The initial consultation process about the Water Framework Directive was tortuous, tedious and a real drudge. I got the impression that without several degrees and an encyclopedic knowledge of the innumerable learned papers  produced by goodness knows who, the whole process was, it seemed to me, designed to frustrate all but the experts.

However, last week I attended two catchment workshops: the River Conwy and the River Clwyd. Attendees included NRW staff of course, representatives of farmers, commercial forestry, local Council, Bangor University, National Park, National Trust and many more. The NRW made it quite clear that they were addressing each river catchment separately and identifying  specific issues impacting on each. They also made it quite clear that financial constraints meant that they could not address many of the issues without support from other sectors. I went to the workshops cynical and wary: I think the EAW had lost a deal of credibility over the years, although staff in this area were trying to put that right. After the Conwy meeting we were asked to complete a “what did you think of that?” form, which I did, expressing gloom and despondency. The Clwyd workshop was two days later, by which time I had given some thought to the previous proceedings and had a change of heart. I think the NRW are being honest and as open as they can be and look forward to the follow on  consultation when, I hope, the intention will be to set up joint efforts to address the issues identified.

I was also reminded of the good work being done by the River Trusts. The Clwyd, Conwy and Gwynedd  Rivers Trust have carried out a number of substantial of environmental improvement schemes, mainly but not exclusively to tributaries, where in years gone by salmonids had spawned in great numbers.

The time has come for more partnership working, even at club level, where by a joint effort beneficial improvements can be made to in river habitat, but more importantly in the long neglected tributaries.

There is a potential threat to our fisheries here in Wales. Many of the conifer forests that blanket the hillsides which overlook our  rivers, and through which many of the spawning tributaries run, are due to be clearfelled, having reached maturity. Once this clear felling takes place the ground beneath, which is exposed, may be covered by as much as three feet (nine hundred millimeters) of pine needles. This depth has taken 40 years to accumulate. With no forest to hold them in, there is a risk that these pine needles, come the next heavy rainfall, will essentially be swept down the hillsides and into the rivers and streams en mass. The result: a massive increase in the acidity of the water, with the potential to kill all invertebrates in the river. This could mean that we will have dead rivers, void of all food, so that most, if not all, immature fish will perish. We recommend that you monitor the acidity levels in your rivers, streams and tributaries, your local Rivers Trust will be able to help in this, and that in May you monitor your fly life carefully (your Rivers Trust will also help in organising this). Then report your findings to NRW. This will help the investigation into this potential threat

We will keep you posted

Salmon Net Fishing Association of Scotland [SNFAS] to resume net fishing in the spring after a 14 year voluntary cessation. – Please sign the petition: click on this link and pass on the message to other anglers. It may make all the difference.

Click Here

To read the Wye Salmon Association review of the 2013 season click the link below.

Review 2013 season

The following press release has been issued by Graeme Harris, which I am sure will be of great interest to those of us that participated in the scheme as well as all sea trout anglers. I sound fascinating.

As follows.

To Welsh Fisheries Interests. The EU-Funded Celtic Sea Trout Project is now in its final stage of completion. Following similar events for stakeholders in Scotland (Dumfries) and Ireland (Drogheda) this autumn, we will be holding a final ‘Project Closure’ meeting for our Welsh Stakeholders in North Wales on January 8th 2014 when each of the leaders on the 6 separate Work Tasks will provide a short presentation outlining their principal findings relevant to the future management of sea trout stocks and fisheries in the Welsh region. A formal invitation, event programme and venue location map are attached to this covering note and we hope that either you or your representative(s) will be able to attend. Please forward this information to anyone else who you think may be interested in this important, ground-breaking study. Places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Further background to the Project may be obtained at www.celticseatrout.com , but please contact Graeme Harris on 01874 731175 or at fishkill@btinternet.com for further any further information about these arrangements.

Regards, Graeme Harris.

Programme

Invitation

Directions

A broad-based coalition has been launched today (15th November 2013) with a website at www.accesscymru.org to campaign for locally-managed access to the Welsh countryside and rivers to ensure that it is sustainable and does not impact on legitimate and economically-important activities such as farming and angling.  The coalition is responding to an on-going consultation on access to the countryside by the Welsh Government, led by the Minister for Culture and Sport, John Griffiths AM, who refused to rule out the possibility of opening up access to all land and water without restrictions at a recent meeting with coalition members, which has incensed a wide range of people who make a living in the countryside.

A series of consultation events have been held with stakeholders at which landowners and angling bodies have expressed their concern about the impact on wildlife, livestock and property rights from the proposals.  The coalition wants to see sensitive wildlife and fish spawning sites protected, members of the public kept safe from livestock, and to avoid conflict with legitimate users.  They are very concerned about the potential legal liabilities and insurance costs that would be heaped onto rural businesses as a result of unfettered access to the countryside being imposed across the whole of Wales.  Many livestock farmers, already under great economic pressure, have said that this would have a very damaging effect on the way that they farm, with concerns over dog controls and damage to crops.  There are great fears that members of the public might be injured or killed by farm animals when straying off managed paths.

Angling clubs are extremely worried by proposals for universal access to water as they are already suffering the impacts of widespread illegal canoeing.  Angling clubs and landowners have had great difficulties finalising voluntary access agreements because Canoe Wales has refused to allow its regional representatives to agree to any restrictions, insisting instead on access at all times and water heights.

A green paper consultation is expected before Christmas and the leaders of the organisations are holding a series of meetings with Assembly Members, Ministers and officials to make their views clear.  The coalition of rural organisations has launched a call for funds to support the campaign, including the cost of legal advice on potential challenges to legislation.  Details of where you can send your donations can be found at www.accesscymru.org where you can also sign up in support of the campaign.

Rachel Evans, Director of the Countryside Alliance in Wales said: “Wales has a vast network of footpaths and bridleways and large areas of National Park which are available to walkers, riders and mountain bikers.  It is already difficult for farmers and landowners to manage their activities to keeppotentially dangerous livestock away from these paths.  A free-for-all would create chaos in the countryside.”

Ben Underwood, Director of the Country Land and Business Association in Wales said: “We have put forward a range of proposals to improve access legislation to remove some of the bureaucratic red tape and to reach agreements more rapidly at a local level so that local people and visitors alike can explore the Welsh countryside safely, but without damaging the interests of thousands of rural businesses who make their living from the land, and are major employers.  We would strongly resist any blanket proposals that did not take into account local diversity.

Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust & Fish Legal said: “On several rivers, such as the Wye, Usk, Dee, Conwy and Teifi, agreements have been drawn up to allow canoes and other boats access at certain times of the year to avoid conflict with anglers and/or spawning fish.  These agreements have worked well in many places, but in others they have not progressed because Canoe Wales has resisted agreements which do not allow unfettered access for everyone at all times.  The canoeing governing bodies have also created confusion in Wales and the rest of the UK by suggesting that there might be some uncertainty about the law regarding navigation, which there is not.”

Tony Rees, Chairman of Angling Cymru said: “Officials have shown an interest in replicating the right to roam arrangements in Scotland, but this is not a good comparison.  There have been significant problems in areas close to major urban centres in Scotland and angling businesses on rivers such as the Tay have lost a huge amount of visiting anglers because of an influx of commercial rafting companies that make fishing impossible.  Wales is in easy access of Liverpool, Manchester, the West Midlands conurbation and Bristol; unregulated access to rivers could impact very significantly on tens of thousands of people in Wales who are members of local angling clubs.  Angling Cymru has always promoted voluntary access agreements as the preferred way forward and its members are committed to this end.”

George Barron, Chairman of the Welsh Salmon and Trout Angling Association said: “I feel that the new legislation being proposed by John Griffiths AM is basically the ‘Nationalisation’ of all Welsh waters and land.   If unrestricted blanket access goes ahead, all farmers, landowners and most certainly angling clubs, may no longer have control or be able to manage effectively the assets presently under their control.  Any new access legislation must be agreed locally by all the User Groups, they must be regulated and endorse similar codes of conduct as expected of the landowners and angling clubs.   Given that enforcement by the NRW will be a major concern, particularly on the waterways, all User Groups should also share the cost of improved bailiffing and enforcement on a pro rata basis.”

NOTES:

• ·        Please direct all e-mails via the link on the SACC website
• ·        The Welsh version of the website will be available in the next ten days
• ·        This is a copy of the press release sent to all media

With best wishes and sent on behalf of SACC,

Rachel

Rachel Evans

Director for Wales

07825337978