FISHING?? Forget the Wye for a while,especially the middle and lower river for at least several days, possibly longer. Good spate on at the moment and more rain seems likely.
A few 'late' reports of fish.
Caradoc. 19lbs to David Harrington. Devon.
Backney. 8lb fish to Laurence Birkin.
5 last week from Bigsweir between 7 and 15lb plus a 47 1/2 " fish reported 35lbs plus.
The fish was caught by Philip Mackie assisted by
Dave England on the net. It was a hen and was just short of 48" long,
caught on a FC in Llandogo Run on Sun 29th at 16.30 and took 25 mins to net.
Camera was in the car and fish welfare took priority over camera so unfortunately no photographs.
What a fish though!!!!!
Also a fish reported from Wyastone Ley. Mid teens. No further details?
This item from the Below Angling Trust Newsletter is interesting. How often do you hear of siltation or pollution issues being prosecuted or even given any publicity. How often I wonder do these things quietly get swept under the carpet with a little 'sweetener'.
Reminds one of the Gas pipeline that thrashed its way through the Usk and Wye valleys with'compensation' paid to certain bodies. Not a hint of a prosecution.
/
Fish Legal /
Press Area / Slurry Spill Farmer Let Off with Donation to Charity Rather Than Prosecution
Slurry Spill Farmer Let Off with Donation to Charity Rather Than Prosecution by Environment Agency Without Consultation with Angling Clubs Affected
The Angling Trust & Fish Legal have raised concerns that the Environment Agency (EA) chose not to prosecute a farmer who polluted Wellow Brook in Somerset with 150,000 gallons of slurry, killing hundreds of fish. The farmer was allowed to make a donation of £5,000 to the Bath & Avon Rivers Trust (BART) charity and the EA’s costs (amount presently unknown) through a new mechanism called an Enforcement Undertaking (EU), and avoided getting a criminal record. One EA representative said it was the worst pollution she had seen in 17 years and another referred to a ‘tsunami’ of slurry.
Despite acknowledging “the serious environmental harm the slurry had caused” the EA accepted the EU, rather than prosecute. The Angling Trust & Fish Legal are also concerned that:
- it took the EA over 12 months from the conclusion of its investigation to confirm what action it would be taking;
- the EA failed to comply with its own guidance about consulting victims before accepting the EU (Fish Legal’s two member clubs affected knew nothing about the EU until they read about it in a news article) and;
- the EA’s powers to accept EUs instead of prosecuting are likely to be widened this April to include environmental permitting offences, which could mean that EUs become more widespread.
Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust & Fish Legal raised the issue with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the EA at a meeting on 24th March 2015.
Fish Legal is awaiting the EA’s response to an information request about this case, after which it expects to challenge the EA’s complete lack of consultation with (or even notification of) the angling clubs directly affected by this decision.
Mark Lloyd said:
“It is absolutely unacceptable for the EA to fail to consult victims, whose interests have been significantly damaged, before deciding whether to let polluters off with donations to charity instead of prosecution. The Agency needs to recognise that the decisions they make directly affect angling clubs and other riparian owners, whose fishing rights are worth billions of pounds. Potential polluters also need to know that they will be punished with a criminal record if they trash the environment. We have raised this issue at the highest levels in the Agency and will be pressing for guarantees that they will always consult with victims in future.”
|
Tuesday 31st March
2015
All the latest
fishing news from the Angling Trust and Fish Legal
Angling Trust and Fish Legal Top News
This edition we bring you news of our challenge to political parties to
continue their support for angling, Fish Legal's concern that the EA have
let off a slurry polluting farmer with a donation to charity rather than
prosecution and a great member discount on holidays and tackle... |
|
|
Political
Parties Challenged To Sign Up To A Manifesto For Angling
The Angling
Trust has published its 2015 Manifesto for Angling
ahead of the General Election on May 7th, which is being sent to all the
main political parties and to members of the All Party Parliamentary Group
on Angling, in a move to continue the strong cross-party support which angling
has enjoyed in recent years
> Read the Manifesto for
Angling |
|
|
AT Urges
Anglers to Make Bass An Election Issue
The Angling
Trust wants to see bass stock recovery raised as a General Election issue
and is urging anglers to contact their local candidates to seek pledges of
support for ‘a fair, balanced and proportionate’ package of measures that
targets commercial fishing practices that are doing the most harm to the
UK’s most popular saltwater sportfish.
(A
separate members update will be coming out shortly covering the new bag
restrictions now in place - make sure you are on our Sea Update mailing
list also by clicking HERE!)
> Read more |
|
|
Big Result at
The Big One
Thanks to
everybody who came to the Angling Trust stand at the recent 'The Big One'
show and talked to us about our campaigns to protect fish and fishing.
As well as
signing up over 100 new adult members, we had the opportunity to reaffirm
partnerships in the angling industry and grow support amongst the trade for
our campaigns on enforcement, participation, poaching and pollution as well
as drumming up support for our international competitors.
Pictured: Angling Trust Carp Team England Manager Rob
Hughes and our Building Bridges Project
Manager Rado Papiewski met up to discuss the issues surrounding migrant
anglers and plan future communications about this important area of our
work. |
|
|
NEW:
Enforcement Blog
Please take a
minute to read the latest blog about our angling enforcement campaigns from
Angling Trust Fisheries Enforcement Manager, Dilip Sarkar MBE. This is just
one great example of why your individual membership support is so vital to
our work.
> "Fisheries Enforcement
Campaign: The Vision Progresses…"
Our FEWs
(Fishery Enforcement Workshops) have been a vital part of raising awareness
and training anglers to respond to angling related crime - book a place on
the next workshop for just £20 and get a full day of quaility assured
training from Angling Trust, Environment Agency, IFM and Police experts.
> Booking: Open to all
anglers - ideal for clubs and bailiffs
|
|
|
Shooting Day
Raffle Ends Soon:
Last Chance to Buy a Ticket Before 31st March!
Tickets for
our fabulous day of pheasant and partridge shooting are selling like
hot-cakes but there are a few of the 300 tickets still available
at just £100 each to win the whole package for 8/9 people
including a fine lunch. You can even arrange with the donor the date next
winter in Wiltshire that suits you best. Please spread the word to everyone
you know who might be interested. Don't miss out by putting it off - get
your ticket NOW!
> Enter the Shooting Day
Raffle Here |
|
|
Rod Licence
Income Funds 17 New Fishery Improvement Schemes
The new
Fishery Improvement Fund, administered by the Angling Trust and funded with
rod licence income from the Environment Agency, has made funding awards to
3 fisheries, 13 clubs and 1 angling project totalling £65,000 to improve
facilities for angling throughout England.
> Read more |
Fish Legal News
You can read
more Fish Legal news HERE |
|
|
Natural
Resources Wales Failing to Protect Welsh Fisheries
Fish Legal,
representing its member club the Seiont Gwyrfai & Llyfni Anglers’
Society, has issued another judicial review against Natural Resources Wales
(NRW) as part of a long-running campaign to save the endangered Arctic
charr at Llyn Padarn, North Wales.
> Read more |
|
|
Environment
Agency Ignores Own Guidance by Accepting ‘Enforcement Undertaking’
Fish Legal
has written to the Environment Agency to express its concerns that the
regulator accepted an enforcement undertaking rather than prosecuting
farmers who polluted Wellow Brook in Somerset with 150,000 gallons of
slurry, without consulting two Fish Legal member clubs affected by the
incident. Anglers only became aware that the farmers have agreed to pay
£5,000.00 to the Bath & Avon Rivers Trust, together with Agency’s costs,
by reading about it in the press.
Despite acknowledging “the serious environmental harm the slurry had
caused” the Environment Agency accepted the enforcement undertaking, rather
than prosecute. The Agency’s approach contravenes its own internal guidance
and is a particular concern, as powers to accept enforcement undertakings
rather than prosecute are likely to be widened this April to include
environmental permitting offences.
> Read more |
|
|
Water Companies
Seek Guidance on Implementing Fish Legal Ruling
Fish Legal
has learnt that all the major water and wastewater companies in England and
Wales have, together with their representative body, Water UK, instructed a
firm to provide advice on the application of the Environmental Information
Regulations 2004 to them. This comes after the ruling in Fish Legal’s
recent landmark case requiring them to respond to environmental information
requests from the public under these regulations. The companies are seeking
guidance on how to respond to requests and what information they are
allowed to charge to supply.
We would be interested to hear from any members who have already exercised
their new right to ask for environmental information from their local water
and sewerage company. Let us know what you asked for and how your request
was dealt with by emailing admin@fishlegal.net |
|
|
Fish Legal Talk
at the Institute of Fisheries Management
Fish Legal’s
Head Solicitor will be giving an evening talk about the organisation’s
recent successes and the changing nature of its work on Wednesday 8th April
2015 at the Institute of Fisheries Management in London. More details and
contact information for anyone wishing to attend can be found HERE. |
Competition News
Read all the latest Angling Trust Competition news HERE |
|
|
ANGLING TRUST
RIVERFEST 2015:
The UK’s Number One River Competition is Back!
Angling
Trust’s RiverFest is back with a bang and is bigger and better than ever
with four more qualifiers and a whopping prize pool of £34,000 expected to
be paid out over the two day final in November.
> Read more |
Membership Offers
You can check out the full list of great membership benefits and offers HERE. |
|
|
NEW: Member
Discount
The Rod Rest That Coarse Anglers Are Talking About...
Who thought
the back rest could be re-invented? Well, Bank BUG have
done it, and are offering Angling Trust members the opportunity to purchase
the amazing Rock Steady Back Rest system at a discounted rate.
To get your
£5.00 discount on a set of three rests, simply call Freephone: 0800 088
6565 with your membership number. A complete set of three rests retail at
£29.99, this is your chance to snap them up for £24.99 post free.
This offer is
for a limited period only so order NOW.
View the
video HERE. |
|
|
Exclusive
Offer: Save 10% with Forest Holidays
10% off at
Forest Holidays - visit www.forestholidays.co.uk
and enter code ANGLING10 in the promotional code box when booking*
* Code entitles a paying
Angling Trust member to 10% off the cost of a cabin at any of the 9 Forest
Holidays locations. This code must be applied at the time of booking and
cannot be used with any other offers. All bookings must be made by
30/06/2015. Forest Holidays reserve the right to withdraw this code at any
time. |
|
|
Navionics Offer
at The Big One
In the next
edition of this e-news, we'll be announcing the winners of five Sonarphone
units and the Navionics SonarCharts live app, that our Trade member
Navionics very generously donated to us at last weekend's The Big One show. |
Dates For Your Diary
Meet the Angling Trust and Fish Legal at the following shows and events... |
|
|
Family Fishing
- Sheffield - 11th April
Family
Fishing Fun Day #familyfishing
Do you fancy
a day out with the family with lots of family friendly activities? Would
you like someone to learn about the pleasures of fishing and being
outdoors?
Free sessions
of instruction with our licenced angling coaches plus lots of other fun
things for non-anglers and other family members. All tackle provided - just
bring yourselves!
For more details
or to get involved call Angling Trust Regional Officer - Andy Loble -
Yorkshire & Humber on 07539 416223
More Family
Fishing Days around the country will be announced soon.
> Read more |
|
|
North East
Fisheries Enforcement Workshop - 9th May
The Angling
Trust, in partnership with the Environment Agency, Institute of Fisheries
Management and UK National Wildlife Crime Unit is holding the North East
Fisheries Enforcement Workshop at Long Marston, York, North Yorkshire YO26
7LN on Saturday 9 May 2015.
This will be
a very full day and subjects include:
- Conflict Resolution
- How fisheries enforcement is delivered, and how
this fits within the bigger picture of Rural & Wildlife Crime
- How best to address issues concerning migrant
anglers
> Read more |
|
|
Level 2
Coaching Courses
If you are
interested in taking the Level 2 Angling Coach course then you will find
all the details in our website via the link below.
Applicants
for a Level 2 course are normally required to hold a Level 1
Award/Certificate in Coaching Angling and to supply evidence of this with
their Level 2 application. (Any application for exemption from Level 1 must
have been formally approved before a Level 2 application can be processed.)
> Read more |
| Social Media - Follow us! |
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.