Angling in the Trust A Personal View by David Kent September 2015
Why Have Angling? Transport Act 1968 Classification of the Waterways Section 104: The waterways referred to as cruising waterways are to be principally available for cruising, fishing and other recreational activities. 2
What should this mean to the Trust in 2015? And how can we ensure the Trust meets its inherited obligation ? Without professional fisheries management, angling won’t exist. You can’t have angling without a fishery to support it. It means making fishing readily available where realistically possible across the network and to do that there is a need for: 3
• An appropriately resourced national team of Fisheries & Angling experts to take the lead • This national team to have internal status commensurate with boating, heritage, environment, hydrology etc. and an appropriate level of resource • Adequate car parking and access along the towing path • Available and safe fishing on the towing path • Suitable water quality and quantity to support fish life and the associated food chain • Suitable aquatic habitat to support all the stages of the life cycle of fish and the food chain that supports fish life • Fish stocks at an appropriate level and species diversity • Ongoing consultation with customer club regarding all activities likely to impact on the fishery. 4
This is what the All Party Waterway Group had to say about this in their 2014 review: • Recommendation 10: The Trust should continue to develop its open approach with stakeholders and build upon its strong community relations • Recommendation 11: That the Trust consults all relevant stakeholders when planning repair & maintenance work on the waterways 5
What benefits does angling bring for the Trust? • A vital component of a thriving waterway • Through angling events, a way of raising the profile of the waterways • A significant contributor to local economies, especially major events for example the Division 1 National on the Gloucester Canal £185k • A simple way to introduce people to the waterways • An affordable way for the public to use the waterways • Its totally inclusive, no barriers to participation • A proven crime reduction and anti-social behaviour tool • Angling clubs are as yet a relatively untapped source of volunteers 6
About the standard angling agreement • It’s the legal agreement between the club customer and the Trust • Includes bailiffing and insurance obligation under standard angling agreement which all clubs sign up to • Existing bailiffing effort (personal estimate) • Eyes and ears, in particular vandalism, low water, fish in distress, illegal instruments • A useful source of income, currently circa £550,000, the net surplus being used to maintain the waterways • When the points on slide 4 are not met, clubs will choose to terminate their agreements 7
The National Angling Advisory Group • One of 8 advisory groups, the successor of the BW Fisheries Advisory Group • Good geographical spread of members • Good spread of skillsets including angling development, fisheries management and competitions • Occasional joint meeting with Environment Advisory Group • There are lots of cross cutting issues that need to be discussed at more than one advisory group. Should the chairs of the groups meet up periodically? 8
Three key developments to move fisheries & angling forward 1. Fisheries & Angling Action Plans 2. Fisheries & Angling Component of Internal Environmental Appraisal 3. Fisheries & Angling as an educational tool 9
Fisheries & Angling Action Plans • Eleven Waterway FAAPs now at first draft stage • They combine local actions, operational actions, the national fisheries and angling team and other national team actions • They will be an integral part of the business plans at both waterway and national level The actions are grouped under ten themes, listed overleaf: 10
FAAP Actions 1. Retain existing angling customers and attracting new ones 2. Develop & improve access to the fishery 3. The opportunities to engage with local communities 4. Take advantage of the opportunities for volunteering & adoptions 5. Improving communication between the Trust and its customers 6. Funding 7. Fish passage and migration 8. Predation & non native species 9. Fish stocks & fisheries management 10. Fisheries and water quality and quantity 11
Fisheries & Angling Component of Internal Environmental Appraisal Currently, there is insufficient fisheries & angling team input into the process. Consequently: • There have been numerous complaints, some of which lead to significant reputational damage • Implementation will require better communications with angling club customers • Implementation will lead to a better outcome for the fishery. IMAGE TITLE • Implementation will minimise reputational damage to the Trust and customer clubs will have improved confidence in the Trust 12
Fisheries & Angling as an educational tool Angling is a means by which people, especially young people: • Can be introduced to the waterways for the first time • Can learn a new skill such as how to fish • Can learn to respect the whole canal environment • Can learn to respect the rights of other users • Can learn about fish and their environment through events such as fish rescue education days 13
Any Questions?
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