Barbel on the menu. Important Press Release!

I have just seen this press release and i think it needs our support. What are your views?
Basically, it seems that fish stealing is getting worse with non-anglers taking coarse fish away for eating or anglers who buy a rod license are 'entitled' to take them away no matter how big. We know this has been going on for a long time but now there is a chance to get the law changed to stop it.


Date posted: 25-1-2006

Source: Martin Read NAFAC Press Officer

Subject: Change in bylaws sought to protect fish stocks

Content of Press Release:

The National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives, (NAFAC) is supporting a proposal being put forward by the Upper Ouse Fisheries Consultative Association, (UOFCA), which seeks a change in Environment Agency bylaws to make the unauthorised removal of fish from rivers, drains, canals, and still waters illegal.
In a memorandum to member clubs and other interested parties, UOFCA point out that under current bylaws in the Anglian, and some other regions, the Environment Agency are powerless to get involved with fish removal in many instances, because current bylaws allow the removal of up to two fish without approval.
As a result UOFCA are asking other Consultatives, clubs and individual anglers to write to the Environment Agency seeking a change to the law to enable the unauthorised removal of fish to become a criminal offence.
UOFCA Chairman Trevor Johnson said, ?The time to write to the Agency is now, because they, together with Defra, are currently reviewing the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act which is the foundation upon which regional bylaws are based?
Terry Mansbridge, NAFAC?s Executive Chairman, commented, ?NAFAC support UOFCA?s appeal because there are problems in some parts of the country with fish either being taken to illegally restock elsewhere or for the table. This is an ideal opportunity to tighten up the regulations?

Anyone wishing to support a change in bylaws should write to,

Mr. A Taylor,
Environment Agency National Fisheries Policy and Process Manager.
Rio House,
Waterside Drive,
Aztec West,
Almondsbury,
Bristol
BS32 4UD

Here is a model letter that i have copied below for you to send to the E.A. You can scroll, copy and print it off. Change and add to it, to personalise it as much as possible, and make sure you ask for a response. If and when you get one, write back again and enter into a debate. Let the guy know how strongly you feel about it. Put your name and address and seek a reply which is important...Ray

If you want more ideas, then the full UOFCA 4 page document version can be viewed on the NAFAC website: http://nafac.co.uk where you click on Read Press Releases, then click on Nafac Press Releases, and scroll down the inner window and click on UOFCA letter to the EA. From there it will open itself as a PDF file.



Mr A Taylor
National Fisheries Policy & Process Manager
Environment Agency
Rio House
Waterside Drive
Atzec West
Almondsbury
Bristol
BS32 4UD

Date:


Dear Mr Taylor,


The Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries Act is currently under review and I wish to have a say in that process.

Allowing rod licence holders to take away or kill a number (varying from region to region) of coarse fish from any water everyday, no matter how large those fish are, is unnecessary in modern times and can only help lead to serious reduction of fishery stocks, especially in specimen sizes.

This may not have happened on a national-scale, yet, but it is a rapidly emerging problem with potential for enormous growth due to the influx of people from cultures where it is everyday practice to help your self to fish and eat them.

Even in lakes where fish are normally the landowner?s property, current law (and frequently lack of police interest,) give the owner little chance of dealing with the problem. Fish in rivers, classed as wild creatures, have even less chance of protection and the EA no grounds for prosecution.

Anglers trying to change bylaws in all Agency regions are unlikely to produce a country-wide consistent, easily understandable, result.

I want to see the SFFA changed, making it an offence to take or kill coarse fish without Agency consent (which would be granted for, say, stock management or fish farms supplying the food trade).

Regional bylaws would then have to change, making taking of sizeable fish a crime for which the Agency could prosecute in the same way as it prosecutes anglers who don?t have rod licences.

The change would also make it more difficult for people to illegally move fish in ones and twos from water to water. The change needs to cover all types of waters, not just rivers.

I don?t wish to change the law relating to limited numbers of small fish being used as bait.

Thank you for your attention and I would appreciate your reaction and a reply to the ideas I have contributed.

Yours Sincerely



Name xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Address xxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxx