Date posted: 15/12/2005

Source: Martin Read NAFAC Press Officer

Subject: Cormorant numbers to be reduced to save bitterns.

Content of Press Release:

Castle Water, which sits in the centre of the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve in East Sussex and attracts numbers of bitterns during the winter, has a problem. And the problem is too many cormorants. So many in fact that the Reserve Management Committee has taken steps to reduce their numbers. In order to reduce the availability of suitable habitat and therefore limit the numbers of birds the willow trees in which the cormorants roost and nest have been removed.

The action is being taken in order to protect the special wetland wildlife that lives at the gravel pit where water quality has deteriorated because of high phosphate levels introduced from bird droppings.

Many wetland species are threatened as a result including fish, aquatic plants, the rare medicinal leach and the bittern, which is attracted by the fish in the Reserve. The Nature Reserve believe that there is no other practical solution and have consulted widely in order to gain the consent of English Nature, the RSPB, the Sussex Wildlife Trust and the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve Management Committee.

NAFAC National Council member and long term cormorant campaigner Martin Read commented, ‘For years anglers have highlighted the problems caused by cormorants but their comments have gone unheard, although the adverse effects of numbers of cormorants on their immediate environment has long been recognised in Scandinavia. I believe this to be the first instance in the UK where non-anglers have sought to control them, perhaps others might follow. This is a novel approach which although at face value eliminates the need to cull the birds, it does leave them homeless and with poor long term prospects of survival’



Note for Editors.

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.

For further information please contact:

Martin Read, Press Officer on 01709 584590


Related Document: cormorants-bitternsPR-12-05.pdf

Date posted: 8-12-2005

Source: Joint Press Release from BW, NAFAC and NFA

Subject: Joint progress for fishing on canals

Content of Press Release:

A major step has been taken to ensure a solid future for angling on Britain’s canals. This follows a process of consultation between British Waterways (BW) and representatives of the National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives (NAFAC) and the National Federation of Anglers (NFA).


Related Document: Joint-Angling-Policy-8-12.pdf

Date posted: 31/10/2005

Source: Martin Read. NAFAC Press Officer

Subject: British Waterways Angling & Fisheries Strategy

Content of Press Release:

JOINT PRESS STATEMENT

Issued by

The National Federation of Anglers (NFA) and the National Association of Fisheries & Angling Consultatives (NAFAC)

Dated 31st October 2005.

British Waterways Angling & Fisheries Strategy

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, that will go before the BW Board on 7th November, contains most of the points agreed in the BW Angling Plan agreed in 2000, but never fully implemented, that have 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.

Note for Editors.

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.

For further information please contact:

Martin Read, Press Officer on 01709 584590 (martin.read@blueyonder.co.uk).


Related Document: NFA-NAFACJoint_Press_Statement-10-05.pdf

Date posted: 26/10/2005

Source: Martin Read. NAFAC Press Officer

Subject: Eel Conservation

Content of Press Release:

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.’


Note for Editors.

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.

For further information please contact:

Martin Read, Press Officer on 01709 584590 (martin.read@blueyonder.co.uk).


Related Document: Press_Release-Eel_Conservation.pdf

Date posted: 21-10-2005

Source: Martin Read. NAFAC Press Officer

Subject: MINISTER SUPPORTS ANGLING

Content of Press Release:

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.’

Note for Editors.

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.

For further information please contact:

Martin Read, Press Officer on 01709 584590 (martin.read@blueyonder.co.uk).


Related Document: MINISTER_SUPPORTS_ANGLING.pdf

Date posted: 17/10/2005

Source: Martin Read. NAFAC Press Officer

Subject: Energy Networks Association launches guidance on angler safety.

Content of Press Release:

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 Association (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 NAFAC web site by clicking the link below.

Note for Editors.

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.

For further information please contact:

Martin Read, Press Officer on 01709 584590 (martin.read@blueyonder.co.uk).


Related Document: Angling_guide.pdf