Even now the river still carries a considerable stain in many areas, not that it seems to be putting fish off but the last two spates have been strangely reluctant to clear to really good water quality. No one seems to know why?
TODAY
12lb fish from Lower Llastephan for Louie Mayer.
Three from Upper Bigswier today I understand fish of 5/6lbs-further confirmation of a sizeable grilse run underway. Better get out there guys
four reported from wyesham too today it seems..
9lb fish for Wayne Tyler on Caemawr on an Usk Grub.
12lb fish Today from the Carrots to Dave Roberts. spinning.
Three also from the Golden Mile - all f/c. Grilse also seen here. see below;
Age shall not weary them!!!.... A first of the season for 84 years old Gordon Cramp from the Boat pool. 7lbs
Must be some kind of age record there somewhere. Congratulations to them both
Excellent photo's as usual by Tony Mobley..
10lb fish yesterday evening for Geoff Maynard at Llanthomas on a cascade
See below the latest from canoe Wales,
Nothing new really I suspect they are merely trying to make themselves seem feasonable people to the WAG who still seem bent on pursuing further canoe access throughout Wales.
Good of them to go along with the 'agreement' being pursued for Glasbury which as I understand it is nowhere near complete.
ACCESS - CANOE
Canoe Wales: Steve Rayner
After several years of disengagement, Canoe Wales is now seeking to re-engage fully with the access community across Wales and has aligned its policies and practices closely with those of the UK National Governing Body, British Canoeing. To this end we have recently formulated a ‘position statement’ relating to access and environmental issues (latest draft set out in full below) and have engaged with key stakeholders in a number of current access-related issues (summarised below).
Canoe Wales Waterways and Environment Position Statement 2016
Canoe Wales believes:
• in increasing the opportunities for paddlers to participate in their chosen sport;
• that paddlers should be able to enjoy water responsibly in ways that are compatible with the conservation of the environment and wildlife;
• therefore, in developing and promoting access to and along the waterways of Wales, to increase sustainable water-based recreation while protecting and conserving the natural and urban environment;
• that the decision whether or not to paddle at any location in Wales at any time is the responsibility of the individual paddler, who should take into account such advice and guidance as may be available to support that decision;
• that paddling activity in Wales should be governed primarily by the statute and common law of England and Wales and by everyone’s responsibilities to respect the rights of others;
• that paddling does not, in general, affect fish stocks in rivers; but that at certain times of year, especially when river levels are low, there may be some potential for grounding of boats which could disturb spawning fish; and that paddlers should endeavour to minimise this risk;
• that paddlers have a public right of navigation on tidal waters in and around Wales and on waterways in Wales where there is a statutory or dedicated right of navigation;
• that published research contests the assumption, long-held by some parties, that rights of navigation on physically-navigable, non-tidal rivers in Wales are private except where deemed otherwise by statute; but acknowledges the different opinions on the legal position where public rights have not been recognised;
• that public or private rights to the use of waterways do not in themselves grant paddlers any rights to cross land to access those waterways;
• that any legislation enacted to provide equal rights for the use of non-tidal waterways in Wales must incorporate management measures that serve all parties and the public and help to achieve wider social, recreational and economic benefits;
• that appropriate management measures, with or without changes in legislation, are an acceptable means of agreeing shared use of waterways when they:
• are agreed, collaborative and inclusive, where all parties share the same rights and responsibilities; are managed jointly and locally; and help to protect the environment and respect the rights of all user interests;
• are without prejudice to the views of the legal position of either Canoe Wales or riparian owners and other interests; and6
• neither confirm nor reject any party’s views or interpretation of the legal situation;
but that such Arrangements shall not invalidate public rights to non-tidal waters should it subsequently be established that such rights have not been
Page 6 of 25
extinguished or the historic use of such waters is recognised to provide that right.
Canoe Wales will:
• encourage paddlers to paddle where they have the right to do so, within the law and with respect and consideration for others and the environment;
• work with the other home nations to share information for the benefit of the paddling community around the UK.
• encourage paddlers to seek permission to access the water when it is clear and unambiguous in law that they do not have the right to do so;
• promote good environmental practice and responsible use and consideration for others on all waters;
• work constructively with partners, agencies, the local community, interest groups and clubs to support and develop the shared use of physically-navigable non-tidal waters when environmental conditions (especially water levels) are suitable;
• in particular, work with Natural Resources Wales and others to minimise the risk of paddlers disturbing important species and habitats including spawning fish;
• develop management measures with partners, agencies, the local community, interest groups and clubs, with or without changes in legislation, to protect the environment and enable the wider use of all waterways at all times;
• make such arrangements publicly available to paddlers for self-regulation; and encourage paddlers to follow the guidelines of such arrangements; and
• will not regulate or police such arrangements or grant access to any waterways; but will promote sustainable canoeing by advising paddlers to paddle only when conditions are suitable.
Current Canoeing Access Issues
River Access Arrangements
Canoe Wales is very keen to develop partnerships with other river users to promote and work towards sustainable canoeing throughout Wales. Canoe Wales has joined the Navigation Steering Groups of the Wye and Usk Foundation and Welsh Dee Partnership, which have negotiated for their respective rivers navigation arrangements with riparian owners, angling associations and commercial paddlesport operators; with the support of Local Authorities and Natural Resources Wales.
However, these arrangements – which are often held up as exemplars for canoeing Voluntary Access Agreements – have not been agreed by representatives of recreational paddlers and do not meet our criteria for ‘appropriate management measures’ (see above), so we are unable to endorse these arrangements as they stand.
We believe it is critical that such arrangements gain endorsement from the National Governing Body if they are to continue to be promoted as exemplars, so to this end we have asked both bodies to discuss with us the scope for amending their arrangements to make them acceptable to recreational paddlers and to allow us to endorse and promote them. The Wye and Usk Foundation is currently resisting such discussions, while the Welsh Dee Partnership has shown some willingness to explore options.
Meanwhile Powys County Council has published revised access arrangements for the launching of canoes from Council-owned land at Glasbury, covering the 5-mile
stretch of the Wye immediately upstream of the statutory right of navigation which starts at Hay-on-Wye. In making this arrangement the Council has liaised with riparian owners, angling associations and Natural Resources Wales; as well as Canoe Wales and commercial canoe operators. The tenet of the arrangement is that the Council will permit launching of canoes from its land between 10am and 4pm subject to paddlers and operators abiding by a code-of-conduct that includes restricted landing rights downstream of the launch point. While Canoe Wales is concerned that the time constraints (which have long been in place) may be unnecessarily restrictive, we acknowledge that this is an arrangement that is intended to promote both shared use of the river and protection of the environment, so we are prepared to endorse this arrangement for a trial period of 12 months.
Canoe Wales: Steve Rayner
After several years of disengagement, Canoe Wales is now seeking to re-engage fully with the access community across Wales and has aligned its policies and practices closely with those of the UK National Governing Body, British Canoeing. To this end we have recently formulated a ‘position statement’ relating to access and environmental issues (latest draft set out in full below) and have engaged with key stakeholders in a number of current access-related issues (summarised below).
Canoe Wales Waterways and Environment Position Statement 2016
Canoe Wales believes:
• in increasing the opportunities for paddlers to participate in their chosen sport;
• that paddlers should be able to enjoy water responsibly in ways that are compatible with the conservation of the environment and wildlife;
• therefore, in developing and promoting access to and along the waterways of Wales, to increase sustainable water-based recreation while protecting and conserving the natural and urban environment;
• that the decision whether or not to paddle at any location in Wales at any time is the responsibility of the individual paddler, who should take into account such advice and guidance as may be available to support that decision;
• that paddling activity in Wales should be governed primarily by the statute and common law of England and Wales and by everyone’s responsibilities to respect the rights of others;
• that paddling does not, in general, affect fish stocks in rivers; but that at certain times of year, especially when river levels are low, there may be some potential for grounding of boats which could disturb spawning fish; and that paddlers should endeavour to minimise this risk;
• that paddlers have a public right of navigation on tidal waters in and around Wales and on waterways in Wales where there is a statutory or dedicated right of navigation;
• that published research contests the assumption, long-held by some parties, that rights of navigation on physically-navigable, non-tidal rivers in Wales are private except where deemed otherwise by statute; but acknowledges the different opinions on the legal position where public rights have not been recognised;
• that public or private rights to the use of waterways do not in themselves grant paddlers any rights to cross land to access those waterways;
• that any legislation enacted to provide equal rights for the use of non-tidal waterways in Wales must incorporate management measures that serve all parties and the public and help to achieve wider social, recreational and economic benefits;
• that appropriate management measures, with or without changes in legislation, are an acceptable means of agreeing shared use of waterways when they:
• are agreed, collaborative and inclusive, where all parties share the same rights and responsibilities; are managed jointly and locally; and help to protect the environment and respect the rights of all user interests;
• are without prejudice to the views of the legal position of either Canoe Wales or riparian owners and other interests; and6
• neither confirm nor reject any party’s views or interpretation of the legal situation;
but that such Arrangements shall not invalidate public rights to non-tidal waters should it subsequently be established that such rights have not been
Page 6 of 25
extinguished or the historic use of such waters is recognised to provide that right.
Canoe Wales will:
• encourage paddlers to paddle where they have the right to do so, within the law and with respect and consideration for others and the environment;
• work with the other home nations to share information for the benefit of the paddling community around the UK.
• encourage paddlers to seek permission to access the water when it is clear and unambiguous in law that they do not have the right to do so;
• promote good environmental practice and responsible use and consideration for others on all waters;
• work constructively with partners, agencies, the local community, interest groups and clubs to support and develop the shared use of physically-navigable non-tidal waters when environmental conditions (especially water levels) are suitable;
• in particular, work with Natural Resources Wales and others to minimise the risk of paddlers disturbing important species and habitats including spawning fish;
• develop management measures with partners, agencies, the local community, interest groups and clubs, with or without changes in legislation, to protect the environment and enable the wider use of all waterways at all times;
• make such arrangements publicly available to paddlers for self-regulation; and encourage paddlers to follow the guidelines of such arrangements; and
• will not regulate or police such arrangements or grant access to any waterways; but will promote sustainable canoeing by advising paddlers to paddle only when conditions are suitable.
Current Canoeing Access Issues
River Access Arrangements
Canoe Wales is very keen to develop partnerships with other river users to promote and work towards sustainable canoeing throughout Wales. Canoe Wales has joined the Navigation Steering Groups of the Wye and Usk Foundation and Welsh Dee Partnership, which have negotiated for their respective rivers navigation arrangements with riparian owners, angling associations and commercial paddlesport operators; with the support of Local Authorities and Natural Resources Wales.
However, these arrangements – which are often held up as exemplars for canoeing Voluntary Access Agreements – have not been agreed by representatives of recreational paddlers and do not meet our criteria for ‘appropriate management measures’ (see above), so we are unable to endorse these arrangements as they stand.
We believe it is critical that such arrangements gain endorsement from the National Governing Body if they are to continue to be promoted as exemplars, so to this end we have asked both bodies to discuss with us the scope for amending their arrangements to make them acceptable to recreational paddlers and to allow us to endorse and promote them. The Wye and Usk Foundation is currently resisting such discussions, while the Welsh Dee Partnership has shown some willingness to explore options.
Meanwhile Powys County Council has published revised access arrangements for the launching of canoes from Council-owned land at Glasbury, covering the 5-mile
stretch of the Wye immediately upstream of the statutory right of navigation which starts at Hay-on-Wye. In making this arrangement the Council has liaised with riparian owners, angling associations and Natural Resources Wales; as well as Canoe Wales and commercial canoe operators. The tenet of the arrangement is that the Council will permit launching of canoes from its land between 10am and 4pm subject to paddlers and operators abiding by a code-of-conduct that includes restricted landing rights downstream of the launch point. While Canoe Wales is concerned that the time constraints (which have long been in place) may be unnecessarily restrictive, we acknowledge that this is an arrangement that is intended to promote both shared use of the river and protection of the environment, so we are prepared to endorse this arrangement for a trial period of 12 months.
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