Care
of the Environment
Litter/Nylon
Line
Litter
is anti-social and unsightly, and the anti-litter laws have been further
strengthened through the Environmental Protection Act of 1990. Never drop
litter or discard tackle and remember that discarded nylon line is particularly
hazardous to wildlife. Carry rubbish bags in order to always pick up any
discarded litter or line you find, and take them home.
Discarded line should be burnt or cut into short lengths before disposal to avoid entangling wildlife at waste tips.
Crack-offs on the cast, and snagged rigs in either bankside or underwater environments, should be removed immediately where practicable or reported to club bailiffs for removal.
Choose your own swim with care to reduce the risk of snagging on trees or bankside vegetation.
Temporary floats such as balloons, which are jerked free from the line when the bait reaches the required area, constitute litter, and must always be recovered.
Wildlife
And The Bankside
Respect
the environment and minimise disruption to waterside wildlife. Do not
light fires, and avoid damage to fences or crops. Do not break down bankside
vegetation, although the judicious trimming of plants is acceptable to
re-establish existing angling 'pegs' or 'swims'. This should be done carefully
and sympathetically, taking out only what is necessary in order to fish
the area properly and leaving the surroundings in a tidy condition. In
all cases, check that club rules allow pruning by individuals.
New swims should only be cut with the permission of the fishery owner or tenant, taking due consideration for the environment and to anglers in existing swims.
Some birds nest on shingle islands at gravel pits, or in the bankside, not just in trees, bushes and reedbeds as we commonly think. April to June are the most sensitive months, when species such as common terns, kingfishers and little ringed plovers are sensitive to disturbance (this can include simply remaining close to a nest for a long period). Disturbing some protected birds is illegal. Note that, on occasion, fishery owners and managers may designate swims temporarily out of bounds because they are adjacent to nesting birds. Always treat this with the utmost respect and comply.
Never leave rods on the bank with hooks still baited, as these food items could be picked up by birds or animals.
Beware of birds swimming into your line or picking up surface baits, as major entanglements can follow. Remember too, that swans can easily reach food a metre below the surface. To avoid unnecessary problems, try not to fish where people habitually feed water-fowl.
Never attempt to restrain an injured swan (or other large bird or animal), by holding onto line it may be caught in or hooked to. Severe injury and heightened trauma often follow. For swans and geese, cut the line and report to the rescue organisations shown below. Smaller birds can often be best dealt with by unhooking or freeing at the time of the incident, or being held comfortably in a small box or other dark space if treatment is required.
(These are recommended guidelines from the bird rescue organisations.)
National Swan Sanctuary Hotline 07000 SWAN UK or 01784 431667
RSPCA 0870 55 55999
Wildlife Hospital Trust 01844 292292
Always carry these contact telephone numbers, and report sick or injured animals to them. The problem may not be angling-related and may give warning of a serious problem at the water. Either way, report the incident for the sake of the wildlife living by the water.
Working parties and other bankside management should be undertaken in a sympathetic manner, to manage and improve the habitat for all wildlife, creating a total environment into which the angler will fit, but does not dominate. For further information on this and vegetation management such as coppicing, hedging and planting, suggested reference books are included in Appendix A
On Sites designated for their nature conservation value such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), it is a legal requirement to consult English Nature (in England), the Countryside Council for Wales (In Wales), or Scottish Natural Heritage (in Scotland), on any proposed developments or changes in management of the site.
Hygiene
On
waters where toilets are not provided, anglers should carry and always
use a trowel or suitable trenching tool.
Pollution
The
Environment Agency runs a total service to fight pollution and improve
water quality on our behalf. If serious pollution is reported, Agency
staff will come to the site within two hours (4 hours outside office hours).
Environment Agency Hotline (24 hours) 0800 807060. This number (which
is printed on your rod licence) can also be used to report illegal fish
movements, fish-stealing or introduction.
NFA (NEMESIS Scheme) and ACA membership is highly recommended. These voluntary bodies works unceasingly on our behalf and also fights for compensation through the civil courts when pollution does take place.
For details of the ACA, phone 01568 620447. or visit http://www.a-c-a.org