Latest press releases

Tuesday 21st February 2012

To view this email in your web browser click HERE.Sea Angling 2012 Project Update

The government-sponsored Sea Angling 2012 project – collecting catch, economic and social data about sea angling in England – is underway! Here are the latest developments keeping you informed about what’s going on and giving you the opportunity to get involved.

Shore And Private Boat Surveys
The shore and private boat surveys started at the end of January. Next time you are out fishing you may come across IFCA officers or independent contractors who will be asking you for information about your fishing session including where you’ve been fishing, what type of fishing you’ve been doing and what you’ve caught. The survey shouldn’t take longer than 10 minutes to complete if you choose to answer it.

Cefas Project Manager, Mike Armstrong, said, “I am very pleased at the positive response we have had from many anglers already interviewed whilst fishing around the English coast. I am confident that the surveys will provide the best information yet collected to demonstrate the social and economic benefits of sea angling in England, and will help us to develop a better scientific understanding of the fish stocks around our coasts.”

Economic and Social Benefits Survey
The online survey has now been launched and can be accessed HERE. Your response will help assess the economic value and social benefits of angling as well as providing invaluable information about the importance of sea angling to the nation. The results will provide an up to date economic value of recreational sea angling in England, building on the results of the Drew Associates report carried out in 2004.

The research is being undertaken by Substance in partnership with the Universities of Cardiff and Newcastle. Substance has considerable experience in research into angling and recently launched Fishing for Answers, the Final Report of their three year Big Lottery-funded project into the social and community Benefits of Angling. The final report for that study can be accessed HERE.

The economic and social research into sea angling will also involve face-to-face questionnaires with sea anglers in five case study sites in different regions, along with business surveys in those areas, so we know more about the local impact of sea angling on coastal communities. The study runs for all of 2012 and will report in spring 2013.

Household Survey
January also saw the start of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) household surveys with face to face interviews being carried out at addresses selected at random from postcodes throughout England Scotland and Wales. The ONS survey will run over the next twelve months and collect data from approximately 25,000 households. Initial results from the trail run indicated that the total number of sea anglers in Great Britain is similar to previous estimates given in studies including the Drew Associates report from 2004.

New Flier Launched
A new flier promoting the project has been produced (see above) and copies will be being distributed across the country in order to encourage sea anglers to get involved. An electronic version of the flier is available to download from the project’s website HERE where you’ll find access to all other details about the project including minutes from the steering group meetings and other information that you might find useful.

Understanding How The Surveys Work
Some of the methods for carrying out recreational surveys can be complex and difficult to understand. That’s why the Sea Angling 2012 team have produced a guide to how surveys work. This can be found on the website HERE.

That’s all for now. Remember to look out for more news and updates from the Angling Trust.

If you are not a member of the Angling Trust then click HERE to join or renew your membership online or call 0844 77 00 616 (Option 1).
We are fighting for YOUR fish and fishing – join NOW.

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		Minister to Launch New Report Highlighting Angling’s Social Benefits Press Release Substance and the Angling Trust Minister to Launch New Report Highlighting Angling’s Social Benefits Tuesday January 31^st 2012 For Immediate ReleaseA landmark research report to be launched today by the Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries, Richard Benyon MP, has lifted the lid on the role that angling plays in our communities.The three year research programme by Substance has surveyed and interviewed thousands of anglers and demonstrates the valuable contribution angling makes to communities by improving the environment, helping young people gain new skills and contributing to the local and national economy. The report has been welcomed by the Angling Trust who called for a more joined up approach in government to maximise angling’s social impact. Mark Lloyd, Angling Trust Chief Executive said: ‘This work, by the independent and highly-respected research team at Substance, provides invaluable evidence that angling is really important to millions of people and their communities. What is clear is that anglers not only protect and improve the water environment, but that their sport plays a vital role in contributing to well being, social cohesion and keeping young people out of trouble. We call on the Home Office, and the health and education departments to embrace angling as a mechanism for improving wellbeing and skills.‘ Fishing for Answers, is the final report from a three year study of angling by research company Substance funded by the Big Lottery research fund. It is to be launched at a conference in London today sponsored by the Angling Development Board. It will outline how angling is about far more than fishing: 25% of anglers said that they were involved in environmental improvement work 22% volunteered in teaching or coaching formally and informally The UK is a leader in the field in angling based youth education and inclusion work Angling organisations have helped restore and develop local waters as genuine community assets, bringing people together and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour Angling can stimulate the economy in rural areas and coastal towns through tourism, particularly outside of the traditional season. In one case study angling tourists contributed around £1 million a year to a remote rural area David Moore, Chair of the Angling Development Board which is sponsoring the conference explained: ‘This groundbreaking research by Substance has collected and analysed a wealth of information and personal experiences and demonstrates that angling is about far more than catching fish, it has vast un-tapped potential for improving people’s lives their health and wellbeing.‘ The research also reveals that angling, one of the nation’s most popular pastimes: Can assist good health and well being – as a preventative measure helping to reduce stress and as a treatment to restore health after strokes, cancer treatment, mental illness, inactivity or trauma. Can involve intense physical activity – although often thought of as a sedentary sport, the research found that 34% of game anglers surveyed said that their fishing involved high levels of intensity physical activity; and around half of all anglers saying that it involved moderate physical activity. Is a gateway activity that can lead to participation in cleaning up the environment, rivers and beaches – over a quarter of anglers surveyed said that they took part in some environmental improvement work. Helps young people reconnect with education and avoid crime. The Big Lottery Fund Head of UK Policy, Chris Butcher, who will open the conference said: ‘Lottery funded research must have practical use – to inform policy and to improve practice. This research has demonstrated real benefits to community organisations as well as national bodies by showing how angling can help improve people’s lives.‘ Media Enquiries: Dr. Adam Brown, Director, Substance: 07974 963 020 – adam@substance.coop Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive Angling Trust: 07973 468 198 – mark.lloyd@anglingtrust.net Notes to Editors: The Fishing for Answers conference is to be held today at the Coin St Neighbourhood Centre, Southbank, London. The conference begins at 9.30am and finishes at 3.30 pm. www.anglingresearch.org.uk/conference ‘The Social and Community Benefits of Angling’ project: A 3-year research PROJECT funded by the Big Lottery Fund (all research outputs are freely available at www.resources.anglingresearch.org.uk). The research was carried out by Substance, a social research cooperative (www.substance.coop ), from January 2009 – January 2012. The research investigated the roles angling can play for those who participate in it, young people and the communities in which it takes place. The project worked closely with angling and community organisations and charities, policymakers and anglers to help address gaps in knowledge and provide evidence of angling’s role to help influence changes in policy as well as highlight best practice. The Angling Trust: The Angling Trust is the representative body for all game, coarse and sea anglers in England. It campaigns to promote and protect angling and the environment on which the sport depends. It works with others to develop programmes to maximise the benefits that angling brings to communities, the environment and the economy. It is a membership organisation with 14,000 individual members and more than 1,500 organisation members, representing nearly 400,000 anglers. It is due to merge in April 2012 with the Angling Development Board, which is funded by Sport England and the Environment Agency to increase angling participation. wwww.anglingtrust.net or 0844 7700616. Forward this email – click HERE Post THIS LINK on a web forum.

		Please do not forward using Outlook or any other e-mail software; if the recipient clicks on the unsubscribe link then you may not receive e-mails from us in future.If you are not a member of the Angling Trust: JOIN THE ANGLING TRUST NOW online at www.anglingtrust.net or call 0844 77 00 616. All our work depends on the support of our donors and members.

Wednesday 25^th January 2012
For Immediate Release

Anglers win battle in 3 year war for water industry transparencyThe Angling Trust’s legal arm Fish Legal has won an important victory in its campaign to make England and Wales’ biggest polluters come clean about what they put into our rivers, lakes and seas, as well as what they pump out.Following a 3 year battle and concerted attempts by water companies to prevent an appeal, Fish Legal has finally managed to get the case referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). The Judge at the Upper Tribunal (UT) in London has prepared some legal questions to ask the CJEU to help decide whether water companies are “public authorities” under European legislation, and therefore subject to public scrutiny.Fish Legal acting on its own behalf and as the legal wing of the Angling Trust with its 350,000-strong membership of angling clubs and individuals, has been battling to challenge a series of decisions, firstly by the Information Commissioner, and then the Upper Tribunal in an earlier case which held that water companies are not public authorities and therefore not covered by European Legislation and UK law – which meant their filing cabinets could remain shut.As long ago as 2009, Fish Legal asked water companies for information on sewage discharges and clean-up operations at the thousands of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in England and Wales. Two companies – United Utilities and Yorkshire Water – said they were not “public authorities” and therefore did not need to provide the information by law. United Utilities took about 2 years to get the complete information to Fish Legal, whose lawyers believe the information should be available by right and not just at the whim of the water companies.

The Judge’s decision to refer the case to the European courts is exactly what Fish Legal wanted and is the next step in getting the companies to open up to inspection by anyone who wants to know what their local company is doing to their watercourses or beaches.

The Judge will ask the Court of Justice of the European Union to answer questions which help to understand what a “public authority” is in European legislation and whether bodies like water companies are included.

Justin Neal, Head Solicitor for Fish Legal said: “it has taken 3 years to get to this position and we may have to wait another two years for the European Courts to provide answers to these questions. Nevertheless, we hope that common sense will prevail and that they will conclude that the privatisation of the water industry didn’t take information out of the hands of the general public.”

Leading barrister, David Wolfe, who provided the legal advice and representation for FL, commented, “I have been pleased to assist Fish Legal in getting the case the CJEU. I am optimistic that the CJEU will give an answer which will help everyone wanting information from water companies and other privatised utilities.”

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal said: “Water Companies should not be able to hide what they are getting up to. Water quality and quantity affect us all, and our legal team are committed to doing all they can to get access to this vital information not just for anglers, but for everyone who cares about the state of our rivers and coasts. This case could take five years for us to win, but it will be of benefit to generations of anglers and environmental campaigners.”

Notes to Editors
1.Fish Legal and Emily Shirley v ICO and United Utilities, Yorkshire Water and Southern Water, was heard at the Upper Tribunal (UT) in London on 10th January 2012.

2.Fish Legal is the legal arm of the Angling Trust and takes legal action throughout the UK on behalf of its membership of angling clubs, riparian owners and fisheries. More information at www.fishlegal.net

Media Contacts
Mark Lloyd 07973 468198 or mark.lloyd@anglingtrust.net

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www.cormorantwatch.org - click here to report cormorant sightings

An update on www.cormorantwatch.org
STOP PRESS: The Angling Trust’s Cormorant Watch website
has now recorded over 50,000 sightings since June 14th!
Following a high level intervention by the Angling Trust last year Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon announced at the 2011 Angling Summit in the House of Commons that he is now prepared to take “bold decisions” and overhaul the procedures for controlling cormorants and other fish eating birds that are causing so much damage to our game and coarse fish stocks. Read on for the latest news…The Angling Trust is in there fighting on your behalf to get the best possible deal for anglers. We have attended several meetings of the new Defra Licensing Review group along with representatives from the RSPB, Natural England and others. There are more of these meetings planned, and we are currently undertaking a major research project to develop detailed case studies of the damage caused by fish-eating birds based on the information that our members and others have sent us.We are taking Mr. Benyon on a visit to a major cormorant roost so he can see for himself the problems these birds are causing. Our Cormorant Control Hotline in partnership with BASC continues to help our members successfully complete the lengthy form filling involved in applying for a license to control fish eating birds. The Angling Trust is also supporting the excellent work of the Avon Roach Project and is helping to ensure that their petition calling for much greater controls of cormorants is presented directly to the minister at Defra along with the feedback we have received from people like yourself via www.cormorantwatch.org.We expect there to be some announcements of minor changes to licensing procedures in the next few weeks in advance of any major changes which might be announced in the spring of 2012. Ultimately we are looking for much more radical solutions, but this will take time.The information generated by anglers about the number and location of sightings collected through Cormorant Watch is important in supporting our case and showing the strength of feeling this issue has generated amongst anglers, fishery owners and others involved in the angling industry. We’ll certainly keep you updated on any progress we make, but in the meantime please keep using the website and encourage others to do the same by clicking HEREto forward this email to your fishing contacts.Campaigning on this issue, along with everything else we do for angling, is time-consuming and expensive. Please help the Angling Trust to help angling by making a donation to support our costs, by encouraging every angler you know to join and by renewing your membership promptly (ideally by Direct Debit) each year. The Angling Trust is rapidly becoming a force to be reckoned with, but we need far more support from the angling world if we are to take on more major campaigns such as Cormorant Watch.If for any reason you haven’t got round to renewing your membership, please get in touch by phone on 0844 77 00 616 (Option 1) or via our web site HEREand rejoin. Help us to keep growing and fighting for fish and fishing.Sign the Avon Roach Project Petition HERE.The number for Angling Trust members to call the BASC Cormorant Control Hotlineis 01244 573019. Quote your membership number and BASC’s Game and Gamekeeping Department will give advice about the best way to deal with the problem within the constraints of the current cormorant control licence and wherever possible visit the fishery and carry out the shooting free of charge. BASC will also give free help applying for and completing the paperwork required for a licence from Natural England.Please go to www.cormorantwatch.org and report your sighting.
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Wednesday 14^th December 2011

Change at the top for the BRFC
(British Record rod-caught Fish Committee)To view this email in your web browser click HERE.The BRFC meeting held on 5th December at Fishmongers Hall, London, saw the retirement of Ian Epps and the election of Mike Heylin as Chairman.The committee paid tribute to Ian who had loyally served the committee for many years having joined in December 2004 to represent freshwater fish. He was appointed as chairman following the death of his friend, Ken Ball in 2008.His time in office saw important changes to the committee, in that he formed the freshwater sub group to look specifically at those species with a view of encouraging more anglers to claim records and for the records to be ratified whenever possible more quickly. He succeeded and an example is the Freshwater record for a Crucian Carp, caught in August 2011 and ratified at the December meeting.Ian is succeeded by Mike Heylin who joined the committee in March 2007 to help resolve the then difficulties and bad press coverage surrounding freshwater claims. Mike needs no introduction, he is well respected within angling and has held numerous positions including being the present Chairman of the Angling Trust, the Governing Body of the sport within England that brings all the angling disciplines together, an ideal for which he has worked for many years.Mike’s aim is to continue the work of his predecessors, to develop and help retain the credibility of the British List by keeping records that are awarded on a strict procedures basis during which every effort is made to ensure their accuracy.The meeting notes from the 5th December meeting (which contain details of claims which were ratified by the BRFC at that meeting) are available to download HERE.Notes for Editors:
The official British Records List and procedures are available on the Angling Trust website at www.anglingtrust.net, under the “Go Fishing Section”¨ or from the Secretary. The list will be updated as soon as possible following each meeting.Please note that a new version of the BRFC logo is available to download from the foot of the page HERE.The Committee exists to recognise and publish record weights of both fresh and salt water fish caught on rod and line by fair angling methods in the waters of England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands, and aims:

To provide an adjudicating body to which marine and freshwater anglers may submit claims for record fish taken by fair rod and line angling.
To investigate all such record claims to the fullest possible extent and maintain a permanent record of such investigations.
To establish and maintain accurately a list of British fish, marine and freshwater, of record size and to publish this list frequently and make it readily available to all interested persons.

The activities of the Committee are voluntary, and claims are considered and adjudicated upon, only on the basis that the Committee shall be under no obligation whatsoever to claimants, that its decisions shall be final, and it shall not be obliged to give reasons for its decisions.

For further information please contact;
David Rowe – Hon Secretary
British Record (Rod Caught) Fish Committee
Simar, 3 Pottery Road
Bovey Tracey,
Devon , TQ139DS.

Tel Home 01626833058
Mobile 07778137626
Email: dr@davidrowe.eclipse.co.uk

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Salter is back fighting for fishing

Martin Salter, the new National Campaigns Coordinator for the Angling Trust, Charles Walker, Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Angling Group and Mark Lloyd, Angling Trust Chief Executive

Image: Martin Salter, the new National Campaigns Coordinator for the Angling Trust, Charles Walker, Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Angling Group and Mark Lloyd, Angling Trust Chief ExecutiveBig names from the worlds of fishing and politics have this week welcomed the appointment of former parliamentary angling spokesman Martin Salter as the new National Campaigns Coordinator for the Angling Trust.Martin, who stood down from the House of Commons at the last election, has recently returned from ‘a fishing and writing sabbatical’ in Australia which saw him publish a landmark report – Keep Australia Fishing – on the challenges facing the recreational fishing sector. Martin has made good his pre election promise to return and campaign for a better deal for both anglers and for the fisheries on which our sport depends. This new, part time post has been made possible following donations from the Angling Trades Association (ATA) and two individual benefactors who support the Angling Trust.Martin is to be based within the Angling Trust but will be working across the sector as a whole to promote greater unity and improved joint working. In addition to assisting in campaigning, fundraising and political lobbying, Martin hopes to help drive up membership and increase participation in both the AT and ATA.National Campaigns Coordinator – Principal Roles:
- Supporting angling participation programmes
- Liaising with angling trades & other representative angling bodies
- Parliamentary and Ministerial liaison and political lobbying
- Membership recruitment & engagement
- Campaigns and communication
- Raising the media profile of angling
- Strategy advice and policy developmentMartin’s appointment has been strongly endorsed by those at the very top of angling in the UK.Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon MP said:
“I am really pleased that Martin will be active in the Angling Trust working with the Angling Trades Association to promote angling across the UK. Over the years I have built a healthy respect for Martin’s knowledge and passion for angling. I look forward to working with him in his new role and to seeing more people of all ages on our river banks and lakes.”Robin Morley, Sales Director of Daiwa UK said:
” I am delighted that we have managed to secure Martin Salter’s services to encourage, support and promote angling in the UK. Having known Martin for many years I know his passion for angling, not to mention his vast experience gained over the previous 13 years in Parliament, will prove invaluable in promoting angling to the level it deserves.I would also like to thank all the UK tackle companies who have made this possible by their contributions to the Angling Participation Fund organised by the Angling Trade Association (ATA)”

Charles Walker MP, Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Angling said:
“I believe that Martin Salter has been one of the most outstanding politicians of his generation when it comes to the championing of fishing interests. His depth and breadth of knowledge continues to be appreciated across the political spectrum, as does his campaigning zeal.”

Mark Lloyd, Angling Trust Chief Executive said “Martin Salter is quite simply the best person the Angling Trust could possibly employ to campaign for anglers’ interests. He has great contacts in Parliament, an encyclopaedic knowledge of angling and fisheries issues, and huge experience of communicating and lobbying at every level. We are very grateful to everyone who donated to make this possible. We hope that his appointment will encourage more individual anglers to get off the fence and join the Angling Trust so that we can continue to expand our work fighting for fish and fishing.”

Naidre Werner, Chairman of the Angling Trades Association said:
” With a fabulous contribution from the trade, we are able to enlist someone of Martin’s calibre and experience to raise the profile of angling and benefit of us all. The next twelve months will be very exciting.”

Wildlife photographer and film maker Hugh Miles said:
“Our rivers and fish life are in desperate trouble and we couldn’t wish for a more energetic and efficient champion to fight their corner than Martin Salter”.

Chris Yates, author and former record carp holder said:
“To have such a committed, experienced and passionate campaigner as Martin Salter fighting for our rivers will give every angler cause for hope and I applaud his appointment to the Angling Trust.”

Paul Knight, CEO of the Salmon and Trout Association added:
“S&TA is very pleased to see Martin Salter back involved in angling and fisheries politics in England. We worked very closely with him when he was Angling Liaison Officer for the last Government, and we look forward to doing so again as he looks to unite the different approaches from the various angling and fisheries organisations into a unified voice for the benefit of both the sport and the aquatic resource upon which it depends.”

Angling writer and travel guide John Bailey said:
“I have known Martin for several years now and worked with him on a number of projects. I remain impressed by his vision, his energy and his ability to communicate. Above all, I like his obvious sincerity. Martin is no glib politician, he cares through and through for the causes he espouses. He is a terrific friend of angling and I for one will give him all my support. I really hope we have the opportunity to work together again in 2012 and do something positive for the sport we loveand believe in. This is, I believe, a really positive move for the Angling Trust and has made me personally want to get more on board.”

Angling columnist and broadcaster Keith Arthur added:
” Since I have known Martin and, more importantly the job he has done for angling, the more I am convinced that he is what we need to carry our message. He is the perfect advocate for our sport, in my opinion.”

Mike Thrussell, Director, World Sea Fishing Ltd added:
” Martin Salter has a proven passion and track record for both defending and promoting angling. His appointment to the Angling Trust as National Campaigns Coordinator brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, influential contacts and know how that will push angling to the forefront and also contribute greatly to maintaining and growing the sport for the future. My hope and expectation is that his known ability to bring people together will also help unify and strengthen the sport so that anglers from all disciplines work together to secure a positive future.”

Martin Salter concluded:
” After an 18 month break to re-charge my batteries it’s great to be back and fighting for fishing. I particularly grateful to Mark Lloyd at the AT and Naidre Werner at the ATA for giving me the opportunity to put my skills, experience and contacts to good use and for the benefit of the sport we all love.

My first job is to recruit some high profile ambassadors to help me raise the profile of the Angling Trust so that it can become a really strong and powerful voice for recreational fishing and the environment. I’m particularly keen to get some effective outcomes from the current Defra review of cormorant predation which has caused so much damage to fish stocks.

I am already lined up to attend a range of ministerial and other meetings and will be addressing conferences and supporting the excellent work of Angling Trust campaigners Mark Owen (Freshwater) and David Mitchell (Sea Angling) and the legal team headed by Justin Neal. I will be the main point of contact with my former colleagues on the All Party Parliamentary Group on Angling and will be developing and helping to implement a wider angling and fisheries campaign strategy for 2012.”

–ENDS–

Photo: A full size high resolution version of the photograph above is available for download from the Angling Trust website – click HERE (5MB zip file). If you have any difficulty downloading this file please email Mark Lloyd below.

More Info: Mark Lloyd mark.lloyd@anglingtrust.net 07973 468198 or Naidre Werner 07767 371802 or Martin Salter 07976 946033

Notes to Editors:
1. The Angling Trust is the single representative body for all game, coarse and sea anglers in England. Its legal arm Fish Legal operates throughout the UK. The Trust is recognised by Sport England as the governing body for competition angling and is due to merge with the Angling Development Board in April 2012. It has more than 1,500 angling clubs, river associations, consultatives and specialist angling bodies in membership (representing nearly 400,000 anglers) and 14,000 individual members.
www.anglingtrust.net

2. The Angling Trades Association (ATA) is the only trade body representing the angling industry. Among its members are most of the leading suppliers within the business as well as the country’s leading retailers. Its aim is to promote, represent and protect the trade across all three angling disciplines – sea, game and coarse fishing.
www.anglingtradesassociation.com

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Friday 18th November 2011
For immediate release.

To view this email in your web browser click HERE.Angling Trust Celebrates its 1,500th Member OrganisationThis week, the Barbel Society was the 1,500th angling organisation to join the Angling Trust.Since its formation less than three years ago the Trust has grown to represent more than 350,000 anglers, these clubs and river associations are a powerful political force to support the Trust’s campaigns to protect marine and freshwater fish stocks and anglers’ rights, and are one of the largest networks of clubs and associations of any sport. They range from Abbey Cross Angling Society to Zeal Monachorum Fishing Club and from recently-formed syndicates of 10 members to 10,000-strong clubs with more than a century of history behind them.Steve Pope, Chairman of the Barbel Society said “The Barbel Society has been watching with interest the development of the Angling Trust since they formed two years ago. Following its recent successes fighting pollution, fish theft, predation by cormorants and getting £100 million Government funding to improve the UK’s rivers we decided the time was right to join up and support their work which will benefit barbel angling and therefore our own members.“ Angling Trust and Barbel Society Logos

The Barbel Society are the 1,500th angling organisation to join the Angling TrustClubs like the Barbel Society pay a subscription of between £50 and over £600, depending on their size, to become part of angling’s unified representative body. They receive highly preferential rates for specialised civil liability insurance which is essential in the modern world. They also benefit from advice sheets on a wide range of subjects, a free (optional) listing on the Angling Trust’s find a club web page, and (for the 900 clubs who have opted to join Fish Legal) free legal action if their waters are polluted or damaged.

The Trust will be introducing new benefits for member clubs in the coming months. Individual membership of the Trust, which costs just £25 a year, is also increasing and has reached 14,335.

Angling Trust Membership Manager Will Smith is determined to increase this number further and said: “All serious anglers should join the Angling Trust as individual members to support the work we do fighting pollution, tackling cormorant predation and representing anglers. Individual members provide the resources and the political clout to enable us to do more for the benefit of all anglers. As a member of the Barbel Society myself, I’m delighted that they have joined, but I’m also an individual member of the Trust.”

Pete Reading, Secretary and Research & Conservation Chairman of the Barbel Society said “I am delighted that the Society has now given full support to the work of the Angling Trust. The Research and Conservation work of the Barbel Society shares the common aims of the work of the Trust, and we look forward to working together to protect and improve the quality of our riverine environment.”

Mark Lloyd, Angling Trust Chief Executive said “The Angling Trust is delighted to welcome the Barbel Society as new members of the Trust. Specialist and single species anglers are particularly passionate about their fishing and this is reflected in the growing number of them who are supporting our work to protect and promote fish and fishing. We recognise the fantastic work that the Barbel Society does to protect and increase understanding of the barbel and its natural environment.”

Contact Details:
For further quotes or high resolution images/logos please contact
Will Smith
Angling Trust Membership Manager
will.smith@anglingtrust.net

See: www.anglingtrust.net and www.barbelsociety.co.uk for more information on both organisations.

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Clubs and Syndicates which join the Angling Trust get:

Access to significantly reduced rates on Civil Liability insurance.
Free advertising on the Angling Trust’s online “Find a Club” search engine.
Free lobbying for protection of fisheries and angling on issues such as fish disease, cormorant control and environmental legislation.
Free expert advice and fact sheets on fisheries management issues such as predator control, invasive weeds, finance and grants for improving your fishery and club, risk management, health and safety and fishing In the sea & tidal waters.
Access to UK Coaching Certificate endorsed coaching qualifications.
Advice on funding and applications for Clubmark for Angling accreditation.
Regular updates on the Angling Trust’s activities and issues affecting your fishery and anglers’ interests.

Clubs which join the Angling Trust’s and its legal arm Fish Legal in addition get:

Free legal advice on a range of angling-related legal issues.
Access to specialist solicitors, top barristers and other experts.
Costs of legal representation against polluters and anyone else who damages your fishery. We’ve got over 60 such cases currently ongoing.
Full range of legal factsheets on over 20 angling related topics.

An Angling Trust Club and Syndicate joining form can be downloaded HERE.

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Tuesday 14^th November 2011
For immediate release.

Korda Carp Team England
5 year deal signed with the Angling TrustTo read this email in your web browser click HERE.The Angling Trust is delighted to announce that it has signed a 5 year deal with Korda to sponsor Carp Team England. The deal, worth more than £100,000 in cash and business support will pay for England’s best carp anglers to travel wherever the World Carp Championships are held each year, along with a strong team of journalists and TV production crew.Korda’s involvement will help produce a platform to propel international carp fishing to a new level in this country. With their expertise in delivering excellent television, internet and magazine material, along with an abundance of commercial knowledge, Carp Team England’s journey will be televised and covered heavily in the angling media.Ali Hamidi of Korda said: “ We are delighted to work with the new unified representative body for all angling to support Carp Team England. For years now there has been insufficient financial backing for the team, almost no media recognition and despite some good results that elusive gold team medal has not been achieved. I believe everything goes hand in hand, if you’ve got great back office support, with a unified patriotic team, and the talent pool of anglers that we have in this country then we can all look forward to a great future with Carp Team England becoming the most successful carp team in world angling. For too long, international carp fishing has been overlooked, but with our media work and our unprecedented TV coverage, we will set new heights with this. It should act as a figure of inspiration for younger anglers, who can aspire to represent their country in their favourite hobby. Our growing relationship with the Angling Trust should also help them grow the member base to help ensure a bright future for angling in the UK. We can’t wait to set-up paths to entry into the team and get the ball rolling. This is exciting times for the sport, and Korda Carp Team England will really help in growing carp fishing not just in this country, but across Europe“.Dick Clegg, Angling Trust’s International Events Manager, said: “This is excellent news for Carp Team England. To have such a well-respected sponsor from the carp fishing industry supporting the team, gives us a great opportunity to develop the team further and build on the previous successes.“The Angling Trust’s Finance & Business Manager, Stuart Sharp, who joined the Trust in August and finalised the deal with Korda over the past few weeks said: “This is a fantastic deal for Carp Team England and for angling as a whole. Korda’s commitment to the England team and the development of the competitive side of carp fishing is clear to see. We look forward to working with Korda to maximise the value for them as a sponsor and to ensure that the team can focus on fishing, rather than fundraising to pay their way. We are looking for sponsors for many other England teams and are eager to hear from any potential sponsors who might be interested in following the lead of Korda by backing the best carp anglers in the country.“Contact:
For more information about this news item please contact Stuart Sharp.Stuart Sharp
Finance & Business Manager
The Angling Trust
stuart.sharp@anglingtrust.net

Monday 14th November 2011
For immediate release.

To view this email in your web browser click HERE.Most hydropower schemes are a waste of taxpayers’ money and
damaging to the environment, says new reportA new report has slammed the way in which the Environment Agency is pressing ahead with plans to allow huge, ‘fish mincing’ turbines to be installed on many rivers in England and Wales without adequate environmental protection, monitoring or regulation. Widespread development of hydropower could cause serious environmental damage and destroy productive fisheries. Huge amounts of public money are being wasted for precious little return in electricity generated. Dead Fish

The Environment Agency is pressing ahead with plans to allow huge, ‘fish mincing’ turbines to be installed on many rivers in England and Wales. Such schemes will contribute less than 0.5% of the nation’s electricity and cause massive damage to the ecology and beauty of the country’s rivers.Angling’s representative body the Angling Trust has today published the report, detailing the impact of run of river hydropower turbines on rivers and their fisheries. The Trust sets out a 10 point plan for the Government and the Environment Agency to address current failings in public policy on hydropower. The report details these failings, along with a number of case studies which highlight an absence of proper planning, poor environmental impact assessments, no strategic appraisal of the impact of multiple turbines on river systems, a lack of enforcement of licence conditions and a licence application system which is biased towards developers.The report gives examples of a massive waste of precious public funds on developing impractical schemes (£150,000 was wasted by one local authority); on regulating applications (at least 8,000 Environment Agency man hours were spent on one scheme alone); and on subsidising schemes with generous Feed in Tariffs. The Government’s own advisors estimate that run of river hydropower will contribute less than 0.5% of the nation’s electricity. To achieve this amount would require tens of thousands of turbines to be installed and cause massive damage to the ecology and beauty of the country’s rivers.The report, “Angling Trust Position Statement on Run of River Hydropower” is available from the Angling Trust website HERE.The Trust acknowledges some exceptional good practice case studies, which pass the sustainable hydropower three stage test:
1. if the development can be proved to have a very low impact on the ecology and other functions of the rivers both individually and cumulatively with other schemes and;
2. if it is installed on an existing weir and;
3. if that weir cannot be removed or eased for technical reasons or because it has some other legitimate and long standing function (such as navigation on heavily used rivers).The 10 point plan calls on the Government to set out a clear vision for an integrated sustainable energy strategy and to pay subsidies only to schemes which pass the sustainable hydropower three stage test. It calls on the Environment Agency to apply the precautionary principle, to implement the EU’s Water Framework Directive and not to issue licences which permit any fish to be killed in the turbines.The Angling Trust has produced the report because it has been inundated by concerns raised by hundreds of its member clubs and riparian owners who fish on rivers threatened with turbines. Hydropower can damage fish and their habitats and the structures can hinder their migration up and downstream, something that nearly all species of fish need to do to complete their lifecycle. The more turbines there are on a river system, the greater the damage. Licences are currently being granted on a first-come, first-served basis, rather than to the least damaging and most efficient schemes.Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust said: “Tackling climate change is vitally important, but run of river hydropower is not the solution, or even a viable part of the solution, it’s just green tokenism. It cannot be called green energy if it damages the natural functions of rivers and our already threatened fish stocks. There should be a halt to all new applications, and a withdrawal of Feed In Tariffs until a proper strategic environmental assessment of the impact of hydropower has been carried out. The chaotic gold rush that is going on at the moment could do huge damage to the future of river angling which is enjoyed by millions of people and supports tens of thousands of jobs.“David Hinks, Chairman of the Ribble Fisheries Consultative Association said: “We have seen first hand how a hydropower scheme has been badly planned, implemented and regulated at Settle weir. The prospect of further hydropower developments on the river where thousands of us fish fills us with despair. These schemes generate tiny amounts of power for the national grid, but do big damage to fisheries and our fishing.“Download the report:
The Angling Trust Position Statement on Run of River Hydropower report is available from the Angling Trust website HERE.Contact Details:
For additional quotes and high resolution images contact Mark Lloyd – Angling Trust – 07973 468198
mark.lloyd@anglingtrust.netTo protect the future of fish and fishing join the Angling Trust HERE.Help support Angling’s representative body and our work fighting for anglers, fish and fishing by clicking HEREto forward this email to a friend or colleague.

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Friday 11 November 2012

Briefing for the Fisheries Debate in the House of Commons Tuesday November 15th 2011The Angling Trust is the new united organisation for all anglers in England. Our membership comprises nearly 1,500 angling clubs, fisheries and riparian owners with a collective membership of more than 350,000 anglers.Recreational angling contributes in excess of £5 billion to the UK economy each year, with more than £1 billion of this coming from recreational sea angling. The 3 million people
who go fishing each year support over 37,000 jobs in England and Wales alone.The Angling Trades Association represents angling manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, publishers
and distributors. Its function is to promote, represent and protect the trade. In so doing it aims to achieve not only long-term stability for the sport but, more importantly, growth and development.For many anglers, fishing is far more than a sport – it is a central part of who they are. Their passion depends on healthy fish stocks, and most fish stocks are in dramatic decline – if current trends continue. Their passion also relies on access to these fish stocks which are, after all, commonly-owned
resources and described in the United Nations’ Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries as, “one of society’s natural heritage”.Sea anglers fear their sport is under threat from the commercial fishing lobby who seek to identify recreational sea angling as a contributing factor in the demise of ‘commercial’ fish stocks. Article 55 of the EU Common Fishery Policies Control Regulations seek to address the impact recreational fishing has on ‘commercially’ valuable stocks, such as Cod and sharks, which are under recovery plans.A DEFRA funded project being carried out by Cefas, Sea Angling 2012, will begin in 2012 to assess the impact recreational angling has on commercially important stocks in England. The failure of successive Governments to do anything positive to support sea angling means there is a high degree of suspicion from within the sea angling sector that the data collected from this project will be used to restrict and control sea angling unfairly, rather than use the data (provided it is accurate and reliable) to develop and enhance the sport.The recent summary of responses to the Government’s consultation on domestic fisheries management reform in England illustrates the view that fish stocks are seen to be property of the commercial catching sector and not a publicly-owned natural resource;“There were a number of responses that mentioned recreational angling and that this activity should
be subject to stricter controls. Currently, in many places there are no limitations placed on recreational
angling. This is seen to be unfair and, in some cases, those recreational anglers are believed to have
significant impacts on commercially valuable species such as bass, cod and haddock.”The suggestion that recreational angling is having a significant impact on these stocks is strongly refuted and is not addressing how and why these stocks have been brought to historically low levels in the first place. The decline in stocks, and therefore quota available to the commercial catching sector, has been caused by decades of scientific advice being ignored in favour of short term political gain under pressure from the commercial fishing lobby, resulting in unsustainable levels of fishing. This has in turn had a devastating impact on the sea angling sector which, perversely, is now being accused of contributing to the problem.The Angling Trust will fight vociferously to ensure that a healthy and sustainable sport such as sea angling is not made a scapegoat for the failings of previous Governments to manage properly one of our most valuable publicly-owned resources.
Many countries recognise the value of recreational fisheries as the best use of fish stocks to society and have taken measures to support and develop their recreational angling sectors.It is worth considering that in 2009 the first sale value in England and Wales of commercial landings of species also targeted by anglers was £30.3m. Five years earlier the annual spend of recreational sea anglers in the UK targeting the same species was estimated to be at least £1 billion annually according to a
report, Net Benefits, produced in 2004 by the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit which also concluded:
“fisheries management policy should recognise that sea angling may, in some circumstances, provide a
better return on the use of some resources than commercial exploitation.”
However, despite this recommendation, and the clear value of sea angling to society, no action has ever been taken to support this.The Angling Trust is issuing this briefing in advance of the annual Fisheries Debate with an appeal to Ministers and the Members of Parliament who represent this huge constituency. We call on our representatives to focus this year’s debate on how Britain can lead the way in Europe in calling for the
sustainable management of fish stocks for the benefit to society as a whole, and with decisions based on sound scientific evidence.We need:
• The social, cultural and economic contribution of recreational sea angling to be recognised if fish stocks are to be managed for the good of society as a whole;
• an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management including multi-stock management plans;
• emergency measures to allow member states to take conservation measures that apply to vessels flying flags of all member states within the 12 nautical mile zone;
• measures to reduce discards through the application of technical measures such as adapted gear types and closed areas to reduce the overall mortality of under size, overquota
and ‘unwanted’ species;
• an end to the political horse trading and lobbying at the December Council negotiations which results in quotas regularly exceeding scientific advice;
• improved compliance and enforcement preventing all forms of illegal commercial fishing.There is an opportunity to save our fish stocks in the next two years through fundamental reform of the Common Fisheries Policy and we recognise the Government’s efforts to reform the CFP. However, we call on politicians of all parties to resist the lobbying by the commercial fishing sector and put aside
the short-term political decision making that has contributed to scientific advice being routinely ignored and many of our fish stocks being exploited at unsustainable levels.Millions of anglers and thousands of businesses that supply and service the UK’s sea angling sector throughout the country demand that their elected representatives go to Europe and fight for what is right; fisheries management based on restoring and maintaining fish stocks for future generations so
that we can all enjoy a sustainable harvest of the oceans’ fish resources.
Angling Trust 2011
Contact For Enquiries:
David Mitchell
Email: david.mitchell@anglingtrust.net
Tel: 07966146588

Saturday 5^th November 2011
For immediate release

Anglers: ‘Just Say No to More Slurry in River Ribble’To view this email in your web browser click HERE.The Angling Trust has called on Ribble Valley Council to deny planning permission for the expansion of Withgill Farm, the owner of which has already been prosecuted once and cautioned twice for causing pollution of local watercourses. The farmer is renowned for spreading vast quantities of slurry on his land and neighbouring fields and the Bashall Brook, which flows into the River Ribble nearby, is already almost devoid of fish below the farm as a direct result. The slurry is so spread so thickly that it is visible from space on Google Earth.In his application for the expansion, the farmer has claimed that the new facility will not affect protected or priority species, or designated sites important to habitats or other biodiversity features. Several of the species in the River Ribble are priority conservation species and his farm practices are known to cause pollution which damages the ecology of the river system.The River Ribble is a prime coarse and game fishing river with barbel, salmon and sea trout. One of the main problems with the river is pollution from farms which poisons fish and the invertebrates on which they feed. When slurry enters the water bacteria break it down very rapidly and in the process remove the oxygen from the water which is essential to support aquatic life. Thousands of anglers fish the river, often travelling from all over the country and supporting local businesses.The Angling Trust is supporting its members the Hodder Consultative and the Ribble Fisheries Consultative Association who have written to the Council raising their concerns.John Whitham, Secretary of the Ribble Fisheries Consultative Association said: “Expanding this farm’s operation is the last thing that the Council should be thinking. It is notorious as a hotspot for pollution and if the farmer doesn’t clean up his act the farm should be closed down rather than expanded.“Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust said: “Any farm causing pollution on this scale should be forced to clean up, or shut up shop. The Angling Trust has written to the Council to object to this planning application. We will draw to their attention the importance of fishing to their constituents and its value to the local economy which far outweigh the economic benefit of one intensive, badly managed farm.“Notes to Editors
1. The expansion of the farm is planning application 3/2011/0753.
2. Withgill Farm Limited has had 2 formal cautions, the first accepted on 24 April 2007, and the second on 19 May 2009. The company were also prosecuted on 26 September 2007 at Accrington Magistrates Court and were fined £4,000 with costs of £1,994.26. On all these occasions, the charges related to causing polluting matter to enter controlled waters.
3. The Angling Trust is the representative body for all anglers in England and represents nearly 1,500 angling clubs, consultatives and fisheries comprising nearly 400,000 anglers. The Trust’s legal arm, Fish Legal, operates throughout the UK, taking legal action against polluters and others who damage its members’ fishing.
4. The Ribble Fisheries Consultative Association is the umbrella organisation representing fisheries interests within the Ribble catchment. Membership includes riparian owners, landowners, angling clubs and individual anglers. Its objective being to safeguard and promote the interests of owners, lessees of fishing, and anglers, by developing sustainable fisheries and maximising the riverine environment, through consultation with the Environment Agency and other bodies with similar aims and objectives.

Wednesday 2^nd November 2011
For immediate release

Environment Agency ‘Complacent’ about Hydropower RegulationTo view this email in your web browser click HERE.The Angling Trust has written to the Environment Agency demanding action after it was revealed that Settle Hydro on the River Ribble has breached its licence 238 times in just 12 months, but has not faced any enforcement action from the regulator.Volunteers from the Ribble Fisheries Consultative Association have compiled a catalogue of errors and mismanagement at the hydropower installation since it opened in January 2010 and had opposed its construction because of fears about the impact on salmon and sea trout runs on what is one of the top six rivers for migratory fish in England and Wales.Failures with the scheme include:

A failure to provide a detailed environmental assessment of the impact on fisheries and other aquatic ecology, but the EA issued a licence anyway;
The transducer had not been correctly maintained thus leading to faulty operation.
Staff gauges had not been installed, as required in the plans.
Markers on the fish pass were not maintained.
Water abstracted was not recorded on a daily basis.
There were missing periods of data which appear to have been lost!
The control point for abstraction does not conform to the Detailed Project Plan.
Another gate to control abstraction is not watertight and therefore allows water to flow through the screw when it should be flowing through the fish pass.
The turbine sometimes operates for just 30 seconds, creating pulses of flow and rapid rises and fall in water levels which disrupt fish migration.
No data has been released, despite numerous requests, about the flow of water coming out of the turbines. This is important because if it is too strong, it could attract fish away from the fish pass.
The first audit of the installation was not carried out for 17 months, but led to no enforcement action, despite numerous breaches of licence.

David Hinks, Chairman of the Ribble Fisheries Consultative Association said: “The operation of this installation is a complete shambles and the regulator should do its job and take them to court or force them to shut down and allow fish to swim through the fish pass freely again. We are fed up of having to police this private enterprise and then when we pass on information to the authorities finding that nothing has been done.”

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust said: “We have been inundated with requests for help from our members the length and breadth of the country about poorly planned and managed hydropower installations. These turbines are doing damage to fisheries already, and many more are being licenced without proper plans being in place. The situation is out of control and we call on the Government to stop subsidising this environmentally-damaging industry which will contribute a miniscule amount to the national electricity supply.”

The Angling Trust will shortly launch a report setting out its national concerns about the damage hydropower could do to fish and rivers without proper controls and regulation. Settle hydro is one of the case studies in this report.

For further information contact
admin@anglingtrust.net or call
0844 77 00 616 (Option 1)

Thursday 13th October 2011
For immediate release.

Angling Trust Kayak Angling NewsBOOK NOW: NEW SAFETY COURSE DATE ANNOUNCED – BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
We are delighted to announce that due to popular demand we will be holding another kayak fishing safety course before the end of the year at Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire on November 12th. Places are limited to 12 on the day so please contact the Angling Trust immediately to book your place. Call us on 0844 77 00 616 (Option 1)during office hours and book your place today. Courses only cost £46 incl. VAT for Angling Trust members and offer great value for money. The price for non-members is £82 incl. VAT so this represents a saving of £36 for being an Angling Trust member.Here’s what one happy angler said after recently completing the course;
“This course is a must for the novice paddler and a good refresher for those with more experience. I found this course both fun and informing on many aspects of kayak angling from self rescue, paddle techniques, anchoring right through to fish recognition. It is a day well spent. Paul and Simon do a great job and you never know – it may save your life.“CHRISTCHURCH HARBOUR GRAND SLAM PUTS KAYAKER ANGLERS’ SKILLS TO THE LIMIT
Good things come to those who wait – and the first Angling Trust kayak fishing Grand Slam champion will have to wait until 2012. Despite some decent fish being caught during the Grand Slam in Christchurch Harbour on September 18th no one competing managed to catch both mullet and bass, leaving the title still to be claimed.The competition is supposed to be highly challenging with around only 10 per cent achieving the Grand Slam (catching one of each target species). It relies on targeting challenging specimen fish, so what better challenge than mullet and bass.There is real kudos in achieving the Grand Slam and the Lower Stour fishery can certainly brag about specimens. In 2011 double figure mullet and high double figure bass have all been caught in this protected catch and release water. Big Dave Neil

‘Big Dave’ Neil receives the individual mullet trophy‘Big Dave’ Neil ended up taking the individual mullet trophy with a 20.75 inch thin-lipped fish while Adrian Saunders took the bass trophy with a hard-fought 17.5 inch fish.Overall there was an average of just over two fish per entrant with Dave Neil taking five mullet and a Flounder in total while the ADB’s officer in the South East, Danny Williams, had four Bass and a Chub – on the fly!Heavy rain showers and gusting force sixes didn’t stop those ‘non competitive’ anglers from doing drift after drift and paddling against wind, rain and tide to be the first to win the coveted ‘slam’.The recording and awards session saw some happy smiling, and exhausted, anglers who had really got into the spirit of the competition and given their all to get the ‘Slam’.This event would not have happened had it not been for the generous support of Crazywater (assisted by Loni’s Tackle) and Semcorp Bournemouth Water. Plus the team of helpers that committed all their efforts to getting this new format off the ground. Thanks go to them all.LADRAM BAY KAYAK FISHING SAFETY COURSE A SELL OUT SUCCESS
Eleven happy anglers completed the Angling Trust’s kayak fishing safety course at Ladram Bay in Devon on Saturday 24th of September. Sidmouth Lifeboat and crew

The Sidmouth Lifeboat gave the group an experience they’ll never forget, or want to repeat for real!Novices, experienced kayak anglers and even a BCU instructor were on the course which began with everyone capsizing their kayaks in order to learn self-rescue and assisted-rescue techniques before practising their new skills in a simulated rescue when the Sidmouth Lifeboat and crew joined the group to practice their skills and give those on the course an experience they’ll never forget, or want to repeat for real – being plucked from the sea by the emergency services! At one stage the Lifeboat crew managed eight anglers on the boat at once – with kayaks! Check out the video on YouTube here.Safe angling and fish handling techniques were learned on shore with course leaders Paul Fennell and Simon Everett giving out handy hints and tips on rigging your kayak, kit lists, trip planning, safety gear and much more. It was then back on the water for paddling skills and techniques, anchoring, using a drogue and much more that was covered in an enjoyable, eventful and educational day.After completing the course Steve Cowen said “Having returned from attending the Safety course at Ladram Bay I have to say it is worth every penny. Even after two years of fishing quite happily from a kayak I can say with all honesty that I am now 100 per cent more confident in my ability to paddle, self rescue, anchor and fish more safely, and deal with any unforeseen situations.Anyone thinking of doing the course is strongly recommended to do so. Even with my 11 years served as a military diver and arctic survival training, there was still plenty for me to learn.A well planned and executed course, so a massive thank you to both Paul and Simon who passed on their expertise and knowledge in a fun packed day”.Course leader Paul Fennell said “The course is an evolution of the old kayak angling courses run several years ago when the sport arrived in the UK. It has now been developed to be even more UK angling specific. The feedback has been superb and as a coach, the improvements by the participants very rewarding. We look forward to developing the courses further and with the Angling Trusts help establishing the sport into the mainstream of angling“.REACTION TO MASS TRESPASS PROTEST
We are aware that some of our kayak angling members have had concerns over our attitude to kayaks based on the press release issued on Tuesday “Angling Trust calls on British Canoe Union to Condemn Mass Trespass Protest”.We would like to make it clear that our objections are to the illegal nature of the protest taking place during a fishing match that anglers of the Avon have paid for and travelled to in order to fish. The disturbance caused by this event would mean these anglers being unfairly disadvantaged through no fault of their own.For this very reason the Angling Trust’s code of conduct for freshwater kayak angling was drawn up in full consultation with our members. The code explicitly states: Never encroach on, and minimise the disturbance to, swims being fished by others. Avoid waters being used for an angling match – check with those who own the fishing rights. We are currently negotiating freshwater fishing access for our kayak angling members and will continue to do so where we can negotiate legal access with clubs, fisheries, riparian owners and other relevant authorities. In this instance neither a code of conduct nor an access agreement has been agreed and as such we stand by our decision to condemn this irresponsible behaviour that fails to respect the interests of the River Avon’s bank anglers.The Angling Trust remains totally committed to the promotion of kayak angling and preserving the River Avon’s reputation as a top coarse angling venue – for the good of all anglers. We are working with the Angling Development Board and our kayak angling members to promote further kayak angling access, competitions and coaching.

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Monday 10th October 2011
For immediate release.

Taking Action To Tackle PoachingThe Angling Trust, angling’s representative body, has launched a Seven Point Plan to tackle poaching and fish theft in English waters. There have been widespread reports of poaching and large numbers of fish being taken illegally by individuals and criminal gangs throughout the country.1. Building Bridges
The Trust has appointed two members of staff to work with member clubs and fisheries to address illegal fishing in parts of the South West and the East of England. These pilot projects have sent messages to foreign national anglers in their own language to explain the rules of fishing in this country. Farmers employing foreign temporary workers are also being made aware of the problem and being asked to help combat it. Many of these anglers simply don’t understand the rules. Once educated, they are prepared to catch and release their fish and can become active and committed members of clubs and good customers of commercial fisheries. More details on the building Bridges project along with anti-poaching posters can be found on our website HERE.2. Crimestoppers
The Angling Trust has helped to fund and promote the Crimestoppers initiative (along with CEFAS, the Environment Agency and others) which provides a confidential freephone number 0800 555 111 for anglers, clubs and fisheries to report illegal fishing activity, thefts and illegal fish movements. Free posters are available for clubs and fisheries to help raise awareness of this number.3. Legal Advice to Members
The Angling Trust’s legal arm (Fish Legal) has provided a fact sheet for member clubs, fisheries and riparian owners about their legal position in the event of poaching or theft and what they should do if poaching occurs on their waters. Fish Legal members should call 01568 620447 to request a copy.4. Advice to Police
Fish Legal has collaborated with the National Wildlife Crime Unit, a special police task force, to raise awareness of the offence of poaching within regional police forces. This move is in response to members raising concerns that responses by local police to reported instances of poaching have been unsatisfactory and as a result it is unclear who people should contact when poaching occurred.5. Volunteer Bailiffs
The Angling Trust is working with the Environment Agency to develop a pilot scheme to recruit volunteers from angling clubs who can work alongside warranted officers from the EA to provide intelligence and check anglers’ rod licences, so that the EA can focus its expert resources on tackling serious poachers and criminal activity.6. Poacher Watch Website
The Trust is developing a website for anglers to report poaching, in a similar way to its Cormorant Watch site (www.cormorantwatch.org). Funding is being sought for this project from the angling trade.7. Political Pressure
The Trust has raised the issue of enforcement of fisheries laws and byelaws at the highest levels of the Environment Agency and Marine Management Organisation. There are widespread concerns among anglers that the investigation and prosecution of poachers is decreasing, when the problem is increasing.Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal said: “Poaching is damaging to wild fisheries, to rural and urban businesses, to the rural economy and to the enjoyment of the millions of people who fish legally and pay their rod licence each year. Many poachers are involved with organised crime. We will be raising this issue with the Environment Minister Richard Benyon when we meet with him in October and at the England and Wales Fisheries Group.“Will Rundle, Solicitor for the Angling Trust’s legal arm (Fish Legal) said:
“The new information sheet, which we drafted in consultation with the NWCU for the Police, was sent out across the NWCU network of officers in England and Wales. It should mean less confusion for the police following evidence of poaching. Ultimately, we hope this initiative will lead to more prosecutions by local police forces responding more positively to reported incidents. We also hope that this will build confidence with anglers to report suspected offences in the knowledge that more will be done than perhaps was the case before.“The Angling Trust offers the following advice to any angler or member of the public who witnesses illegal fishing, poaching or fish theft:
1. Do not approach the offender(s) yourself.
2. If you can do so without being seen, take a picture or video of the activity.
3. If you can do so without being seen, make a note of the number-plate of any vehicles involved. Most modern mobile phones have a camera or memo pad where you could record this if you don’t have a pen and paper.
4. Poaching is an offence under the 1968Theft Act. Always report ALL poaching incidents to the Police and keep a record of what you report.
5. If you suspect poaching you should also contact the Environment Agency on 0800 80 70 60 and write down their incident number. Other offences such as fishing without a rod licence, illegal fishing methods, breach of local byelaws or damage to spawning grounds should also be reported to them.
6. If you have information about fish theft or illegal fish transfers, you can also contact Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111.
7. If the incident is on a private fishery, please also contact the owners or fishing club to inform them and phone the Police.

To forward this email click HERE.To view this email in your web browser click HERE.–ENDS–For more information on this press release or for additional quotes contact admin@anglingtrust.netIf you are not already a member join the Angling Trust online at www.anglingtrust.net or by calling 0844 77 00 616 (Option 1).

Tuesday 11th October 2011.
For immediate release.

Angling Trust Calls On All Councils To Follow Rother’s Lead And Back Sea AnglingThe Angling Trust will be calling on all local authorities around England’s coast to follow the lead set by Rother District Council in East Sussex who has thrown its support behind recreational sea anglers by recognising them as all-year-round visitors and important contributors to the seaside economy.Following an impressive campaign by local anglers and businesses – which the Angling Trust’s Legal arm, Fish Legal, supported – the proposed byelaws which would have restricted sea angling and bait collection have been abandoned in favour of embracing the many benefits that angling can bring to the local community.A voluntary code of conduct for anglers will now be drawn up to ensure that Rother’s coastline can continue to be enjoyed by all beach users – including sea anglers.”We were willing to change the proposals and together we will now make even better use of our fantastic seaside resources for everyone’s benefit.” said Cllr Martin Kenward, Rother council’s lead member for culture, sport and tourism.David Mitchell, the Angling Trust’s Marine Environmental Campaigns Manager said, “The Angling Trust applauds the council’s decision. We hope it will pave the way for more local authorities to wake up to the potential social, cultural and economic benefits of supporting and developing sea angling.”He continued, “There are many coastal resorts that could take measures to reinvent themselves as angler-friendly venues and start reaping the benefits. We will be doing all we can over the coming months and years to build on the success of Rother’s anglers and ensure that sea angling is seen as an asset that should be encouraged rather than a nuisance activity that needs to be controlled.“

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Friday 9th September 2011. For immediate release.

On the brink: Conservationists reveal the rivers still sufferingLast week the Environment Agency released a list of the ten most improved rivers in England and Wales. Conservationists have criticised the report saying it presents a rosy view of river health and ignores the many waterways struggling with pollution, over abstraction and other threats.River wildlife experts at the RSPB, WWF, the Angling Trustand the Salmon and Trout Association – all partners in the Our Rivers Campaign – have responded with a list of ten rivers where not enough is being done to tackle these environmental pressures.This list paints a different picture – one in which salmon, trout, watervoles and other river wildlife are under threat. Two thirds of rivers in England and Wales are failing European targets for water quality and too little is being done to address this.The only river to appear on both lists is the Thames. Despite the Environment Agency hailing the return of salmon to the river, a University of Exeter report revealed last week that attempts to create a self sustaining salmon population in the Thames have failed. The report claims that salmon found in the Thames were more likely to be strays from other rivers.Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust said: “Last Christmas the Environment Agency put out a press release celebrating that our rivers were cleaner than at any time since the industrial revolution. We wrote to the EA to point out that this might give the wrong impression that everything was okay with our rivers.“Well, another silly season is upon us, and the Agency doesn’t seem to have listened. It has put out another release with 10 examples of improvements that have been made – there should be hundreds of examples like this if it has done its job properly. Many of the ‘success story’ rivers still suffer from sewage overflows, damaging low flows in summer and barriers to migrating fish.“Many of our fish stocks are in crisis and the EA presents this as a triumph! We will be raising this again with the EA to try to get it to see sense“Jack Clarke, Our Rivers campaigner, said: “It is right to celebrate the improvements that our rivers have seen in recent decades – but we cannot ignore the continuing threats our native river wildlife faces.”Most of the ten rivers highlighted in the Environment Agency’s report last week are doing well – but it is a different story for many hundreds of other rivers crossing England and Wales.“The stories we hear from people living near these rivers are all too familiar – salmon and trout numbers at a fraction of their former levels, sewage being released directly into the waterway, riverbeds drying up in the summer due to unsustainable abstraction. The ten rivers we have chosen illustrate these problems, but they are only examples of a much wider issue.”We are failing European targets for river health in a big way – and no amount of glossy PR from the Environment Agency is going to change that. Instead we need to see more ambition in their plans to restore rivers and we need reassurances that the Government’s upcoming Water White Paper will tackle the serious problem of over abstraction which is threatening river wildlife.“The Our Rivers campaign is currently running an online survey to help paint a picture of the state of rivers in England and Wales and find the best places to spot river wildlife. The survey results will also highlight species which have disappeared along certain rivers. To take part visit www.ourrivers.org.uk/surveyThe ten rivers chosen by the Our Rivers campaignRiver Thames- Water quality in the Thames has improved over the past 50 years. This has come about through a combination of industrial decline, investment, and the hard work of the Environment Agency, conservationists and members of the public. But pretending that the Thames has been transformed into a pristine river supporting healthy salmon populations is a step too far, as highlighted by the University of Exeter report into salmon populations in the river which concluded: “Our findings highlight the futility of long-term stocking without corresponding improvements in habitat and water quality.”Hampshire Avon- Salmon catches on the Hampshire Avon have fallen dramatically from a peak of 1,400 fish a year in the early 1970′s to around 200 fish in recent years. Salmon are a good indicator of the overall health of a freshwater ecosystem. The Environment Agency has confirmed that the Hampshire Avon has failed to reach the official conservation limit for salmon and the population is at risk. The river has also seen a dramatic fall in roach populations.River Rea- The River Rea in Birmingham suffers so much from urban diffuse pollution from the City of Birmingham that sections are designated by the Environment Agency as “Bad” for insect life under the Water Framework Directive. This is the worst category that the Environment Agency uses to classify rivers. Birmingham City Council have obtained funding to try to address this issue but it will take many years before we see improvements to this and to the river bed.River Trent- The River Trent from Stoke on Trent to the confluence of the River Tame is designated “Poor” for all fish due to urban diffuse pollution from Stoke resulting in ammonia and phosphate levels in the water which have been found to be at unacceptable levels. Historical changes to the river channel compound this issue.River Kennet- This much loved chalk stream, the longest tributary of the Thames, is perilously low this September, due to low rainfall and high levels of abstraction. Local group Action for the River Kennet was set up 20 years ago to campaign for a reduction in abstraction on this river. Despite their efforts, and agreement from both the Environment Agency and the water company that a reduced licence is needed, nothing has yet been done. In fact, earlier this year the EA renewed Thames Water’s abstraction license despite clear and critical issues of over abstraction on this river.River Beane- This river was once a thriving chalk stream, but today in its upper stretches it has almost disappeared due to high levels of water abstraction. The Environment Agency first confirmed there was a problem on this river over a decade ago, and the local water company has identified a plan to help revive the river. Yet, no action has been taken – much to the frustration of the River Beane Restoration Association.River Mimram – Issues of over abstraction on this river, a Site of Special Scientific Interest at Tewin, have been identified since the early 1990s when it was claimed to be one of the worst affected rivers in the country. Twenty years on there has been little improvement. Friends of the Mimram have been working with the local water company and the Environment Agency – who have agreed that action is needed, but yet to be taken.

River Ivel – The Ivel in Bedfordshire rises crystal clear from springs in Hitchin, Hertfordshire but as it wends its short course north through Bedfordshire to meet the Ouse, pollution from sewage, roads and farming leave the water grey and cloudy after rainfall and non native species like the north American crayfish are taking their toll on wildlife. The entire river fails to meet the Water Framework Directive’s ‘Good’ status and with the Environment Agency’s River Basin Management Plan not including any actions for improvement by 2015 it looks like nothing is going change.

River Wye – The Wye is so special it has every legal protection that can be offered but even this jewel in the crown of our river network continues to suffer. Acid water from forestry, manmade barriers to fish migration, sediment from poor farming practice which smother salmon eggs (depriving them of the water and oxygen they need to survive) and heavy abstraction all work to reduce the quality of this once great river. The Wye and Usk Foundation and others are doing their best to redress the balance but all is far from well in the nation’s favourite river.

River Ray - The River Ray in Oxfordshire, which runs past the RSPB’s Otmoor reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest nearby would once have fed wetland habitats but today its waters are deliberately diverted away from wildlife areas. It is infested with the weed azolla – or water fern – one of the UK’s most invasive non native plants. It also contains high levels of pollution from agricultural chemicals and from a sewage works upstream of the reserve.

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Notes to editors:
1. The Environment Agency’s press release ‘Back from the brink – Environment Agency reveals the most improved rivers’ can be found here – http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/news/132754.aspx?month=8&year=2011

2. An Environment Agency annual report into the health status of rivers in England and Wales last year showed 72 per cent of rivers are failing European targets. Just four rivers out of nearly 6,000 assessed remain ‘High’ status waterways of near pristine condition. There were 26 per cent in the ‘Good’ category, the required European standard. The report classed 56 per cent as ‘Moderate’, 14 per cent as ‘Poor’ and two per cent as ‘Bad’.

3. The Our Rivers campaign conducted a public vote to find the most loved and hated rivers in England and Wales last year. The Wye was voted our favourite river whilst The Thames was voted the worst. Over abstraction was one of the main reasons members of the public gave when voting in the worst river category, alongside sewage discharges, diffuse pollution, manmade structures blocking fish movements and invasive alien species such as American crayfish and mink.

4. Unsustainable abstraction currently affects one third of catchments. The Environment Agency’s Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies (CAMS) show that there are areas under pressure from abstraction right across England and Wales. 15% of CAMS units are classified as over-abstracted (existing abstraction causing unacceptable damage to the environment at low flows) and 18% are classified as over- licensed (if licences were fully utilised it may cause unacceptable damage at low flows). There is particular water stress in the south and east of England, where rainfall is lower and population density and per capita consumption is highest. Climate change and increasing demand for water, due to population and lifestyle change, are likely to increase the pressure on rivers from abstraction.

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Liberal Democrats Back Angling to Help Tackle Street RiotsAt the Liberal Democrats’ party conference in Birmingham this week, senior MPs and Peers gave their support for angling as a sport which could deter young people from antisocial behaviour in urban and rural areas.The comments were made in a series of speeches at the Rural Reception hosted by the Angling Trust and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) in Birmingham.Tom Brake MP, who is a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, and Co-Chair of the new Liberal Democrat Backbench Committee on Home Affairs, Justice and Equalities, noted that: “There are a number of projects underway using angling as a diversionary activity which would contribute to the prevention of riots. I think it is easy to overlook the kind of valuable contribution a rural sport such as angling can make to urban areas.”Lord Addington, who is also Vice President of the UK Sports Association, said: “I’d like to take a moment to address the Angling Trust and say: what you do as a sport is fantastic. Fishing is a brilliant entry sport, allowing people to practise at their own level and providing a great introduction into starting out in, and taking up, a great sport.”Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, hailed the improvements that anglers make to the water environment, and added: “I must take a moment to pay tribute to the Wye & Usk Foundation which is working hard in my own constituency to restore the habitat of the rivers, improve water quality and fisheries in the area, and remove barriers to fish migration.”In his speech to the reception Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust, encouraged MPs and Councillors not to support hydropower developments in rivers, which would do great damage to fisheries but generate negligible amounts of electricity. He also urged politicians to take action to reform radically the Common Fisheries Policy which continues to cause a rapid decline in marine fish stocks.Mark Lloyd said after the event: “It was very encouraging that everyone I spoke to at the reception had a deep understanding of the benefits that angling can bring to communities, the environment and to the local and national economy. We hope that they will use their influence in the coalition government to promote support of angling and protection of the environment on which it depends.”Media Contact: Mark Lloyd, 07973 468198 or mark.lloyd@anglingtrust.net

Friday 9th September 2011. For immediate release.

On the brink: Conservationists reveal the rivers still sufferingLast week the Environment Agency released a list of the ten most improved rivers in England and Wales. Conservationists have criticised the report saying it presents a rosy view of river health and ignores the many waterways struggling with pollution, over abstraction and other threats.River wildlife experts at the RSPB, WWF, the Angling Trustand the Salmon and Trout Association – all partners in the Our Rivers Campaign – have responded with a list of ten rivers where not enough is being done to tackle these environmental pressures.This list paints a different picture – one in which salmon, trout, watervoles and other river wildlife are under threat. Two thirds of rivers in England and Wales are failing European targets for water quality and too little is being done to address this.The only river to appear on both lists is the Thames. Despite the Environment Agency hailing the return of salmon to the river, a University of Exeter report revealed last week that attempts to create a self sustaining salmon population in the Thames have failed. The report claims that salmon found in the Thames were more likely to be strays from other rivers.Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust said: “Last Christmas the Environment Agency put out a press release celebrating that our rivers were cleaner than at any time since the industrial revolution. We wrote to the EA to point out that this might give the wrong impression that everything was okay with our rivers.“Well, another silly season is upon us, and the Agency doesn’t seem to have listened. It has put out another release with 10 examples of improvements that have been made – there should be hundreds of examples like this if it has done its job properly. Many of the ‘success story’ rivers still suffer from sewage overflows, damaging low flows in summer and barriers to migrating fish.“Many of our fish stocks are in crisis and the EA presents this as a triumph! We will be raising this again with the EA to try to get it to see sense“Jack Clarke, Our Rivers campaigner, said: “It is right to celebrate the improvements that our rivers have seen in recent decades – but we cannot ignore the continuing threats our native river wildlife faces.”Most of the ten rivers highlighted in the Environment Agency’s report last week are doing well – but it is a different story for many hundreds of other rivers crossing England and Wales.“The stories we hear from people living near these rivers are all too familiar – salmon and trout numbers at a fraction of their former levels, sewage being released directly into the waterway, riverbeds drying up in the summer due to unsustainable abstraction. The ten rivers we have chosen illustrate these problems, but they are only examples of a much wider issue.”We are failing European targets for river health in a big way – and no amount of glossy PR from the Environment Agency is going to change that. Instead we need to see more ambition in their plans to restore rivers and we need reassurances that the Government’s upcoming Water White Paper will tackle the serious problem of over abstraction which is threatening river wildlife.“The Our Rivers campaign is currently running an online survey to help paint a picture of the state of rivers in England and Wales and find the best places to spot river wildlife. The survey results will also highlight species which have disappeared along certain rivers. To take part visit www.ourrivers.org.uk/surveyThe ten rivers chosen by the Our Rivers campaignRiver Thames- Water quality in the Thames has improved over the past 50 years. This has come about through a combination of industrial decline, investment, and the hard work of the Environment Agency, conservationists and members of the public. But pretending that the Thames has been transformed into a pristine river supporting healthy salmon populations is a step too far, as highlighted by the University of Exeter report into salmon populations in the river which concluded: “Our findings highlight the futility of long-term stocking without corresponding improvements in habitat and water quality.”Hampshire Avon- Salmon catches on the Hampshire Avon have fallen dramatically from a peak of 1,400 fish a year in the early 1970′s to around 200 fish in recent years. Salmon are a good indicator of the overall health of a freshwater ecosystem. The Environment Agency has confirmed that the Hampshire Avon has failed to reach the official conservation limit for salmon and the population is at risk. The river has also seen a dramatic fall in roach populations.River Rea- The River Rea in Birmingham suffers so much from urban diffuse pollution from the City of Birmingham that sections are designated by the Environment Agency as “Bad” for insect life under the Water Framework Directive. This is the worst category that the Environment Agency uses to classify rivers. Birmingham City Council have obtained funding to try to address this issue but it will take many years before we see improvements to this and to the river bed.River Trent- The River Trent from Stoke on Trent to the confluence of the River Tame is designated “Poor” for all fish due to urban diffuse pollution from Stoke resulting in ammonia and phosphate levels in the water which have been found to be at unacceptable levels. Historical changes to the river channel compound this issue.River Kennet- This much loved chalk stream, the longest tributary of the Thames, is perilously low this September, due to low rainfall and high levels of abstraction. Local group Action for the River Kennet was set up 20 years ago to campaign for a reduction in abstraction on this river. Despite their efforts, and agreement from both the Environment Agency and the water company that a reduced licence is needed, nothing has yet been done. In fact, earlier this year the EA renewed Thames Water’s abstraction license despite clear and critical issues of over abstraction on this river.River Beane- This river was once a thriving chalk stream, but today in its upper stretches it has almost disappeared due to high levels of water abstraction. The Environment Agency first confirmed there was a problem on this river over a decade ago, and the local water company has identified a plan to help revive the river. Yet, no action has been taken – much to the frustration of the River Beane Restoration Association.River Mimram- Issues of over abstraction on this river, a Site of Special Scientific Interest at Tewin, have been identified since the early 1990s when it was claimed to be one of the worst affected rivers in the country. Twenty years on there has been little improvement. Friends of the Mimram have been working with the local water company and the Environment Agency – who have agreed that action is needed, but yet to be taken.River Ivel- The Ivel in Bedfordshire rises crystal clear from springs in Hitchin, Hertfordshire but as it wends its short course north through Bedfordshire to meet the Ouse, pollution from sewage, roads and farming leave the water grey and cloudy after rainfall and non native species like the north American crayfish are taking their toll on wildlife. The entire river fails to meet the Water Framework Directive’s ‘Good’ status and with the Environment Agency’s River Basin Management Plan not including any actions for improvement by 2015 it looks like nothing is going change.River Wye- The Wye is so special it has every legal protection that can be offered but even this jewel in the crown of our river network continues to suffer. Acid water from forestry, manmade barriers to fish migration, sediment from poor farming practice which smother salmon eggs (depriving them of the water and oxygen they need to survive) and heavy abstraction all work to reduce the quality of this once great river. The Wye and Usk Foundation and others are doing their best to redress the balance but all is far from well in the nation’s favourite river.River Ray - The River Ray in Oxfordshire, which runs past the RSPB’s Otmoor reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest nearby would once have fed wetland habitats but today its waters are deliberately diverted away from wildlife areas. It is infested with the weed azolla – or water fern – one of the UK’s most invasive non native plants. It also contains high levels of pollution from agricultural chemicals and from a sewage works upstream of the reserve.

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