106 Icknield
Port Road, Birmingham, B16 OAA. Tel/fax: 0121 454 2886 For further information please contact: Martin Read, Press Officer on 01709 584590 (martin.read@blueyonder.co.uk). Views sought on Environment Agency performance.The National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives (NAFAC) is seeking the views of anglers, clubs, and fishery owners with regard to how effective they believe the Environment Agency carries out it’s fisheries responsibilities.A questionnaire, which was recently circulated to all NAFAC members has now been included in the NAFAC website, www.nafac.co.uk, and can be downloaded by anyone. Everyone with an interest in angling or fishery management is invited to complete the form and return it to NAFAC. NAFAC Executive Chairman, Martin Read, commented, ‘The Environment Agency is often criticised for it’s actions, or the lack of them, over the range of it’s responsibilities, yet they claim that their own surveys show that 80% of anglers are satisfied with their performance. Our survey asks some detailed questions and we are asking those with an interest in fisheries to answer them accurately and candidly in order to provide a wide ranging overall view. We will be discussing our finding with the Agency, good or bad, when the results have been correlated.’ Visit www.nafac.co.uk for more information about NAFAC. NAFAC Extends Fish Theft SurveyThe National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives (NAFAC) have recently carried out a membership survey regarding fish theft, which indicates that the problem is more widespread than previously thought. As a result, and in order to give everyone the opportunity to comment, the survey questionnaire is now being made publicly available via NAFAC’s website www.nafac.co.uk, and anglers, clubs, fishery and riparian owners, and other interested parties, are being invited to take part. NAFAC National Council member Steve Hellen, who has played a large part in conducting the survey said, ‘The information we received initially has confirmed how serious a problem fish theft is, and how little is being done by the authorities to tackle it. We hope others, not previously involved, will take advantage of this opportunity to comment’ Visit www.nafac.co.uk
for more information about NAFAC. River Don Recovery planMay 16th 2007South Yorkshire anglers have cause to celebrate following a series of meetings between the River Don Fisheries Consultative Association, and the Environment Agency, which have resulted in a Recovery Action Plan for the river, which was seriously affected by pollution last summer. Tens of thousands of fish were killed in the incident, including large barbel, chub, bream, roach and dace, when sewage entered the river following heavy rainfall. As a first stage of recovery the Environment Agency have already stocked more than 25,000 roach, dace and chub between Blackburn Meadows and Conisborough, and this week announced that a further £13,000 is to be made available in order to stock mature barbel between Kilnhurst and Mexborough. This will be followed by a staged introduction of a further 6,000 barbel over the next three years. In addition major habitat improvements are being planned for the river, which, funding available, will see a fish pass being established at Sprotbrough weir, a major obstacle stopping fish movement from Doncaster upstream, and an 'off river refuge' to protect fry during times of high flow, below Rotherham. The plan also includes extensive capital improvements to Yorkshire Water's Sewage Treatment Works at Blackburn Meadows and Aldwarke. Commenting on the plan, Martin Read, Chairman of the National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives, (NAFAC), and a member of the Don Consultative said, 'This is excellent news and will go a long way to re-establishing the Don as a fishery in an area with possibly the highest concentration of anglers in the country. I am delighted that the Don Consultative, as part of NAFAC, has been able to play such a major role in representing angler's views and in establishing the current improvements and those planned for the future. The NAFAC AGM and Thames Fishery Consultative Council Seminar held on Saturday 17th February at Oxford Brookes University was a huge success attracting around 100 anglers from organisations as far afield as Yorkshire, Kent and the Lake District. The event is now so popular that it has become one of the major events in the world of fisheries and angling. During the AGM the Executive Chairman, Martin Read, paid tribute to the organisation he had inherited from the late Terry Mansbridge and thanked the National Council for the way it had worked to maintain the momentum of the organisation, despite the huge hole left by Terry's sad and premature death. Secretary, John Williams reported continued growth with a healthy bank balance and more than 400 Associate Members, giving it the largest club membership in the UK. The morning session of the Fisheries Seminar focussed on two main topics -Restoration of Rivers and Canals in the Thames Catchment and the Water Resources required to supply a growing population in the same area. Discussion of the proposed Cotswold Canal linking the River Thames at Lechlade to the Gloucester and Sharpness with its links to the River Severn and in particular its impact on the Trout and Sea Trout of the River Frome was quickly linked by the audience to the restoration of the Kennet and Avon Canal and its impact on the River Kennet and attempts to restore the river to its former glory. Martin Wagner of Thames Water described how, by 2030, population growth in the South East would lead to a shortfall in supply of water, despite water saving, leak cutting etc. The three most likely solutions were de-salination, re-use of treated effluent and a new reservoir near Abingdon. It was the latter proposal, which could provide 4 square miles of water space and four miles of bank and the potential for some very big fish, which was of most interest to anglers. Martin welcomed input from the audience which suggested that TW consider the need to accommodate coarse angling on this new reservoir. He offered to take on board future input from angling. Comment by angling clubs and organisations was welcome and should be made to him before 31/3/2007. (Email: martin.wagner@thameswater.co.uk.) The afternoon session was dominated by a light-hearted but spirited debate between "Mr Crabtree and Peter" about the impact of Carp on the long-term prospects for angling. Despite his increasing years and waning angling ability, "Mr Crabtree" easily persuaded his audience that "Carp would lead to the demise of angling as we know it". The last session was for many the highlight of the day, with noted angling historian, John Essex, giving a talk on Angling Baits through the Ages and demonstrating that all the latest "secret" angling baits had actually been in use since the 16th Century! NAFAC Welcomes EA's new Section 30 procedure. NAFAC has welcomed the announcement by the Environment Agency of an additional method of applying for consents to move live freshwater fish. From April 2007, Angling Clubs will be able to apply on-line 24 hours a day for Section 30 consents to introduce fish and Section 25 Consents to use an unlicenced instrument to catch fish. As well as being able to track the progress of consents, Clubs will be also able to access former applications and overtype them with simple changes like dates and numbers of fish saving much time and administration. Repeat consents will also be much quicker with request being turned around within one day, direct from the central Fish Movement Authorisation Team, rather than Regional Offices as at present. The current system is generally acknowledged to be somewhat discredited and evaded, with some suppliers moving fish illegally, because of the delays and bureaucracy often involved. It is anticipated that on-line applications will reduce this. The new system is being implemented after discussion with the Fish Welfare Group under the auspices of FACT (Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust) on which NAFAC is represented along with the fish supply trade and other angling and fisheries bodies. Chairman of NAFAC, Martin Read commented, "This result demonstrates what can be achieved by Fisheries and Angling organisations working together on behalf of anglers, angling, and fisheries throughout the country. I hope the improved system will reduce current bureaucracy and subsequent illegal movements so that the benefits of the consent system can start to truly protect our Fish and Fisheries". Visit www.nafac.co.uk for more information about NAFAC. New Press Officer appointed by NAFAC Following the recently announced appointment of Martin Read as Executive Chairman of NAFAC, the position which Martin formerly held of Press Officer has been filled by National Council representative for the North West, Steve Griffiths. Steve is a former British Waterways Fisheries Officer in the North West, and hails from Lymm in Cheshire. Steve now runs his own successful fishery advisory service. A member of the EA Midlands Region RFERAC, Steve is also secretary of the North West Fisheries Consultative Council. Steve is available for Press comment on any aspect of the work of NAFAC, or on current fisheries and angling issues. He can be contacted on: 01925 752763 or at steveandrachel@lineone.net The National
Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives (NAFAC) is the
national body for local angling and fisheries stakeholder groups
who between them represent some 400,000 anglers and others interested
in the well being of our fisheries. Issued on 28 November 2006
New Executive
NAFAC is pleased to announce that, with immediate effect, Mr Martin Read has been appointed Executive Chairman of the organisation.
Martin Read, who is 61 years old and lives in Swinton, South Yorkshire, is recently retired from the steel industry, and is a well known angler and journalist in the North East. He is the Chairman of both the Phoenix and Parkgate AC and the Kilnhurst and District Angling Alliance in addition to being on the National Council of NAFAC, and for which he has worked in the role of Press Officer. He is a director of Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust (FACT), and also a member of the North East RFERAC. Perhaps his biggest claim to fame was organising a 36,000 signature petition to Government on the problem of cormorants, and his involvement in the Moran Committee Bird Group, which successfully negotiated relaxations in the licensing procedure for shooting the birds.
Martin takes over the role as Chairman of NAFAC, following the death of Terry Mansbridge earlier in the year.
Martin Read is available for interview, and may be contacted on: 01709 584590 or e mail: martin.read@blueyonder.co.uk Joint Fisheries and Angling Seminar
4th April 2006 The National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives, NAFAC, in conjunction with the Environment Agency, is arranging a one-day fisheries seminar to be held at Phoenix House, Global Avenue, Leeds on Saturday 20th. May 2006. The seminar will be chaired by Daffyd Evans, EA Head of Fisheries.
The seminar will host a series of presentations aimed at improving local angling and fisheries stakeholder groups’ representation and communication with the Agency and other bodies having an impact on fisheries.
Among the presentations will be talks on,
- Still Water Fisheries Management, - Promoting Angling, - Improving Fisheries Representation - Habitat Improvement, - Joint EA/Fishing Club Projects - An Open Forum where delegates can ‘Ask the Experts’
There will also be an exhibition of the equipment used in successfully managing fisheries.
Admission is free and refreshments will be provided, but numbers are limited. Those wishing to attend, or seeking further details should contact NAFAC on 0121 454 2886, or Nafac@btopenworld.com. NAFAC make progress
with British Waterways The National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives, (NAFAC) is supporting a proposal being put forward by the Upper Ouse Fisheries Consultative Association, (UOFCA), which seeks a change in Environment Agency bylaws to make the unauthorised removal of fish from rivers, drains, canals, and still waters illegal. In a memorandum to member clubs and other interested parties, UOFCA point out that under current bylaws in the Anglian, and some other regions, the Environment Agency are powerless to get involved with fish removal in many instances, because current bylaws allow the removal of up to two fish without approval. As a result UOFCA are asking other Consultatives, clubs and individual anglers to write to the Environment Agency seeking a change to the law to enable the unauthorised removal of fish to become a criminal offence. UOFCA Chairman Trevor Johnson said, ‘The time to write to the Agency is now, because they, together with Defra, are currently reviewing the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act which is the foundation upon which regional bylaws are based’ Terry Mansbridge, NAFAC’s Executive Chairman, commented, “NAFAC support UOFCA’s appeal because there are problems in some parts of the country with fish either being taken to illegally restock elsewhere or for the table. This is an ideal opportunity to tighten up the regulations” Anyone wishing to support a change in bylaws should write to,
Mr. A Taylor, Environment Agency National Fisheries Policy and Process Manager. Rio House, Waterside Drive, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4UD Thames Fisheries Consultative Council Seminar Following on from last years successful event the Thames Fisheries Consultative Council will be holding their popular annual seminar on Saturday 25th February at Wheatley Campus, Oxford Brookes University, between 9.30am and 4.00pm. The event, which is being sponsored by Thames Water and the Environment Agency Thames Region, will host a number of speakers covering topics such as, The role of Police Wildlife Liaison Officers. The legal powers and responsibilities of the angling club bailiff. Angling baits though the ages. The European eel, is it an endangered species? Is the rod licence a necessity or an unfair tax? Water supply and demand in the Thames region. Tickets, price £12/delegate, which will include a buffet lunch, and tea or coffee, are available from, The Secretary, John Ellis. Axum House 1 Stratton Mews Leighton Buzzard LU 7 3PY Tel: 01525 381 280 or the Chairman, Mike Mann, on 01993 714 711
1st January 2006. Numbers just released by Defra show that the number of licences granted to shoot cormorants, and the number of cormorants shot, more than doubled in the year following the changes made to licensing procedures.
In the year before the changes were made just 146 licences were granted for 828 birds, of which 499 were shot. Following the changes announced by Ben Bradshaw in September 2004 a total of 330 licences were granted for 1996 birds of which 1298 were shot.
NAFAC’s Executive Chairman, Terry Mansbridge commented ‘I am pleased that Defra listened to angler’s pleas for help with cormorant problems. This increase in licence numbers demonstrates not only that there was a need for an improved system but that the new system is being used by fishery owners and clubs alike’
NAFAC National Council member and long time campaigner for a better deal for anglers regarding cormorant predation, Martin Read, was delighted with the figures adding, ‘These figures clearly demonstrate the need to control cormorants at fisheries. However more importantly, the difference between those licensed to be shot, and those actually shot, confirms what we have said all along, that anglers are not trying to cull cormorants, but shoot them only as a last resort in order to protect their fisheries and in some cases livelihoods’. Cormorant
numbers to be reduced to save bitterns Eel Conservation
26.10.05
The National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives is urging both Defra and the Environment Agency to take urgent steps to protect diminishing eel stocks. The European population of the freshwater eel, (Anguilla anguilla) is at an historically low level of approximately 1% of the 1980 level and numbers continue to decline with the result that the current fishery is unsustainable. In short unless immediate action is taken freshwater eels may soon be extinct. Over the past 45 years various influences have had a direct impact on the eels life cycle, reducing the numbers which reproduce. These influences include, exploitation, climate change, an eel parasite, (Anguillicola Crassus), access along rivers and watercourses, and the accumulation of pesticides and trace metals. In a letter to The Environment Agency, NAFAC gave it's full support to measures proposed in the Agency's recent paper entitled 'Eel Conservation and Management' while at the same time expressing some concern about the lack of additional funding available to carry out the proposals. NAFAC is firmly of the opinion however that exploitation was the main cause of today's problems, and, that in view of the eels critical status, a precautionary principle should be adopted, with the first action being to stop or dramatically reduce the export of elvers, currently amounting to some 10 tonnes/annum. (There are 3000 elvers /kilo and they currently sell for £500 per kilo.) Speaking on behalf of NAFAC, Executive Chairman Terry Mansbridge said, 'It would appear that once again 'human greed' is affecting the sustainability of our environment in a similar way to North Sea Haddock and Sand Eels, Scottish Cod, Irish Drift Nets, and Inshore Commercial Bass Fishing. Eels play a vital role in the ecological food chain in this country and are one of the staple ingredients in the diets of otters, bitterns, both of which are BAP species, as well as cormorants and others. We have known about this decline in eel stocks for twenty years and we believe that action must be taken NOW before it is too late.' The National
Federation of Anglers (NFA)
and the
National Association of Fisheries & Angling Consultatives (NAFAC)
British
Waterways Angling & Fisheries Strategy
31st October 2005. A joint team of
representatives of the NFA and NAFAC met with senior management of British
Waterways (BW) on Friday 28th October 2005 and agreed a strategy for
on-line angling and fisheries, subject to the agreement of BW directors.
The plan will go before the BW Board on 7th November. It contains most of the points that were agreed in the original BW Angling Plan in 2000, but which was never fully implemented, and has been updated to take into account BW’s recent re-organisation. The strategy is based on the assumption that on-line angling is an important part of BW’s senior management thinking and will concentrate on the development of meaningful communications at a local and national level between BW and angling and fisheries representatives. The joint team will meet again on 7th December to finally agree the terms of the proposed new strategy. Minister
supports angling
Jim Knight, the
Parliamentary Under Secretary at Defra, with responsibility for Wildlife
Mangagement, Access, and British Waterways, confirmed at a meeting with
anglers leaders on Thursday 20th October, both his and the government’s
support for angling.
Speaking after
the meeting Terry Mansbridge, Executive Chairman of the National Association
of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives, (NAFAC), said, ‘This is the
first opportunity that I have had to speak with the Minister and I am
delighted with the results.
The Minister has
confirmed his support for the changes made to the cormorant licensing
system that were announced by Ben Bradshaw in September despite pressure
from the RSPB to see it changed.
Furthermore he
was able to confirm that the government does not support the British
Canoe Union’s claim for unrestricted access to England’s waterways but
will continue to work to promote the adoption of locally negotiated
access agreements which have been proven to work elsewhere.
Finally in response
to anglers complaints regarding British Waterways dismissive attitude
to the sport, particularly with regard to navigable waterways, he promised
to meet with them and ask them to do more in respect of their social
and environmental duties.’
David Kent, speaking
on behalf of the National Federation of Anglers, (NFA) added, ‘We hope
that we can now work with British waterways to produce a robust strategy
for angling’
Martin Salter
MP commented, ‘I was pleased to arrange this useful meeting on behalf
of angling and fisheries. It is a first step to delivering what was
set out in Labour’s recent Charter for Angling.’
Energy Networks
Association launches guidance on angler safety.
Every year cases
are reported of anglers being injured when their angling equipment contacts
overhead power lines. In extreme cases this has resulted in horrific
burn injuries or even fatalities. Lack of awareness on behalf of the
angler is often the main cause of such accidents.
The National Association
of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives (NAFAC) therefore welcomes the
new comprehensive guidance issued by the Electricity Networks Authority
(ENA) about the dangers to anglers, and others, from overhead power
lines.
This guidance
is the product of a great deal of work and co-operation by a working
group consisting of representatives from a number of stakeholder groups,
including NAFAC, and highlights the problems caused in the distribution
of electricity, a vital form of energy in today’s high technology world.
Fred French MBE
FIFM, NAFAC’s representative on the working group said, “ This is an
excellent document that clearly sets out the dangers to anglers, and
the steps that should be taken to minimise risks, and we fully support
its widespread distribution. Angling Clubs have a duty of care to their
members to pass this guidance on to all their members”
Copies of the guidance, which is entitled ‘Angler Safety’ can be downloaded from the ENA web site at www.energynetworks.org
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