Angling Logbooks

Anglers in the North East are being urged to return their coarse anglerslogbooks which will help the Environment Agency’s research of fishstocks in the region’s rivers.

Anglers were asked to fill in a log of their fishing during the seasonto help the Environment Agency understand more about the size anddiversity of fish populations, and the extent of fishing in the area.

Traditional survey techniques have been used in the past, such aselectric fishing and netting, but these methods have limited use becausethey are less effective in large fast-flowing rivers like the Tyne andWear.

The Environment Agency’s fisheries team, based in Newcastle, then hiton the idea of asking for anglers’ help with the issue, and launched thelogbook scheme.

Now the coarse angling season is drawing to a close, the officers areappealing for completed logbooks to be sent back to them.

Fisheries technical specialist Phil Rippon said: “”Information fromanglers’ logbooks give us valuable feedback about the fishing in theirarea. We will use anglers’ data to guide future priorities forimprovement so it is vital that anglers send their logbooks back to usas soon as possible.””

Anglers who complete and return a logbook will be entered into a prizedraw to win fishing tackle which has been provided by local tackleshops, tackle company Fox International, and the Environment Agency.Copies of the results will also be sent to those who take part in thescheme.

The North East anglers coarse logbook should be sent to the EnvironmentAgency, Freepost NAT11924, Tyneside House, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE4 5BR.This address is also on the inside of the logbook

A logbook scheme for game fish has been running for several seasons inthe North East but this is the first season that the scheme has run forcoarse fish, and more than 400 copies were distributed.

The team is now preparing for next season’s s scheme. To get moreinformation about the scheme or to request a logbook contact us at:

Northumbria Fisheries Team
Skinnerburn Road
Newcastle Business Park
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE4 7AR

or email: robert.stephenson@environment-agency.gov.uk