An Environment Agency spokesman said yesterday that some 430 objections had been received to their proposal to ban livebaiting and deadbaiting in the Lake District with the following waters affected: Windermere, Coniston, Wastwater, Ennerdale Water, Crummock Water, Buttermere, Loweswater, Bassenthwaite, Derwentwater, Brotherswater, Ullswater, Red Tarn, Haweswater and Thirlmere.
The proposal is to protect these waters (14 of them containing rare indigenous species; vendace, arctic char and schelly) from disease and the competition from discarded live fish.
But many pike anglers have raised objections to the proposal because they fear that this could be the thin end of the wedge, leading to similar bans on other ‘sensitive’ fisheries and ultimately a nationwide ban.
An official from the EA’s north west office said, “Of around 430 responses there were about half a dozen in favour.
“The Pike Angler’s Club had a standard letter on its website and the majority of responses, around 380 of them, made use of that.” He added.
Public consultation has closed and a final decision will be taken by DEFRA next year.
