Campaign For The Protection Of Welsh Fisheries

Our Rivers, campaigning for the protection of all UK rivers seeks the Ministers views on the up coming requirement to meet the targets of the River Basin Management Plans. You will remember that the consultation on these plans was concluded last year.

The interview with Huw Irranca-Davies:

Meeting the Minister for Natural Environment from OurRivers Campaign

We feel that the targets set were far less onerous than perhaps they could have been and that the eventual outcome will be far less than we would have wished. However having made our views clear the process of implementation is soon to be approved. It is well worth listening to the Minister, however please note the total lack of reference to enforcement and to the provision of bailiffs. We must continue to work for this provision.

To view further details regarding the Access Inquiry please visit the Conwy Valley Fisheries & Conservation Association Webspace:

To view further details regarding the Access Inquiry please visit the Conwy Valley Fisheries & Conservation Association Webspace:

 

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Following the Campaign’s appeal to WAG, the EA were instructed to carry out a review of illegal activities in Wales (see progress page). As a result of the review, the first “change in attitude” publications have started to emerge. The EA have recently released this briefing note, whilst funding still remains an issue, we feel this is a very positive step in the right direction. Read it for yourself by click the link below – give us your feedback on the forum.

Thanks for your support – The Campaign Team

International Casting Champion and Celebrity Angler Hywel Morgan has pledged his support to the Campaign For The Protection Of Welsh Fisheries.

Hywel Morgan is the son of legendary Welsh fishing guru Moc Morgan, he first wet a line at just two and a half years of age and spent his early years fishing the Rivers Teifi and Ystwyth for wild brown trout and sea trout. Since then he has fished extensively throughout the UK, Europe, Australia and in the USA. Hywel is responsible for a string of very successful angling dvd’s and presents various angling TV programmes on Discovery Real Time, Horse & Country TV and S4C.
Having grown up in his father’s shadow, Hywel decided to make a name for himself and started competing in casting competitions. He started at local country fairs, then progressed to the CLA Game Fair where for three successive years he won every event. As a result he was asked not to compete any more so that others could have a chance of winning… and all this before he was sixteen years old. He then turned to the British Casting Association and started to compete at British, European and World casting championships. During this time he amassed the following titles:

• World Games Accuracy Casting Champion
• European Distance Casting Champion
• European Silver Medallist (Accuracy)
• 14 British casting records
• 6 times All Round British Champion
• Over 100 British Individual titles
• World Record holder for multiple casting (66 rods cast simultaneously)

Hywel guides on a lot of waters in Wales and this venture is very close to his heart. If you want further information please visit his web site: http://www.hywelmorgan.co.uk

Needless to say we are absolutely thrilled to have him on board. Hywel’s contribution is a fantastic boost to the campaign and speaks volumes in terms of the level of support for our work. Speaking to him recently, Hywel had this to say:

“Anything that secures the future of angling is very important, this venture is one that must succeed, we need to make sure that the fishing in Wales is protected for future generations as we as anglers are only guardians”

Here, Here Hywel ! - We look forward to working with you

Thanks for your support – The Campaign Team

Mick Brown is one of the most well known and certainly one of the most enthusiastic anglers in Great Britain. Over the last twenty years he has become well known for his written work and photography, and in more recent times has become a popular television personality. His influence now extends all across Europe where he also features in the European angling press. Look out for his work in Coarse Fisherman, Pike and Predators, Total Coarse Fishing, Angling Times and Improve Your Coarse Fishing in the UK. In Europe, Mick contributes occasionally to Blinker (Germany), Pescare (Italy), Total -Truite – Carnaisier (France) and De Roofvis in Holland.
Although Mick has caught large fish of most species, he is renowned for his pike catching exploits. To date he has 276 pike over twenty pounds to his credit, including 21 over thirty pounds. He currently has a passion for catching outsize UK catfish and has now landed 13 UK cats weighing over 60 lbs. Mick’s philosophy is still to enjoy every fish he catches, whether large or small. His pike catches have been made in many countries and from every type of water imaginable. In fact he has taken twenty pound plus pike from more than fifty different waters.

In 1991 he left his career in engineering to become a professional predator angler after setting up his business Mick Brown Angling Services. Combing his technical and writing skills with his vast angling experience, he soon became useful to the UK’s top tackle and bait manufacturers and is currently consultant to Fox International Ltd and Dynamite Baits, both leaders in their field.

For more info please visit Mick’s website: www.mickbrownangling.com

We are delighted to have Mick on board, his pledge is a very welcome addition and is a fantastic boost to the campaign.

Mick says: “I am more than happy to support the Campaign, very worthwhile. It’s the least I can do to put something back to help the waters that inspired me to go fishing. I spent my earliest fishing days on holiday in Central Wales, fishing the Ithon and Wye. Very happy memories and some wonderful rivers to protect. My father and uncles really loved fishing the Welsh rivers for Brown and Sea Trout and would very happy to know I was doing this on their behalf as well. Sadly they are all gone but the rivers roll on. A sobering thought for us all!”

Nice words from a Nice guy – Cheers Mick

Thanks for your support – The Campaign Team

The Campaign For The Protection OF Welsh Fisheries started its life as a Campaign fighting to secure improvements in the management of the Environment Agency Wales which would result in improvements to the protection of our fisheries. After a long period of confrontation, which if it did nothing else, highlighted the abismal lack of enforcement activity on Welsh fisheries, the Campaign changed tack. Having actually talked with senior managers at the Agency, we concluded that at the heart of the problem was a lack of adequate funding from the Welsh Assembly Government. The Campaign, with the assistance of Mark Isherwood A.M. presented its first appeal to the Welsh Assembly back in 2006. This appeal resulted in the Minister requesting that the Environment Agency Wales carry out a review of its enforcement activity Wales wide. The appeal and review are both available for you to view on this site, as is the subsequent appeal and response. The review by the Agency included the first public confirmation that there was no clear indication of the level of illegal fisheries activity in Wales. Following consultations with the Environment Agency Wales, the Campaign is now moving into its next phase and is currently working in partnership with the Environment Agency to trial a new incident reporting system developed by the Campaign team. The aim of the trial is to enable a team effort between the under resourced Agency front line staff and anglers, with the help of the public, to try to establish a meaningful and reasonable estimate of the level of illegal fisheries activity taking place on one of our river systems. The trial is currently limited to the Rivers Clwyd and Elwy and their tributaries, but assuming the trial goes well, the system may be rolled out across Wales.

At the heart of the initiative,which remains by anglers for anglers, the Campaign team’s number one priority to maintain the safety of anyone who participates and reports an incident. The new system links directly to the Campaign & EA and allows members of the public to report incidents anonymously.

We will continue to point out short comings and failures in the current enforcement processes but with a view to highlighting the issues more funding will help to challenge.

This is your chance to make a real difference, the system will only work if you join in and actively work with us.

Please make the most of this opportunity but remember – still use the 0800 80 70 60 hot-line number, ask to be transferred to Wales if directed to the English control room and ask for an incident number. Any problems: let us know.

Working together will only work – if we do.

We are delighted to welcome Leon Roskilly, a very well know and respected member of the angling campaigning fraternity. His web site the Sea Anglers Conservation network is one of the most respected and well read on the web. The link can be found below on the right hand side of this page. Leon has signed up on the forum and we look forward to reading his comments which are always considered and well written.

Leon is the author of the Golden Mile Initiative, which we believe has the potential to be the greatest boon to our fisheries, both sea and game anglers would benefit as well as the economy a truly win win situation. Please take the time to read his idea which can be found under the INITIATIVES tab above. This really is an issue worth supporting and fighting for: please vote there.

Steve Pettit (seajunky) has thrown his full weight behind the Campaign and joined the team.

We are delighted to welcome such a well respected and familiar name as Steve and look forward to his input: the recreational sea anglers will be delighted.

The photo shows Steve’s recent lucky escape from a large predator whist fishing for kippers in a secret location somewhere off ? Where was it Steve?

July 2008 BBC News Feature RE: The lack of enforcement protecting our fisheries