Chambers, Leon Hoogendijk and the French Fishing Federation responsible for the lakes in the Orient.

The 2007 World Carp Classic will start with a fantastic opening ceremony in the tremendous hall (which is now finished) where you will be able to meet fellow anglers from all over the world and soak up the atmosphere of a real carp fest. The allocation of peg numbers will be the same as in 2006 where the wheel will be spun to see where your swim is (a little harder than last year though). This will be done prior to the gala dinner.

All anglers that are in areas that are difficult to get to will be provided with assistance by local officials and clear direction to where they are located utilising boat transport if required.

New for this year will be that all competitors will be able to go to their pegs at their leisure on Monday morning. This will ensure a much more relaxed start to the competition.

Having listened to comments from competitors last year regarding the prize table we will be providing a winner takes all for the section prizes. This modification in the prize table will also speed up the prize giving.

Full details of the event are on the event website www.worldcarpclassic.com this includes the newly released photo gallery with photographs going back to 1998, the forum and the new guess the biggest weight competition.

We are looking forward to seeing you at the mighty Orient this year. Let's hope one of the 70lbs+ giants puts in an appearance.

Tight Lines,The World Carp Classic Team

PS: WCC06 PARTICIPANTS FREE WEEK'S FISHING PRIZE

It was announced at the prize giving last year that all competitors in the 2006 event would be given one week's free fishing in the Forêt d'Orient in 2007. The period that this will be available for will be from 24th March to 24th August. Photo ID will be required and permits are to be collected from the Hippocampe at Lac Amance. It should be pointed out that this is subject to availability and covers Lac Amance, The Temple and The Orient.

Calling to ensure that places are available is advisable, the telephone number for the Hippocampe is +33 3 25 92 22 13.

Fisheries Vision – Local Meetings

2007-02-26T17:54:00.000Z

Defra is currently running a consultation on the Fisheries Vision for marine fisheries. This consultation will run until April 26th.

Between now and then Defra has organised a series of visits to coastal locations to talk to the fishing industry about the Vision and get their input. Defra also wants to meet recreational sea anglers and get their views at these meetings.

Recreational sea anglers have complained that the meetings have not been advertised enough.

So to spread the word and publicise these meetings, the dates and venues are published below.
February 28th – Scarborough : Crown Hotel, 19.00 start
March 15th – Grimsby : National Fish Heritage Centre, 'Fred Smith Room'.14.00 start
March 21st – Lancaster : Holiday Inn, 18.30 start
March 22nd – North Shields, Fishermens Mission, 14.00 start with merchants,19.30 start with industry.
March 26th – Lowestoft, Hotel Victoria, 19.00 start
March 30th – Hastings, Horntye Park, Bohemia Road, 14.00 start
April 3rd – Plymouth, The China Pub, 14.00 start.

Go along and get your voice heard as recreational sea anglers.

FACT Website Launched

2007-02-20T17:17:00.000Z

Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust Ltd, FACT, today announces the launch of its website at www.factuk.co.uk

The new website gives;
details about FACT,
its member organisations and their present roles,
news from FACT,
details of FACT working groups and their activities,
FACT press releases,
contact listings for Members of Parliament,
an extensive collection of acronyms of national and international angling, fisheries and conservation organisations, NGOs, Government Departments,
a links page to FACT members and other angling organisations as well as loads of useful links outside direct angling or fisheries organisations.

Importantly there is a contact page for anglers to email directly to members of the FACT board or to make general contact with FACT. The board hopes that anglers will feel enabled to participate through these links in debates on issues affecting angling and our waters and to communicate directly with FACT board members on matters of interest or concern to the angler.

The website has been developed by a small team of board members, led by Sarah Thompson of Professional Coarse Fisheries Association, which has used a professional designer, sla associates ltd, to carry their plans into execution.

There is an opportunity, on each web page, for anglers to support the work of FACT by contributing to FACT resources using PayPal.

At present FACT is supported by subscription from its member organisations, but as the organisation develops into the planned single body to represent all of angling the board hopes to establish closer contact with anglers, who will, in time, be able to become individual members of FACT. To move swiftly to that advanced state FACT needs support from the angling and fisheries community and the new website provides anglers with their first chance to benefit and participate directly in the workings and future development of FACT.

Jim Glasspool, chairman of FACT, said, “We hope that anglers will take the opportunity the new website presents to tell us of their concerns and to express support or otherwise of the campaigns which FACT is involved in. We aim for FACT to be truly representative in time and this website is one of the first steps to that future.”

Serial offender banned from the riverbank

2007-02-13T09:51:00.000Z

An illegal angler has been banned from fishing for two and a half years.

Mr Khan Marshall, 21, of Temple Dene Avenue, Staines, appeared before Woking Magistrates Court on 9 February 2007. He was fined £200 for leaving a rod unattended and a further £200 for fishing with three rods but only holding a single licence.

In a rare move reserved for persistent offenders the court banned Mr Marshall from holding a rod licence for the next two and a half years, after taking into account a string of prosecutions dating back to 2002.

The court heard that on the 10 July 2006 Mr Marshall had left his rod unattended at Twynersh Fishing Complex in Chertsey, Surrey, contrary to a national byelaw. A month later on 13 August Environment Agency enforcement officers discovered Mr Marshall at the same fishery using three rods but with only a single rod licence which contravened section 27(a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

"Mr Marshall has a long history of flouting the laws of fishing in this country,” explained Fisheries Enforcement Officer Graham Haynes. “From his first warning letter in 2002 he has appeared before magistrates three times for failing to hold a rod licence and giving false names and addresses to officers, racking up a total of £650 in fines and costs.

"It is very rare for an angler to be banned from holding a rod licence, but this extreme measure was taken because of Mr Marshall's persistent offending. If he is caught fishing within those two and a half years he can expect his equipment to be confiscated, as well as finding himself in court again.”

More than £600,000 was paid in fines and costs by more than 4,400 illegal anglers during 2006 for fishing without a rod licence. In addition 40 anglers received cautions from the courts.

In the first month of 2007 more than 500 cases of fishing without a valid rod licence were brought in front of the courts by the Environment Agency, resulting in nearly £70,000 in fines and costs. Cautions were also issued to eight anglers.

Fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish and eels in England and Wales requires a licence from the Environment Agency. Failure to have a licence is an offence. Those caught fishing illegally face tough penalties, including fines of up to £2,500.

The protection of vulnerable fish stocks and increasing fishing participation are among the Environment Agency’s key environmental objectives. The money raised through rod licence sales; some £19m a year, is invested directly in fisheries work that benefits all anglers as well as protecting the environment.

Buying a new licence couldn’t be easier – there are around 15,000 Post Offices and other outlets which sell them; a direct debit can be set up, and for a small additional charge they can be purchased over the phone (0870 1662662) or from the web site – www.environment-agency.gov.uk/rodlicence any time, day or night.

Sparsholt College - Fish Fish Fish Day

2007-02-12T19:40:00.000Z

Sparsholt College, Hampshire, the national centre of excellence in fisheries studies, will again run their Fish Fish Fish Day on April 28th.

A great day for any angler who wants to find out more about fish, waters and the college.

Visit the college website for more details at www.sparsholt.ac.uk

It only costs £5.00 per car and by pre-booking you can enter a prize draw for some awsome prizes.

UNIFIED INITIATIVE SECURES FUNDS FOR THE FUTURE OF ANGLING

2006-12-18T11:22:00.000Z

At a recent presentation to the angling trade and media, ECHO/SAA appealed for industry support for the protection and development of angling in the future.

This role is currently adopted by concerned, voluntary, yet poorly supported, representative organisations within the sport, such as SAA and ECHO. Increased commercial developments within angling have created financial drivers that on many occasions over-ride any sense of responsibility from the beneficiaries of the related trades. Many issues regarding the health and welfare status of our fisheries, for instance, have increased in parallel with increased commercial interests in angling. The presentation called upon the related trades to assume a responsibility to angling and make a contribution to the Fish Welfare Fund.

Danny Fairbrass of Korda Developments kick started the initiative with an incredible donation of £20,000 to open the Fish Welfare Fund, illustrating a clear commitment to the requirement for angling related industry to play its part in the future. No longer an ethical choice, it is a sound financial investment for the future. SAA and ECHO would urge all company directors to consider the future of angling and pledge their support to the Fish Welfare Fund.

The Fish Welfare Fund established by SAA and ECHO has the following objectives:

To promote and defend all the angling rights and interests of anglers.

To represent the joint membership of SAA and ECHO within the Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust Ltd (FACT), to Government, NGOs and other stakeholder bodies and organisations, in particular with regard to environmental and political matters of concern to angling.

To campaign on behalf of members for a cleaner, safer, healthier aquatic and marine environment.

There will be eight Trustees, four each appointed by the respective executive committees of SAA and ECHO. The Trustees are Tim Marks, Chris Burt, David Bird and Gary Cullum for the SAA, with Ruth Lockwood, Viv Shears, Ian Chilcott and Simon Scott representing ECHO. The Fish Welfare Fund will be treated separately from any funds that may otherwise be passed/raised/donated to either SAA or ECHO acting independently of the other.
It is the intention of the Trustees that the fund should be used to enable advances to be made towards a truly unified angling national body, to supply part funding for initiatives by that body and to support the work of that body. The Trustees hope that with sufficient support the fund could also be used to support publicity to the non-angling public about the benefits angling brings to the community.

The aim of the Trustees is to secure £100,000 annually from angling related industry.

Companies seeking to contribute support to this initiative can register their interest by contacting Ruth Lockwood email: echocarp@hotmail.com.

Protect Your Right to Information

2006-12-07T09:53:00.000Z

The Department of Constitutional Affairs is proposing changes to the way the Freedom of Information Act will work in future.

The proposed changes will restrict the number of requests individuals and organisations can make, and allow Government Departments to include 'reading time' in fees calculations, greatly increasing the scope for obstruction of legitimate requests.

As the Constitutional Affairs Select Committee concluded, there is no need to change the existing fees regime. Indeed, the cost of the Freedom of Information Act is less than was originally projected by the Government, and the transparency provided by the Act can only benefit efficient government.

Goto http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/freeinformation/ and sign the petition to secure open government.

Radical action needed for water

2006-11-30T10:45:00.000Z

An unprecedented coalition of environmental and angling groups has produced a ten-point plan of action to secure a healthy water environment for people and wildlife.

The grouping, which represents more than six million people, handed its Blueprint for Water to Environment Minister, Ian Pearson, in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 28 November and will be watching closely to determine whether the Government is making progress on the 10 points of action.

“We are setting out a clear programme of action the Government must take in order to meet agreed European standards for water management by 2015,” said Paul King, Director of Campaigns at WWF-UK, on behalf of the coalition. “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reverse the neglect of our water resources and freshwater environment. Providing enough clean, safe water is becoming ever more difficult and expensive and climate change is increasing the challenge.”

The Blueprint (see the blog below) outlines the steps needed to slash the amount of water wasted in homes and businesses. It also calls for a huge increase in the currently low-level of fines for water pollution and the creation of a fund to help urban and rural communities restore river catchments.

Paul Knight, Executive Director of the Salmon and Trout Association, said: “Britain's four million anglers and the billions they generate for local economies, depend on healthy water ecosystems.

“Managing our water better has great benefits for wildlife, for fish and for jobs - we can no longer afford to misuse such a priceless resource.”

Graham Wynne, Chief Executive of the RSPB said: “Water, rivers and wetlands have helped shape our nation, our wildlife and the way we think about ourselves.

“Yet today many of our waterways are devoid of the fish, plants and animals they once supported, our wetlands have been lost and our rivers are polluted and over-abstracted.

“Unless things change the country will become increasingly parched and lifeless and we will all end up paying far too high a price for the shameful way we use and abuse our water.”

Fiona Reynolds, Director-General of the National Trust: "It's clear that adequate supplies of clean water are essential, not only for our lives but for the health of the habitats, species, landscapes and soils we depend on. For too long, we've taken water for granted - we hope the Blueprint will mark the beginning of a concerted effort to put this right."

Jacob Tompkins, Director of Waterwise: “Water is crucial to all our lives and to the economy, but increasingly we will see floods, droughts, pollution, rising prices and dwindling reserves.
“We can all make a difference by making small behavioural changes to reduce water wastage and by choosing more water efficient products. Incorporating water efficient appliances into the built environment will ensure a sustainable supply for the future.”

Arlin Rickard, Director of the Association of Rivers Trusts: “Recent joint initiatives and community based projects have successfully shown there are better and more cost effective ways to manage our water. Blueprint has pooled this knowledge into a single strategic document that offers positive solutions.”

Mark Lloyd, Executive Director of the Anglers’ Conservation Association, said: “The ACA regards the Blueprint as absolutely vital to safeguard our rivers and waterways. Anglers are often able to see at first hand the damage we are doing to our water and its wildlife. Without adequate protection for our rivers there will be no fishing.”

Martin Spray, Chief Executive of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust: “Wetlands are the lifeblood of our planet but they are disappearing faster than rainforests. As well as storing and cleaning our water, wetlands protect us from floods and storms, are a source of food and natural resources and provide essential habitats for a wealth of animal and plant species. This Blueprint is a vital step towards taking action together to prevent further loss and degradation of wetlands.”

Stephanie Hilborne, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “Water is essential for all life. The EU Water Framework Directive provides an unprecedented opportunity for the UK Government to make a real improvement to the health of our water environment for the benefit of wildlife and people. This is a narrow window of opportunity and we need to act on it now.”

See below for waht you can do to support this campaign.

Blueprint for Water

2006-11-30T08:14:00.000Z

A coalition of angling and other conservation bodies launched the Blueprint for Water yesterday.

Coalition members are;
The Anglers’ Conservation Association www.a-c-a.org
The Association of Rivers Trusts www.associationofriverstrusts.org.uk
The National Trust www.nationaltrust.org.uk
RSPB www.rspb.org.uk
The Salmon and Trout Association www.salmon-trout.org
Waterwise www.waterwise.org.uk
The Wildlife Trusts www.wildlifetrusts.org
WWF-UK www.wwf.org.uk
The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust www.wwt.org.uk
The Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust which can be contacted on 01794 884736

10 steps for sustainable water by 2015

Waste less water
Reduce water consumption by at least 20% through more efficient use in homes, buildings and businesses

Keep our rivers flowing and wetlands wet Keep our rivers flowing and wetlands wet
Amend or revoke those water abstraction licences that damage rivers, lakes and wetlands

Price water fairly
Make household water bills reflect the amount of water people use

Make polluters pay
Ensure that those who damage the water environment bear the costs through more effective law enforcement and tougher penalties

Stop pollutants contaminating our water
Introduce targeted regulations to reduce harmful pollutants in water

Keep sewage out of homes and rivers and off beaches
Upgrade the sewage system to reduce discharges of sewage into urban environments and ecologically sensitive areas

Support water-friendly farming
Help farmers to prevent pollution and restore degraded soils, rivers and wetlands through advice, training and payments

Clean up drainage from roads and buildings
Construct modern drainage systems that prevent pollution entering rivers from buildings and roads

Restore rivers from source to sea
Regenerate rivers, lakes and wetlands in partnership with local communities

Retain water on floodplains and wetlands
Restore large areas of wetland and floodplain to create vital wildlife habitats, improve water quality and quantity, and reduce urban flooding

Take Action

Please write to your MP to ask him/her to sign up to the Blueprint for Water.

An Early Day Motion or EDM about the Blueprint for Water has now been tabled in the House of Commons. This EDM is like a petition; it is a statement about why the Blueprint is important and it urges the Government to implement its objectives. We need as many MPs as possible to sign this EDM to show their support for it.

MPs usually take more notice of letters from their constituents that are handwritten and unique. If you have time, please write to your MP in your own words and include the following points:

why water is important to you

the importance of the Blueprint for Water

the web address www.blueprintforwater.org.uk if the MP wants more details

ask your MP to support the Blueprint for Water by signing EDM

To find out the name of your MP, click on http://www.upmystreet.com/commons/l/ fill in the post code of your home and click on “search”.

All MPs can be reached at this address: House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA

Visit http://www.blueprintforwater.org.uk/index.html to find out more.

Living with Koi Herpesvirus – advice for fisheries owners

2006-11-30T07:49:00.000Z

The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has recently announced its intention to make Koi Herpesvirus a notifiable disease and are currently consulting stakeholders on the measures that need to be put in place.

In the meantime the Environment Agency has issued some simple guidance explaining what fisheries owners and anglers can do to prevent the spread of the disease and protect their fisheries. For further information visit www.environment-agency.gov.uk or contact your local Environment Agency fisheries officer on 08708 506506.

“Koi Herpesvirus is a very damaging and easily spread disease that affects common and mirror carp and carp varieties such as Koi. Outbreaks of the disease occur in summer when water temperatures are high, and can kill between 20% and 100% of carp in a fishery,” said Environment Agency Senior Fisheries Scientist Nigel Hewlett.

“The disease is most likely to be spread when fish are stocked. While the risk is very small in comparison, it is also possible the virus could be moved on fishing tackle. To protect your fishery, or the place you fish, there are practical steps you can take.

“If your fishery has an outbreak of the disease, there are also actions you can take to reduce the losses and ensure that the fishery can recover as quickly as possible. You can also take action to prevent problems in the future.”
Protecting your fishery
Following this 10 point guide will reduce the risk of a KHv outbreak occurring on your site:

Always think very carefully before stocking new fish. Ask yourself if the fish are really needed, or if the fishery could be improved in other ways? Do you know what fish are already in there? Do you know how many fish your water can hold? Have a stocking plan for the fishery and always take advice. Know what you want to achieve by stocking and be patient in reaching this target. This will help protect your fishery and save you money on unnecessary stock.

If you do stock fish, always ensure you have consent from the Environment Agency. This will ensure that you are not buying fish from somewhere with a known disease problem. Never stock fish without consent it could be harmful to your fishery and is an offence.

Always stock fish from the same source and ensure the fish are health checked. You can greatly reduce the risk of getting a serious fish disease by not mixing your sources of fish. Fish from hatchery reared fish farms will have a known health history and pose a lower risk than wild cropped fish.

Is there good habitat in your fishery? This can affect stocking levels and suitability of the fishery to certain fish species. Good quality habitat will help reduce the stress on the fish. This will mean they are much less likely to suffer from disease. Features such as variations in depth, plants in the water and waterside plants and trees will all be beneficial.

Have a mix of fish species in your fishery. Fisheries dominated by a single fish species can be more susceptible to disease problems.

Never stock ornamental fish. Species like Koi carp may add some novelty value to your fishery, but KHv has been a major problem in the ornamental trade so these fish should not be put in your fishery.

If you have a high stock level in your water make sure you take action to protect your fish and minimise stress. The use of unhooking mats are essential when handling large fish, and keepnet limits at match waters should always be enforced. In very warm weather, good handling is critical and fish should not be retained. Keep a close watch on oxygen levels and take steps to oxygenate the water before problems occur. Supplemental feeding with a high quality carp feed can also help maintain good nutrition, but keep an eye on ammonia levels.

Do you know the water quality of your fishery? If not get it checked regularly, particularly during warmer months when fish will be most active. Take advice from your local Environment Agency fishery officer on how to do this and what the results mean.

Dirty and wet fishing tackle (nets and unhooking mats) could spread diseases, including KHv. There are two main ways of disinfecting fishing tackle. The first is to thoroughly dry equipment after fishing, preferably in direct sunlight. If this is not practical, then a chemical disinfectant can be used. These include iodine-based disinfectants (iodophores), or Virkon® S. For advice on disinfectants talk to the Environment Agency.

Net dips can be used on site to disinfect nets, but make sure the chemicals used are fresh and anglers use them correctly. For the best possible protection from disease only allow anglers to use nets or unhooking mats supplied by the fishery. Be careful not to allow disinfectant to be spilt into the fishery.

What should you do if you suspect a fish disease problem on your fishery?

Report it as soon as possible! If you have a problem on your fishery you should always report it to the Environment Agency. We will investigate the outbreak along with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science and tell you what the cause is and how you can prevent it happening again. There are many causes of fish disease, not just KHv. Knowing what killed your fish can help minimise losses and will help in the future management of the fishery.

Stop fishing! If the fish are suffering from a disease or are in poor condition you should stop fishing. This will reduce stress, help fish recover and will reduce the total number of fish that may die. Fishing should only start again when fish have stopped dying and all the remaining fish are healthy.

Don’t stock! Never add more fish to a water with a fish disease problem. It may be legal, but could increase fish deaths and cost you money.

Protect others! When fishing restarts you can help to protect other fisheries by asking anglers to dip nets and other tackle when they leave. You could also ask them to ensure they dry their nets completely before fishing anywhere else.

Life after Koi Herpesvirus
If KHv is confirmed there is no reason why you should not continue to run a successful fishery on that water. A few simple actions will help protect you from future outbreaks. Carry out a full review of the management of the fishery. Things to consider include:

were there too many fish?
what is the quality of the water?
what habitat features are there for the fish?
is there a mixture of fish species?
can you reduce the risk of anglers bringing diseases on to the site?

If you are unsure about any of this or what steps to take get professional advice.
Do not overstock your fishery. Too many fish in a water enables diseases to spread quickly and can cause fish to be stressed. Reducing stock levels can greatly reduce the risk of disease problems.
Before restocking after a KHv outbreak always make sure that you really need to. In many cases, large numbers of fish can survive outbreaks and fisheries can still produce good catches for anglers. Don’t restock unless you really need to.
If you need to restock after a KHv outbreak always wait until fish deaths have stopped completely and water temperatures are below 15°C. It is very difficult to predict if and when KHv may re-occur within a fishery. In many cases, sensible stocking has not caused additional outbreaks of the disease. However, it is important to follow the guidelines on stocking outlined in “protecting your fishery”. These will help reduce the likelihood of re-infection, but will never provide a guarantee.
If a KHv outbreak kills a large proportion of the fish in your water it may be worth removing the rest of the fish and starting the fishery from the beginning. This could completely remove the risk of KHv outbreaks occurring again.
If in doubt – get advice. Environment Agency officers and other fisheries professionals will be able to advise you on all of the aspects covered in this document. If you have any doubts about what you should, or should not do, then get advice.

Mike Heylin of the Specialist Anglers’ Alliance: “Specialist Anglers’ Alliance welcomes this additional information on the dangers of stocking fish from the Environment Agency. There are many ways of improving the performance of fisheries without adding more fish. Enhancing the environment for existing stocks and often thinning them out will help improve fishery performance. SAA and many other angling organisations have been advising for some time since the KHv outbreaks to avoid stocking fish. Now all the national organisations working for anglers and fisheries are saying the same.”

Ash Girdler of the Institute of Fisheries Management: “This document contains information and advice based on sound fishery management and bio-security. In common with humans once fish have a disease or a population is at risk from a disease, the best defence is good management practice. If your biosecurity measures fail to keep the disease out good management can greatly reduce the impact of any disease.

Dr Bruno Broughton of the Anglers Trade Association: “The Angling Trades Association supports the Agency guidelines on preventing and coping with KHv. KHv poses a significant risk to angling, but it is preventable if fishery owners and managers follow the sensible advice. By cooperation between all facets of the angling industry, we can ensure that the sport and the fish on which it depends are protected against this and other damaging diseases."

Angry Angler Calls for Boycott of National High Street Store Chain

2006-11-28T09:51:00.000Z

A Lancashire angler is asking UK fishermen and their families to boycott a major national high street store chain because the chain appears to be endorsing PETA, the animal rights group which has attacked angling.

In calling for a boycott there is a risk of upsetting one of the richest men in Britain, the billionaire retail entrepreneur Sir Phillip Green, owner of the Arcadia store group. The call for a boycott relates to Sir Phillip's flagship Topshop store in London's Oxford Street, where the company's endorsement of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA ) was spotted on an animal rights website.

The Arcadia group owns Bhs, Burton,Topman, Miss Selfridge, Wallis, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins, Evans and Outfit. David Stocker is asking anglers and their families not to shop at any of these stores if they can help it, until Sir Phillip severs his company's link with PETA, an organisation which campaigns for 'total animal liberation'. The PETA agenda would lead to the end of angling, as well as stopping meat eating, pet keeping, horse and greyhound racing, the animal testing of human medicines, zoos, circuses, shooting, and so on.

Comments David Stocker, "The animal rights group PETA made enemies of the UK's angling community when they attacked our sport, something we anglers have found hard to forget and forgive. I used to have nothing but admiration for Sir Phillip's entrepreneurial skills. But I saw red when I saw animal rights activists crowing about Topshop's endorsement of PETA on the 'Keep on Fighting'* animal rights website. But the more I thought about it, the more I realised that a man like Sir Phillip will have many wealthy friends who will own fur coats, own racehorses, enjoy horseracing and can afford to eat things like foie gras, all things that PETA hate. I can't believe that his social world is one where these things are condemned and vilified. So why is he inflicting PETA's warped views on us ordinary people? But it gets worse; is Sir Phillip aware that in the USA PETA launched a campaign that likened Holocaust victims to battery chickens*? That upset a lot of Jewish people."

"I'm sure, too, that PETA are no friends to Kosher slaughter methods. To be honest, I suspect the whole affair has been an oversight and his people have been gulled into going along with PETA, but I understand that Sir Phillip prides himself in knowing what goes on in all his stores. When decent people get involved with PETA, they are giving them credibility which helps legitimise the whole of their agenda. PETA promotes a central idea that is every bit as dangerous as any radical or extreme opinion, namely that an animal's life is worth the same as that of a human. This concept has inspired people to criminality and violence in the UK and elsewhere. Someone has to stand up and say, "Enough is enough". In this respect I've been inspired by Laurie Pyecroft, the teenager who stood up to animal rights extremists at Oxford University by creating the Pro-Test movement. So I am asking anglers and others in the UK who want to enjoy the freedom to eat meat, keep pets, enjoy a flutter on the races, go fishing or whatever, to try and boycott stores in the Arcadia group."

*Link to 'Keep on Fighting' animal rights website
http://www.keeponfighting.net/article.php?story=20061115134000173

*Link to report of PETA's 'Holocaust on a Plate' campaign http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/02/28/peta.holocaust/

* General expose of PETA
http://www.activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/oid/21

Animal Rights Guru Admits He Is WRONG!!

2006-11-27T21:08:00.000Z

The founding philosopher of the Animal Rights movement, Peter Singer, has backed the use of living creatures in medical experiments.

Peter Singer, who wrote the book “Animal Liberation”, considered the bible of AR activists, has surprised everyone since he has always insisted that animals should have equal rights with humans. He has now backed research in which experiments on monkeys are carried out to develop surgical techniques for Parkinson's Disease.

'It is clear at least some animal research does have benefits,' Singer admits on Monkeys, Rats and Me: Animal Testing, which will be screened on BBC2 Monday 27th November 2006. 'I would certainly not say that no animal research could be justified and the case you have given sounds like one that is justified.'

Singer’s statement has delighted scientists, including Tipu Aziz, the Oxford surgeon who developed the techniques. 'It is a very encouraging sign,' he said.

The BBC2 documentary focuses on the battle to block the building of the £20m Oxford University animal laboratory by animal rights activists. Construction was stopped in 2004 and resumed this year only after coercion of builders and suppliers by AR activists was blocked by new legislation and renewed energy from local and national police forces.

Leader of the campaign, Mel Broughton, a 44-year-old landscape gardener from Northampton was jailed for four years in 1997 for smuggling incendiary bombs into an animal-testing facility.
He is reported as saying, “If you are going to take the money to build a place where animal torture goes on, where people are allowed to do that to sentient, thinking, feeling creatures and expect me to politely ask them to stop then you can think again, because I am going to intimidate you.”

Professor Aziz refuses to be intimidated. Despite being on the 'assassination list' of an extremist website, he has been extremely vocal in his criticism of the animal-liberation movement, calling them 'misinformed and sometimes illiterate anti-vivisectionists who adopt terrorist tactics' and who 'undermine the process of democracy through intimidation'.
Britain has probably the most violent and absurd animal-rights movement in the world, he has said. 'The problem with British society is it has a humanoid perception of animals that's almost cartoon-like.'

No Freshwater Legislation

2006-11-16T11:23:00.000Z

Come on Tony, you have had ten Queen's Speaches now and still no mention of a new Fisheries Bill.

We all worked very hard responding to the consultation from the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review Group, chaired by Prof. Linda Warren. You even accepted most of her recommendations. Yet we still have no timetable for a Bill, no Bill has been drafted and, outside of Defra, no one in Government seems worried.

Well, the anglers of England are worried, worried about "fish theft", worried about illegal fishing, worried about fish diseases, worried about illegal imports, worried that you keep reducing funding for vital fisheries work within the Environment Agency, worried that you promised so much and delivered so little for four million anglers.

Natural England - Outdoor Strategy

2006-11-16T10:24:00.000Z

Natural England, newly formed, but underfunded, by this Government, is looking into its Outdoor Strategy.

You can find more details at http://www.countryside.gov.uk/LAR/Recreation/index.asp

All our angling organisations will be working hard to ensure that angling is well represented in the outcomes of this debate.

Keep an eye on the Natural England website to make sure you get your say when the opportunity arises.

Icons of England - The Salmon

2006-11-16T09:39:00.000Z

You may be aware that recently a website, www.icons.org.uk , has been launched to give us all a chance to vote for what we think should be icons for England.

The Environment Agency has nominated the salmon as one of the icons of our environment.

Whether something is selected as an icon depends on how many votes it gets , so now is your chance to visit the site at www.icons.org.uk and make sure that salmon and fish are recognised as an important environmental icon for England.

We understand that the final list will be used to form the basis of materials for schools and other groups.

Please don't miss this opportunity to highlight the importance of fish in our environment.

Angling in schools moves forward with the NFA

2006-11-10T15:31:00.000Z

A new sports qualification called “Introduction to Angling & the Environment” was launched by the National Federation of Anglers (NFA) at River Leen School, Nottinghamshire on 8th November, 2006.
The course developed by the NFA in partnership with the National Open College Network (N-OCN) helps children and young people aged 10 and above learn about curriculum subjects including Geography, Biology and also helps develop Numeracy and Literacy skills.

An important aspect of the course is the integration of key environmental topics including the water cycle and the importance of water, the food chain and increasing the student’s awareness of the plants and animals which inhabit the aquatic environment. The course can be delivered by a variety of organisations including schools, youth groups and voluntary groups which work with children and young people to provide a qualification which improves both their knowledge of the environment and their angling ability.

Students who undertake the course will get a taste of the fun and healthy sport of angling which is enjoyed by millions of people throughout the UK every year. Angling is not just about going fishing to catch fish but also to helps people appreciate the environment in which it takes place.

Keith Dyson, Humanities Teacher, River Leen School, Nottingham said, “This course is a great development by the NFA which will ensure young people have access to a qualification they otherwise would never have achieved when they leave school. It will help them learn about subject areas including Geography and Biology which they would find difficult with in a traditional classroom environment. Two problem areas are literacy and numeracy, little do they know that by using weights, working out the depth of their line and writing a diary uses all these skills. We have done a number of angling activities in the school already and they really engage with the students. Angling has helped us to overcome the classroom divide and get away from the formal learning environment which they struggle with. Angling is one of the fastest growing leisure industries and this course gives them a sound route to employment and can help them progress to additional qualifications at Further and Higher Education levels, which they would never have considered previously.”

Paul Buck, Head Teacher of Portland School, Nottinghamshire, “Angling gives students a sense of the countryside and helps them gain an understanding of nature, the environment, ecology, water safety, the river system and the wildlife that surrounds you when you go fishing. Students gain a real positive engagement with angling which helps them learn so much.”

Rt Hon Richard Caborn MP, Minister for Sport
“Angling is an important pastime for young and old alike. It is a sport in which the UK excels on the international stage and it is also a major driver in terms of providing opportunities for young people to participate in what is a hugely enjoyable and rewarding sport which helps to deliver social inclusion. The development of the "Introduction to Angling and the Environment OCN" qualification by the NFA in partnership with N-OCN will play a key role in educating more young people about the sport and will encourage greater participation. I welcome its introduction and congratulate the work which the NFA continues to do in developing the grass roots of the sport.”

Martin Salter MP, Chairman of the All Party Angling Group has also supported the development of the qualification stating,“The angling world should applaud the work of the NFA in their forward and groundbreaking angling qualification. This is exactly the sort of professionalism for which angling has been crying out.”

Sorry for our absence

2006-11-10T15:28:00.000Z

We have been away for a while after a computer crash. All mended now and back in action.

Help Angling Fund a National Body - What you can do

2006-10-11T16:50:00.000+01:00

SAA members and many anglers have always wanted a single, properly funded, angling body.

SAA has been an active participant in the struggle for unity with NAA, the Unity Working Group and now FACT. All these bodies had one problem, lack of money to achieve anything.

Angling is the last great escapist sport and many anglers are not members of any organisation. This makes it very hard to reach them and their pockets, so funds could always be in short supply.

However the Environment Agency sells most anglers a rod licence each year and a small optional additional sum on the licence fee could supply much needed funds for a centralised, unified, angling body.

Anglers raise in excess of £18.6 million a year for the EA, yet most angling organisations struggle to get by on less than £50,000 a year, from their members.

A properly funded angling body could employ professionals to run public awareness and promotion campaigns to persuade parents that letting their children fish would be better than letting them roam the streets, that angling is a good thing and that anglers really do care for the environment.

The Government recognises this fact, but cannot, or will not, come up with the seed corn finance needed by angling to start down that road or make a commitment to a levy without the support of the Environment Agency.

The Environment Agency acknowledges that angling needs the money but is reticent to assist by supporting the concept of a levy on the licence, for many reasons. Most of which SAA disagrees with.

If FACT had just a 5% levy on the existing coarse rod licence (£1.20 on the cost of your licence) that could produce about £930,000 a year which would be invested in developing new anglers and bringing older anglers back into the sport, monitoring legislation for negative impacts on angling, representing the needs and aspirations of English anglers in Europe and creating a professional image for the sport to encourage commercial sponsorship of our incredibly successful national teams. If and when a sea rod licence is introduced then the same arrangements could apply. In the meantime SAA believes that all anglers should stand together in the interest of the sport as a whole.

You could help is achieve this end by writing to Dafydd Evans, Head of Fisheries, The Environment Agency, Rio House, Waterside Drive, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BS12 4UD and asking him to support a licence levy, payable to FACT, to promote and develop angling.

Defending Wild Salmon and Our Seas

2006-10-11T16:22:00.000+01:00

On Saturday 14th October, from 11.00am until 12 noon, Salmon Farm Protest Group supporters will be distributing leaflets outside supermarkets in 50 UK cities and towns, including London, Kingston-on-Thames Bognor Regis, Bristol, Abergavenny, Newtonabbey, Edinburgh, Cumbernauld, Aberdeen, Perth, Aviemore, Dingwall, Wick and Thurso.

The SFPG message to consumers is: 'GO WILD FOR REAL SALMON - SAY 'NO' TO FARMED FISH. The leaflet lists ten reasons to think twice before buying factory-farmed salmon; including PCB and dioxin levels in both organic and standard farm salmon, untreated fish farm sewage excreted into coastal waters and the damage salmon farming is doing to wild fish.

"You have to ask yourself what is more valuable, cheap fatty salmon or the long-term health of the sea?" Richard Girling, writer and journalist.

"The barrage of bad publicity that has engulfed the Scottish aquaculture industry over the last few years has not halted dishonest marketing and publicity campaigns. The Action Hour campaign will, I hope, go some way to redressing the balance in favour of wild salmon, the king of fish, and its natural habitat." Donald Rice, riparian owner.

"The impact of salmon farming on the environment and on wild populations of sea trout and salmon is completely unacceptable. This poorly-regulated industry makes huge profits for big foreign companies at the expense of local communities throughout Scotland which rely heavily on revenue from anglers." Mark Lloyd, Anglers Conservation Association

"We no longer sell any form of farmed salmon in our restaurant or bar. We have noticed that most of our guests appreciate the quality and better taste of real salmon and we have never heard anyone complain that it is more expensive. If we cannot source wild salmon we do without." Elaine Lewis, Ben Loyal Hotel, Tongue.

"It takes three tonnes of wild fish from the high seas to produce the fishmeal to make one tonne of factory farmed salmon for the supermarket. Do you think that makes sense for our environment? If not, then stop buying the stuff." Jon Gibb, Fishery Manager, Scotland.

"It's fluorescent, flabby and full of fat and nasty chemicals, damaging the environment and helping bring wild species to the brink of extinction. Give your taste buds and wild fish a chance - don't eat it." Adrian Latimer, angler and author.

SFPG chairman Bruce Sandison said, "Ask your supermarket for wild Alaskan salmon. It tastes wonderful, has no artificial colourants and comes from a sustainable fishery certified by the Marine Conservation Society, a UK charity dedicated to protecting the marine environment and its wildlife."

If you want to join this protest of for further information contact:

Bruce Sandison on tel: 01847611274
Hysbackie, Tongue, by Lairg, Sutherland IV27 4XJ, Scotland

Salmon Farm Protest Group is a company registered in Scotland, No.240223

KHV - SAA and ECHO at Defra

2006-09-29T18:14:00.000+01:00

Late last week SAA and ECHO were at Defra, again, to push for KHV being made notifiable and for enhanced legislation to control the introduction of diseased fish.

The meeting, arranged by Martin Salter MP, saw Defra, Cefas, the Environment Agency, FACT, SAA, ECHO, PCFA, ACA, CFFTA, KBI, IFM and OATA all seeking solutions, together, to the problems of many of our fisheries this summer.

KHV will be listed as a notifiable disease, probably with effect from January 1st 2007, after a consultation period. As part of the package of support around that listing the working group will be seeking to re-publish the guidance on stocking fisheries, which can already be found on the SAA website. The group is also working to develop guidance for fishery suppliers and managers on bio-security for fisheries.

The bio-security guidance will be based on the very good work already done by OATA for the ornamental trade.

SAA has recently published advice on stocking and is distributing the IFM Code for the Management of Intensively Stocked Stillwater Coarse Fisheries. Single copies are available, free of charge, by emailing secretary@saauk.org with your name and postal address.

Does the Government care about our fisheries?

2006-09-27T09:28:00.000+01:00

In 1993 the Environment Agency received about £14 million Grant in Aid (GiA) from the Government, to support their responsibilities for fisheries work.

Today they receive less than £10 million to support that work and the workload and Agency responsibility has been increased in the intervening years by Government.

Coarse and game anglers contribute more than £18 million a year, through rod license fees, to the Agency and we see an annual increase in those dues. However Government feels that it can continue to cut GiA whilst charging anglers more and more.

This is not a plea to reduce licence fees. It is a demand that, having enjoyed headlines based around their commitment to angling, the present Government should demonstrate their commitment to healthy fisheries by bringing GiA back to the levels previously seen as necessary to fulfil the Environment Agency obligations to enhance and improve our fisheries and to meet our obligations under the Water Framework Directive.

Defra has, only this year, announced further cuts in GiA for fisheries work. The Agency is overstretched and presently incapable of policing our fisheries or their own bylaws because of lack of money from the Chancellor.

Anglers pay their bit. It is time this Government realised that all of society benefits from healthy waterways and started to fund the Agency adequately.

If the £14 million in 1993 was re-valued at today’s prices the Government would be giving the Agency nearly £19 million a year. Instead it delivers half of that!

Is this the mark of a Government which really cares for angling and fisheries?

Horsey Mere open for Winter pike fishing on a trial basis

2006-09-27T08:54:00.000+01:00

Anyone who can recall Peter Hancock’s 40lbs record pike, caught in February 1967 from Horsey Mere and the subsequent pike records caught from the ‘River Thurne’ by Neville Fickling and Derek Amies in the late 1980’s, may well have considered making a trip to fish this historic pike fishery but been put off by the limited amount of access.

Well from the 1st November 2006 anyone who fancies a days pike fishing on Horsey Mere will get the opportunity to boat fish it throughout the winter on a new limited permit access agreement.

Horsey Mere has until now been a closed water to angling from boats for many years between the 1st November and the 28th February each season, as part of a Voluntary Winter Wildfowl Refuge. The regular 1st March to 14th March open access, day ticket days remain.

This new trial access opportunity over part of Horsey Mere follows an agreement between the Horsey Estate, English Nature, Broads Authority, National Trust and angling representatives from Broads Angling Strategy Group. This agreement is also to support the Voluntary Wildfowl Refuges programme for Hickling Broad and Martham Broads to minimise disturbances of the internationally important over-wintering wildfowl that congregate on this important area of wetlands.

During 2006-07 the access is for 1 boat per day, with access being open for booking 7 days per week from 1st November 2006 until 28th February 2007. The cost of a permit is £15.00 per day, and allows for 2 anglers and a maximum of 2 rods each from the one boat, fishing from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm each day. Dates will be taken on first come first served basis. You will of course need a boat, either your own or a hired boat to access Horsey Mere via the river Thurne. Maps are provided of access and fishing area.

Booking must be made in advance, in writing using the application form available in writing from the Horsey Estate who are managing this access trial at the following address:
Buxton Property Management (Fishing), Speedwell House, Lingwood, Norwich, NR13 4ET
The application form may also be downloaded in PDF form from the web site providing details of the access trials at www.thurnefisheries.co.uk.

It is important that those of you who wish to enjoy this opportunity observe the guidelines closely during any visit you may make as this is a continuing trial which may, if we get a satisfactory appraisal, become a regular opportunity allowing anglers to fish such a valuable natural pike fishing location every season.

The Broads Angling Strategy Group is working partnership of Broads Authority, Environment Agency, English Nature and representatives from the Match, Pleasure and Specialist angling communities. Their brief is to advise on the management / development of angling, fisheries and access under the Broads Fishery Action Plan.

Are Street Collections a Threat to Angling?

2006-09-18T18:09:00.000+01:00

When you see local animal rights groups collecting in the street, do you ever stop to wonder how that money is spent?

This thought was started by a letter, from the Western Morning News, recently brought to our attention, see below;

THREAT TO ANGLING
I have always been an enthusiastic supporter of such animal welfare organisations as the PDSA and the RSPB, even though hunting has been banned. But since "animal rights" fanatics have attacked anglers, I have now withdrawn my support from them and also from the RSPCA and all other organisations purporting to care about animals - even the cats' and dogs' home and cat protection league - as I honestly believe all these organisations do have a sinister hidden agenda towards the sport of angling, and that they may even be financing the animal rights extremists out of the donations that they receive from the general public.
R Hancox
Plymouth
Western Morning News 12.9.06

SAA does not believe that PDSA and RSPB are anti-angling and wrote in reply;

I think Mr (?) Hancox is wrong to withdraw support from the PDSA and RSPB since “"animal rights" fanatics have attacked anglers” and because he believes “ all these organisations do have a sinister hidden agenda towards the sport of angling, and that they may even be financing the animal rights extremists out of the donations that they receive from the general public.”

The national angling bodies work with the RSPB and other animal welfare organisations in the interests of our wildlife and the wider ecological community. The PDSA and RSPB both do valuable work with animals and it would be wrong for anglers, in general, to withdraw whatever support they offer these two organisations.

Public street collections by local animal welfare and rights groups are a much more likely source of funding for extremists. All of us, including local councils, need to be assured that street collections in the name of animals are what they claim to be and are not being used to fund attacks on individuals or property.

Yours faithfully

Michael Heylin
Secretary
Specialist Anglers’ Alliance

Can you be sure that your local council checks the audited accounts of organisations it grants street collection licenses to?

Perhaps you should ask them.

SAA at Defra Sept 2006

2006-09-15T17:42:00.000+01:00

SAA attended a meeting at Defra, this week, on new fisheries legislation and moving the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review process forward.

It is unlikely that we will get a new Fisheries Bill quickly. It has already been five years since the review!! However Defra and the Environment Agency are exploring what changes can be brought about under existing legislation to implement as many of the recommendations made under the review as possible.

The Stakeholder working group has spent the last few months reviewing the Defra/EA proposals, in stages, and commenting on them. As a consequence the proposals have been modified and are now subject to final review before publication to the Minister.

SAA remains hopeful of legislation but it is unlikely to be announced for the next parliamentary session in the Queen’s Speech.

Invasive Weeds Symposium

2006-09-15T13:08:00.000+01:00

Invasive Weeds Symposium - Thursday 26th October 2006

The Eden Project
Bodelva
St Austell
Cornwall PL24 2SG

This symposium will be of interest to any angler with responsibility for managing rivers or lakes.

Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and Giant Hogweed, to name but a few, are invasive weeds that are taking over our countryside and can be seen by many of our waterways.

The Westcountry Rivers Trust is holding a one-day Symposium in conjunction with the Cornwall Knotweed Forum, through the Waterwaysnet project.
Waterwaysnet is a transnational project, funded through the Interreg IIIB programme. The Westcountry Rivers Trust is the UK partner alongside establishments from Spain, France, Ireland and Portugal.

The Invasive Weeds Symposium is to be a major showcase for projects and research carried out by a number of organisations over the past few years.

There will be speakers from research institutions, government organisations and commerce alike. All will present the work being carried out in their particular fields. Download the provisional programme and delegate form by following the links below.

The last hour of the day will allow delegates to direct questions to any of the speakers and to have an open discussion as to the way forward.

What should be the protocol for invasive weed management?
Is management the correct word or should eradication be the target?
What defines an Invasive Weed?
And what should we be doing now about species such as Gunnera, Montbretia, Buddleia, and Winter Heliotrope?

Download a registration form at www.wrt.org.uk/projects/invasiveconf.htm

Return to - Freepost Westcountry Rivers Trust

Alternatively, email your booking details to mark@wrt.org.uk

Spaces are limited - early booking is essential

Carp Society Membership Boost

2006-09-13T17:20:00.000+01:00

Despite the trend of falling memberships seen across many angling clubs and organisations the Carp Society continues to demonstrate strong growth with membership figures up 20% during the past 12 months.

Growth has come across the board but Commercial Manager David Mannall is particularly pleased by the upsurge in family and junior memberships. “I think it reflects well upon what we have achieved as an organisation and upon our future aims and ambitions for the Society” he commented.

With the prestigious Horseshoe Lake now available for 12 months fishing, and the new 'Centre of Excellence' nearing completion and set to raise the barrier of quality standards in the angling industry there's never been a better time to join the Society. For further details of membership benefits check out the website at www.thecarpsociety.com or call us on 01367 253959.

Where does the money go?

2006-09-13T08:44:00.000+01:00

THREAT TO ANGLING
11:00 - 12 September 2006

I have always been an enthusiastic supporter of such animal welfare organisations as the PDSA and the RSPB, even though hunting has been banned. But since "animal rights" fanatics have attacked anglers, I have now withdrawn my support from them and also from the RSPCA and all other organisations purporting to care about animals - even the cats' and dogs' home and cat protection league - as I honestly believe all these organisations do have a sinister hidden agenda towards the sport of angling, and that they may even be financing the animal rights extremists out of the donations that they receive from the general public.
R Hancox
Plymouth
Western Morning News 12.9.06
Read it Here

I think Mr (?) Hancox is wrong to withdraw support from the PDSA and RSPB since “"animal rights" fanatics have attacked anglers” and because he believes “ all these organisations do have a sinister hidden agenda towards the sport of angling, and that they may even be financing the animal rights extremists out of the donations that they receive from the general public.”

The national angling bodies work with the RSPB and other animal welfare organisations in the interests of our wildlife and the wider ecological community. The PDSA and RSPB both do valuable work with animals and it would be wrong for anglers, in general, to withdraw whatever support they offer these two organisations.

Public street collections by local animal welfare and rights groups are a much more likely source of funding for extremists. All of us, including local councils, need to be assured that street collections in the name of animals are what they claim to be and are not being used to fund attacks on individuals or property.

Yours faithfully

Michael Heylin
Secretary
Specialist Anglers’ Alliance

EFTTA Supports Youth Development

2006-09-11T12:47:00.000+01:00

EFTTA Youth Grant - Guidelines & Information

An overall budget of €20.000 has been set aside by the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association Board in order to support youth fishing projects across Europe.

All projects need to apply for the grant to the EFTTA Board and must recruit financial sponsorship from an existing EFTTA member before approaching the Board of Directors. If awarded the grant, EFTTA will match the sponsorship from the EFTTA member up to a limit of €2.000.

A gift certificate will be sent to the sponsoring EFTTA member for them to either purchase fishing tackle or award a cash grant to the successful project applicant.

In order to apply for the EFTTA Youth Grant, please send the following information to the EFTTA Secretariat before 1st October 2006.

completed application form
details of sponsoring EFTTA member including amount of sponsorship received
additional material that can support your application (leaflets, brochures, references etc)

Send your completed applications to:

EFTTA Secretariat
71-73 St John Street
London
EC1M 4NJ

Fax: +44.20.7253.7779
Email: kathleenglausch@eftta.com

See below for the application form

Please find below a list of EFTTA members. All members’ details can also be found on the EFTTA website at www.eftta.com.

"Adriatic M&M"-Croatia, A Benvenuti SNC-Italy, ABI International-Croatia, Abramis Ltd-Poland, Action Plastics-USA, Adams, Ltd-Ukraine, Adinolfi srl-Italy, Afars-Czech Republic, All For Fishing SP zoo-Poland, Alutecnos srl-Italy, Amiaud-France, Ammodytes Co Ltd-United Kingdom, Angler KFT-Hungary, Angler Pro International AB-Sweden, Anglers Accessories (India)-India, Angling Trades Association-United Kingdom, Anka Tackle Corporation Sdn-Malaysia, Anne Marii-Poland, Aqua Sports Co., Ltd.-Korea, Arca nv-Belgium, Art Pesca S.a.S-Italy, Astucit EURL-France, Autain Peche sarl-France, Badger International-United Kingdom, Banax. Co, Ltd.-Korea, Baracuda Srl-Romania, Basser Millyard Pty Ltd-Australia, Beet Sportvissersmagazine-Belgium, Behr Angelsport GMBH-Germany, Bhagwati Impex (P) Ltd-India, Bidoz Products-France, Bios AB-Sweden, Bis Busz, Pszczola, Starko Sp-Poland, Blue Crane-Serbia&Montngro, BROMANoDELL-Sweden, Calico SA-Spain, Carpfood International BV-Netherlands, CARSON di Fortini Marco e Deborah-Italy, Centro Corporation-Korea, Chous Industrial Co Ltd-Taiwan, Cometa. s.r.l.-Italy, Coret Ltd-Switzerland, Cormo Fishing Poland-Poland, Costa.Co d.o.o.-Serbia&Montngro, Cottus-Russian Fed, Cruz Fishing-France, D HP Ltd.-United Kingdom, D.A.M.-Germany, Dabex Triada Sp.z o.o.-Poland, DAF al srl-Italy, Danica Sportfishing Products-Denmark, Daps - Olympus-Italy, David Resource Co Ltd-Taiwan, Deáky Fishing Tackle Manufacturing Ltd-Hungary, Deepsons Trading Company-India, Delalande Peche-France, Design Fishing Ltd-Poland, Dinsmores Ltd-United Kingdom, Dip Export-France, Dom. Carlos Santos Miranda-Portugal, Dragon Tackle International Ltd-United Kingdom, Ecosport - Italia sas-Italy, Ecotechnology Ltd-Russian Fed, Edi Grafica srl-Italy, Editoriale Olimpia SPA-Italy, El Vilar-Spain, Elnex Ltd-Hungary, Energofish Ltd-Hungary, Epohook-Latvia, Eurocord BV-Netherlands, Eurofilt Group s.r.l.-Italy, Eurohold Italia s.r.l.-Italy, Euromet Ltd-Poland, Europesca Sport s.a.s.-Italy, Exori Import Export GmbH & CO.KG-Germany, Eye Level Sunglasses-United Kingdom, Fairpoint Outdoors A/S-Denmark, Faps Srl-Italy, Fil Va SRL-Italy, Filament Hungary Ltd-Hungary, Finlandia Uistin Oy-Finland, Fisch KFT-Hungary, Fish Eye srl-Italy, Fish Harder Companies-USA, Fishrite-United Kingdom, Fladen Fishing AB-Sweden, Fun Fishing-France, Garbolino-France, Giorgio Benecchi's Products-Italy, Graff-Poland, Grauvell, Fishing SA-Spain, GRENIER-BOLAY S.A.S.-France, Gruppo DP SRL-Italy, GULAM NABI & COMPANY-India, Halco Tackle Company-Australia, Handlowa EXPERT Sp. z o.o.-Poland, Hardy & Greys Ltd-United Kingdom, Harrison Advanced Rods Ltd-United Kingdom, Harvest Tackle CO LTD-Taiwan, Hopkins & Holloway Ltd-United Kingdom, Horgaszmester - Master of Angler-Hungary, HS Import AB-Sweden, Hurch Flyfishing Poland sp. Z.o.o-Poland, Hybla Europe srl-Italy, Interfish Germany-Germany, Italcanna Srl-Italy, Italia Fishing srl-Italy, Izotop424G-Bulgaria, J.A.F. International-Belgium, Jaxon-Poland, JRC Products Ltd-United Kingdom, JVS Tackle X2 Im&Export-Netherlands, K & K Ltd-Bulgaria, Kabo srl-Italy, KONGER BOGDAN GOSZTYLA-Poland, Korda Developments-United Kingdom, Kostal SJ-Poland, Krokus Ltd-Poland, Krueger & Salecker-Germany, Kureha GmbH-Germany, Kuusamon Uistin Oy-Finland, Ky Jotekno-Finland, La Sirene X21- Guiot Sarl-France, La Soie Neyme Tortue-France, L'Artigiano della Pesca-Italy, Laserfish-Italy, LAV-MD-Serbia&Montngro, Leeda Ltd.-United Kingdom, Lemer Fonderie-France, Lineaeffe S.p.A.-Italy, Lotta Olt-Russian Fed, Lovy sro-Czech Republic, Lukris, S.L.-Spain, Lureflash International Ltd-United Kingdom, M T Benvenuti di Benvenuti Alessandro-Italy, Maer srl-Italy, Masterline International Ltd-United Kingdom, Mavep-Czech Republic, MCM di Bottura Italo-Italy, MEPPS-France, Midam-Poland, Middy Tackle International Ltd-United Kingdom, Monofil -Technik GmbH-Germany, Mont Press Publishing agency-Serbia&Montngro, Mora of Sweden AB-Sweden, Mosca s.n.c.-Italy, Mountain Media-Sweden, MSO Inc-Japan, Mulberry Publications Ltd-United Kingdom, Mystic-France, Nordic Outdoor A/S-Norway, Norstream-Norway, O. Mustad & Son A/S-Norway, Ockert GmbH-Germany, Officina Ciullini di Roberto Ciullini-Italy, Omoto Fishing Tackle Co Ltd-Taiwan, Optima-Angelgerate W Ziegler-Germany, Opus One A/S-Denmark, Pafex-France, Pallatrax-United Kingdom, Panther Martin S.R.L-Italy, Partridge of Redditch Ltd-United Kingdom, Pb Prod Sp. Z.O.O.-Poland, Perlon Monofil GmbH-Germany, Petitjean Fishing Equipment SA-Switzerland, Plastica Panaro SRL-Italy, Plumiratun-Spain, Pokee Fishing Tackle Co Ltd-Taiwan, Powerline S.T.B.-France, PPH Lorpio Piotr Lorenc-Poland, Preston Innovations Limited-United Kingdom, Prime Line-India, Pro & Con-Germany, Pro Fisu Fishing-Finland, Pro Tackles srl-Italy, Profish Ltd-Bulgaria, Propesca Lda-Portugal, PT Central Sarana Pancing-Indonesia, Pure Fishing (UK) Ltd.-United Kingdom, Pure Fishing Europe SA-France, Ragot-Normark France SA-France, Rainbow Exports-India, Rapa PPH-Poland, Rapala France-France, Rapala VMC Corporation-Finland, Reglass SpA-Italy, Richard Wheatley Ltd-United Kingdom, Rivers Edge Tackle-Ireland Rep of, Roessler Sportfischerbedarf Gies GmbH-Austria, Rome Specialty Co. Inc.-USA, RST Angelgerate GmbH-Germany, Rudi Heger / Traun River Products-Germany, Rybolov Magazine Ltd-Russian Fed, S & G Service srl-Italy, SA Cannelle Peche-France, Salix Alba-Poland, Salmo Sp zo.o.-Poland, Salter Brecknell Weighing Ltd.-United Kingdom, San Fu Fishing Tackle Co. Ltd-Taiwan, SARL MAPP-France, SAS Petzl Distribution-France, Sema Ltd-Czech Republic, Sensas SA-France, Sert S.A.-France, Sevylor Europe-France, Shakespeare Europe B.V.-Netherlands, Shakespeare International-United Kingdom, Shark-Poland, Shark-Latvia, Sharpe's Group-United Kingdom, Shimano Europe Fishing Holding BV-Netherlands, SIAT Srl-Italy, Sioen NV-Belgium, Sir Francis-Italy, Smisdom Plastics-Belgium, Snowbee (UK) Ltd-United Kingdom, Solvkroken A/S-Norway, Somsen & Poole Da Costa lda-Portugal, Southern Traders Ltd-Taiwan, Spanyid Thai Co,. Ltd.-Thailand, Spinnex Sp. J.-Poland, SPOFA Spofiske-Sweden, Spro-Netherlands, Stive S.R.L-Italy, Stoppioni S.N.C.- STONFO-Italy, Suministros Evia S.L.-Spain, Sun Kwong Works Fishing Tackle Comp. LTD-Hong Kong, Sundridge Tackle Ltd-United Kingdom, Sunrise International-India, Svendsen Sport-Denmark, Svendsen Sport Ltd (UK)-United Kingdom, Symo NV-Belgium, Tecnofish srl-Italy, Think Big Juergen Haese & Reinhard Mucha-Germany, Tiger srl-Italy, Trakker Products Ltd-United Kingdom, Traper Sp.J.-Poland, Turrall-United Kingdom, Tyneside Leathercrafts Ltd-United Kingdom, Ugly Duckling-Serbia&Montngro, Ultimate Fishing S.A.S.-France, Ultimate Fishing Supplies-United Kingdom, Ultimate Hengelsport-Netherlands, United Fishing Tackle Co, Ltd-Ukraine, USVA - Finnex Group Ltd-Latvia, VDS Fly Fishing Tackle Bvba-Belgium, Vedette di Viassone Fiorella-Italy, Veniard Ltd-United Kingdom, Venturieri-Italy, Videotronic Nova Krzysztof Zieliñski-Poland, Videotronic s.c.-Poland, Vilco Oy-Finland, Vira Fishing Equipments Ind. Co. Ltd.-Turkey, Vision Group Ltd-Finland, Vivarelli Franco di-Italy, Vivtek Fishing Equipment-South Africa, VMC Pêche/Rapala-France, Vosseler Pro-Flyfishing-Germany, Waku GmbH-Germany, Wielco BV-Netherlands, Wilddis sarl-France, Wintrade Company Ltd-Taiwan, Wirek PPH-Poland, World Fishing Tackle GmbH & Co. KG-Germany, Worth Company-USA, Wright & McGill Co/Eagle Claw-USA, Wurm - Renate Wurm-Germany, YAD Fishing-Germany, Yanco Hellas-Greece, Yu-Hung d.o.o.-Serbia&Montngro, Zalt AB-Sweden, Zanarini Leonardo-Italy, Zenaq Co Ltd-Japan

EFTTA Youth Grant – Application Form

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Date: Sign:

Fish disease science receives a real boost

2006-09-11T10:35:00.000+01:00

Changes that will help the Environment Agency better understand and respond to fish diseases were announced today (5th Setember 2006).

After a comprehensive review of the Environment Agency’s role in fish health, resources currently allocated to fish stocking health checks will - from April next year - be diverted into expanding and improving scientific education, testing and response to the threat of disease and parasites.

"The Environment Agency plays a vital role in controlling fish diseases by regulating fish stocking consents and investigating fish kills caused by disease," said Fisheries Policy Manager Adrian Taylor. "At the moment we undertake only one third of all fish health checks - which form part of stocking consents - with the majority conducted by approved fish health consultants. By offering this final third to the private sector, we can redirect our scientific resources into increasing our knowledge of fish disease, developing the best possible testing procedures and improving the quality and range of fish mortality investigations.

There will be no reduction in the level of protection given to our fisheries. The need for a health check in support of fish introductions to high risk waters will remain - the only change will be who does the health checks."

From April 1 next year, all fish stocking health checks from suppliers (Section 30 introductions) will be conducted by independent fish health consultants. The Environment Agency will be working to make sure that they are adequately prepared to take on these additional 200 health checks each year.

The Environment Agency’s enhanced fish health approach will expand work on fish mortalities and give greater emphasis to supporting our fish movement policies with sound science rather than relying on the precautionary risk assessments, enabling us to:

better protect our native fish populations from new and emerging disease threats;
better educate and advise fishery managers on the threat of fish disease and the role of fisheries management in preventing disease outbreaks;
better understand the parasites and diseases we control;
provide support to the fish movement industry and create business opportunities through the critical assessment of parasites and diseases we control;
expand the investigations we do into fish kills caused by disease, making use of the most up to date tools and techniques.

The Environment Agency is responsible for regulating the movements of fish to inland waters within England and Wales. This means that anybody wishing to introduce fish into an inland water is required, under section 30 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, to obtain the written consent of the Agency prior to the introduction taking place.

Health checks are required by the Environment Agency in support of fish introductions under Section 30 which are directly to open water courses (rivers, canals) or to stillwaters connected to open waters or within the known floodplain. Fully enclosed stillwaters do not generally require a health check as a part of the section 30 consent, but the Environment Agency still advises fishery owners to ensure that a health check has been done before the introduction takes place.

Press release from the Environment Agency

KHV Raises the Issue of Bio-security at Fisheries

2006-09-11T10:17:00.000+01:00

Bio-security is already, and always has been, a big issue for fish importers, farmers, breeders and retailers. They need to ensure that strains are kept separate and distinct, that waters do not mix and 1001 other things are done correctly on their farms and production units, to limit the opportunity for diseases to break out and to ensure clean stocks.

How many of us running fisheries do the same?

Part of the problem in tracing the source(s) of the recent KHV outbreaks has been that many fisheries have many fish suppliers. One simple step we can all take in improving our own bio-security is to deal with only one fish farmer and rely on him for all our stock.

Bio-security will grow in importance for all of us as fishery managers with the effects of climate change. We need to be raising our awareness of the issues now and starting to implement good practice. SAA will be working with others to produce a Bio-security guide for anglers and fishery managers and you will hear about it here first.

Thanks to Fox International

2006-09-11T10:14:00.000+01:00

Max Cottis of Fox International recently became the latest tackle manufacturer to support the work of SAA financially.

Thanks for the support Max, you know how much it matters.

You just cannot reason with some folk!

2006-09-08T20:41:00.000+01:00

Two views of Hunt Sabs and Angling, one from the horses mouth.

ALL COUNTRY SPORTS ARE UNDER THREAT
05 September 2006
Western Morning News

Since the 1980s, I have been talking about the obvious threat to fishing as a hobby sport, pointing out that once hunting was banned animal activists would turn their attention to both shooting and fishing.

A constant response from the sports fishing communities was "'why, when our hobby is seen as more 'working class' than hunting, would Labour be so slack as to create a climate in which attacks upon us can be launched?" Indeed, at the last but one election Labour took a large "bung" from an animal rights source and may have had inputs at the last election too.

The simplistic perception that Labour would protect those assumed (incorrectly as it happens) to have a majority of Labour voters in their ranks and who fish for sport, proved false when Labour destroyed hare coursing despite it being very much a flat-cap sport. Now that fresh attacks have been made on fishing folk, they must wonder what they have done wrong; not seemingly a "class thing", like the attack on hunting, but just blind aggression against those who happily sit beside Westcountry rivers and lakes to catch and return for sport or take for food.

In my experience all countryside sports are rooted in game and environmental preservation. Anglers help keep waters fresh and populated and rivers clean of unacceptable weed and silts. But it is now clear they are seen as another class enemy to be vanquished by animal welfare warriors, who wish us to return to a dream world of ample brown bread, pulses boiled in water, and berries galore, all leading to the early deaths that were the lot of our Neolithic ancestors.

Those who fish and shoot, and hunters, should actively seek common cause through powerful representative bodies. Without a joined-up stance, the ability of the animal lobbies to twist New Labour around their fingers may generate new legislation that impacts severely on all country pursuits and sports. Then they will turn their attention to sea fishing and farmed animals. Act now or simply get swallowed up.
Tom Jones
Plymouth

Lancaster & Morecambe Citizen 6.9.06
Angling is a bloodsport

TO PUT the record straight, the Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) has always considered angling to be a bloodsport.

There is no new campaign' against angling - it remains an abhorrent and cruel activity and as such will continue to be included within our remit as an organisation against all bloodsports.
The HSA has been around for over 40 years and has played a major part in securing a ban on hunting with hounds by using non-violent, direct action tactics.

Now call me a conspiracy theorist if you like, but something tells me this whole media frenzy is highly likely to be orchestrated by an increasingly desperate team at the Countryside Alliance. Ultimately they have nothing to lose, and seemingly everything to gain by trying to push the angling is the next target' angle (sic).

The hunt ban eradicated the CA's primary reason for existance (sic) and so now they scrabble around trying to rally others to their already lost cause. You'd be a fool to fall for it.

Of course we'll never agree on the issue of angling but it's not about people-hating, class hatred or terrorism - it's plain and simple about cruelty.

If you want to spend an afternoon by the river bank then by all means do, just take a good book or maybe a bin bag and gloves so you can clean a bit of our countryside up for others to enjoy.
Leave the hooking of a fish out of the equation, and we'll gladly leave you alone.

Dawn Preston, Hunt Saboteurs Association.

The problem anglers have Dawn is that angling is not a bloodsport, never has been and never will be. And anglers never see you and the rest of your sabs when we, the anglers, are cleaning the rivers and helping to maintain that vital habitat for all wildlife.

Water Framework Directive – River Basin Planning Guidance

2006-09-08T20:13:00.000+01:00

Defra has announced the launch of the River Basin Planning Guidance to the Environment Agency, jointly issued by Defra and the Welsh AssemblyGovernment.

The purpose of this guidance is to set out the principles and key steps for the river basin planning process under the Water Framework Directive. It focuses on the nine river basin districts in England and Wales, and one of the two cross-border river basin districts in England and Scotland, each of which is required to have a River Basin Management Plan.

Having launched a draft version for consultation at the end of last year, this is the final version, having taken into account the responses gathered from the consultation.

An electronic copy of the Guidance can be found here;

http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/wfd/pdf/riverbasinguidance.pdf

Defra has also produced a document containing the summary of the consultation responses, and the changes made to reflect them, which is also available on Defra's Water Quality pages.

Requests for hard copies of the Guidance can be addressed to:

River Basin Planning Guidance
Water Quality Division
Defra
Room 209
55 Whitehall,London SW1A 2HH

or via email at wfdconsultation@defra.gsi.gov.uk

The Salmon and Trout Association has lead on the Water Framework Directive for angling, which has demanded a very heavy workload over a long period. S&TA are partners with SAA in Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust, FACT, with others.

This work is an example of the duplication which is being saved by the FACT structure and of how well individual angling organisations are working for each other and the sport.

Animal Aid Blames Anglers for Habitat Degradation

2006-09-08T14:30:00.000+01:00

Bradford Telegraph & Argus 28.8.06
The mink is not to blame
By Newsdesk

SIR

Bradford Council, in its zeal to protect water voles, have decided mink are the problem and aim to kill as many as possible (T&A, August 9). Rarely has a wild animal been as demonised as the North American mink or served as such a convenient scapegoat for the environmental vices of our species. The water vole population has fallen because we have removed, damaged or polluted its riverside habitat through building, flood control measures, bank mowing, dredging, angling and the reinforcement of river banks with iron and concrete.

The article suggested Bradford is awash with hordes of mink. This is not credible. Mink live a solitary life, marking out territory a mile apart from each other. Moreover, where otters flourish, and their numbers are going up because we no longer hunt or poison them, mink do badly. We should remember mink were imported and bred for fur in factory farms. When smaller operators went out of business in the Fifties, many opened their cages and turned the animals into the British countryside.

Let's end the scapegoating and take genuine steps to remedy our own reckless and selfish behaviour.

Andrew Tyler, Director, Animal Aid, Bradford Street, Tonbridge, Kent

Bradford Telegraph & Argus 6.9.06
Mink are pests
By Newsdesk

SIR

Andrew Tyler of Animal Aid is being disingenuous regarding the impact of mink on water voles (Letters, August 28). He blames fur farmers for the release of mink into the wild, whereas, in fact the vast majority of mink now in the wild were illegally released by his friends in the animal rights movement in their battle to have fur farming banned.

There is no doubt that the environment continues to suffer from degradation which makes the voles' habitat increasingly marginal but anyone who spends long periods on the waterside could tell him that where mink are present there are no rats or voles. The mink predate on them and take the young from the vole nests as well as taking mature water voles, birds, waterfowl and other small rodents. Mink have no natural predator in the UK, so man must intervene if we are to preserve the remaining stocks of water voles and other important wetland species.

Bradford Council is not alone in seeking to remove mink from the wild so as to encourage the return of the water vole. The Wildlife Trusts, local councils, conservationists and anglers are all working together to try to re-establish colonies of water voles in mink-free areas and are removing mink where they are found.

Michael Heylin
Secretary
Specialist Anglers Alliance

Anglers, Agency and Fish Farmers Meet

2006-09-08T08:54:00.000+01:00

The Coarse Fish Meeting

SAA attended a meeting, on the 7th September, of coarse fish farmers at Sparsholt College, Hampshire, organised by Viv Shears, of Sparsholt, and Bernice Brewster of the Coarse Fish Farmers and Traders Association, CFFTA.

Mike Heylin, secretary of SAA, delivered a paper on “ A Buyer’s perception of the coarse fish industry” which generated a lot of debate and produced some useful ideas for future developments in communications between the supply side and customers in fisheries.

Nigel Hewlett, Head of Fish Health at the Environment Agency, brought everyone up to date with the latest news on KHV and the actions the Agency are taking in testing supply site stocks for the disease. The members of the CFFTA are very supportive of the testing programme.

Dr Fiona MacDonald delivered a paper on “Current Disease Issues within the Industry” and Professor Pat Smith a paper on “Fish Vaccines – an option in the future?” Both papers were very interesting and pointed to options in the way forward to fish health issues.

Nigel Hewlett led a laboratory session looking at Cat 2 parasites and how Fish Health checks for Section 30 consents are conducted before participants had the opportunity to do a practical exercise in dissecting and exploring the parasite load of some sample fish.

John Handley of Skretting delivered a paper on “Trout, Carp or Barley?” looking at the relative benefits of various fish feed stuffs and the way in which a mix of feed stuffs could be used to maximise growth rates against inputs, useful information, not only for fish farmers, but also for fishery managers who are bringing on their own stock.

It is hoped that this meeting will be the first of many and that next year the invitation will be extended to angling clubs to send delegates.

Get involved locally

2006-09-06T09:38:00.000+01:00

Angling Needs You

The future of angling and our nation’s fisheries needs the support of every angler.

By joining any or all of the national angling bodies you will be contributing funds to the work we all do through FACT and making the voice of angling stronger.

Possibly even more importantly your club or fishery needs to be represented on the local fisheries consultative, which deals with local issues and advises on national issues through the links into the EA Regional Fisheries Environment and Recreation Advisory Committees (RFERACs).

You can find out more about your local consultative by visiting www.nafac.co.uk

If there is no consultative on your local catchment, why not consider starting one?
NAFAC can give you lots of support and you will be joining a growing band of enthusiasts dedicated to improving our fisheries and angling representation.

SAA and NAFAC believe in a single, powerful, governing body to represent all of angling.

SAA continues to work closely with colleagues in other angling and fisheries organisations to achieve that aim.

We know from many of our supporters just how much anglers want that single body.

You can help drive that agenda by joining SAA, NAFAC or ACA, now.

Lancaster Attack - Latest

2006-09-06T09:14:00.000+01:00

Update on the Lancaster Attack

Following a letter sent by SAA to the Chief Constable of the Lancashire Constabulary we have heard back that the police are presently investigating “the full details of the incident and the progression of police enquiries”.

SAA has been assured by the Chief Inspector in charge of the investigation that she will write to us with a full update once enquiries are completed.

Mullet - Catch them on coarse tackle

2006-09-06T09:08:00.000+01:00

The National Mullet Club needs your help to get UK Government support their Mullet Conservation Paper, released September 4th 2006.

Visit http://www.thenationalmulletclub.org/mcpsept06v3.pdf to see their proposals for making mullet a recreational only species.

SAA, NMC, SACN and the NFSA all need you to write asking Ben Bradshaw and the Government to consider the Mullet proposals and to put them into action as soon as practicable.

Ben’s address is ;

Ben Bradshaw MP
Minister for Fisheries
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR

As well as writing yourself, tell your friends about these proposals and ask them to write as well.

Anti Anglers at it Again

2006-09-06T08:53:00.000+01:00

The animal rights movement never give up and it is important that anglers and SAA never give up defending and promoting our sport.

See the latest attempt in this letter to the Reading Chronicle and the SAA response below.

Reading Chronicle 1.9.06

We've made no secret of our horror of shooting

RG SEYS tells us that animal rights supporters would like to ban shooting and fishing (We said shooting and fishing would be next, Chronicle, August 24) as if this were an amazing revelation of some hidden agenda.
In fact the animal rights movement has never made any secret of its opposition to all bloodsports, including hunting, shooting and fishing. They all involve the suffering and death of sentient creatures in the name of so-called sport.
Something most people may not know about shooting is the extent to which pheasants are now reared using intensive factory-farming techniques.
Millions of pheasants are mass-produced every year in breeding units to provide enough birds for all those who want to shoot at them for fun. A video or DVD about this, called Fowl Play, is available from Animal Aid on 01732-364546 or www.animalaid.org.uk.
However, a ban on the rearing of birds for shooting is not impossible: such a ban already exists in Holland, where the practice was considered morally and environmentally unacceptable.
Incidentally, pro-hunting folk are always telling us how cruel it is to shoot foxes: why do they find it OK to shoot birds, I wonder?
As far as fishing is concerned, a ban would obviously be unworkable.
However, as we now know for certain that fish feel pain, it's up to the decent instincts of the general public as to how long it remains an acceptable pastime.
DEREK GREATREX
Harrogate Road
Caversham

Sir

Derek Greatrex (Chronicle 1.9.06) may believe that by claiming, without foundation or reference, that fish feel pain that he can persuade the public that angling is, as a consequence, cruel.

Pain, as defined by the International Association for the Study of Pain, is purely a conscious experience, with a sensory component and a component of emotional feeling (suffering). Dr James D. Rose of the Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming has demonstrated that in order to show that a fish (or any organism) experiences pain, it is necessary to show that a fish has consciousness. Without consciousness, there is no pain.

Even DG could not possibly claim, with any reason, that a fish has consciousness.

A bull can be lead by the nose with a rope and nose ring, responding to the pressure on the nose ring by following its leader. A fish, when hooked, swims away from the hook, in a automatic “flight” response, which in a bull would increase any level of pain, yet fish prove by their own actions that they do not experience pain in these circumstances.

Derek needs to study more carefully and more widely before making claims he cannot substantiate in public forums.

Anglers have been the eyes and ears of our waterways for generations and if it were not for anglers many of our rivers, including the Thames, would still be little more than open sewers. False claims of pain in fish will not persuade the public to change its opinion of angling, which is generally highly supportive of the angler and his presence on the river bank.

Yours sincerely

Michael Heylin
Secretary
Specialist Anglers Alliance

SAA AGM Report Sept 4th 2006

2006-09-04T10:11:00.000+01:00

The SAA held its fifth Annual General Meeting yesterday, September 3.

Subscriptions were held at only £10.00 for individual members but every individual will be given the opportunity to make a voluntary donation to keep SAA fighting for anglers rights.

Officers elected were

Chairman David Bird
Treasurer Kevin Stephenson
Vice Chair Ruth Lockwood
Secretary Michael Heylin
Membership Secretary Neville Fickling

Welcome

2006-09-04T09:10:00.000+01:00

Welcome to the Specialist Anglers' Alliance.

Visit out main site at www.saauk.org