Angling - Is there a future? (Part 2)

This is the second part of my series looking into the threats to angling. The first part [here] focussed on hydro power turbines but this chapter will look in to the impact of Eastern European anglers.

The last decade or so has seen large numbers of immigrant workers entering the UK along with their families. Angling, like in the UK, is a popular pastime across many European nations so it was no surprise that a percentage of immigrants have chosen to fish in this country. Of course, this is not a problem however there have been many accusations laid at the feet of eastern European's relating to illegal fishing practices. These accusations can be broadly grouped into fishing illegally without the necessary permits, using illegal methods and taking fish for dinner table.

Fishing without permits

Fishing without the necessary documents is not a new problem. Unfortunately, thousands of people are discovered each year to be fishing without an Environment Agency license (required to fish anywhere in the UK) and/or without a permit to fish a given venue. There is no doubt that immigrant anglers have fallen foul to this. However, language barriers and a lack of signage and bailiffing does not help this situation. One could argue that an immigrant angler could be more proactive and seek the necessary information before fishing. I stated earlier that this is not a new problem with many UK nationals also flouting the law in this area. We've all seen anglers on rivers during the closed season and a quick look at the Environment Agency's (EA) convictions will show most incidents involve UK residents.

I contacted Radoslaw Papiewski who has a lead role in the AT's Building Bridges programme. He commented, "Fisheries enforcement is intelligence-led, meaning that the process relies completely on information reported. Unfortunately because anglers still do not report all incidents and information to the Environment Agency, the actual picture regarding the true impact on fish stocks by migrant anglers is, in fact, unknown. However, during Operation CLAMP DOWN, an initiative by our Voluntary Bailiff Service and the Environment Agency in South East England throughout the last coarse close season, we do know that none of the fourteen anglers found fishing illegally were migrants. It is absolutely imperative, therefore, that anglers report incidents in progress and information to the Agency. Only then can appropriate action be taken and an accurate picture collated."

I don't believe nationality is the issue here. It doesn't matter if you're English, French or Polish, fishing without the required permits is ILLEGAL and should be reported. End of really.

Illegal methods

Fishing for the purposes of clarification uses rod and line. This is the accepted method in the UK. This, however doesn't stop some from using illegal methods to gain advantage. A common method involves gill nets being stretched out across the river to catch whatever swims through them. Obviously, this method does not discriminate and many fish will die in vain. Another method used is set lines for pike. This usually takes the guise of a strong piece of line tethered to the the bank or tree. From this mainline are a number of strong, baited hooks. A pike will pick up the bait, swallow the hook and become tethered until it is is recovered or dies. This method is pretty barbaric hence why it is frowned upon. Although this method is not a new idea, it does appear to have become more common place in the last decade and has become associated as a favoured method among eastern Europeans. Fortunately, I have never witnessed any evidence of this method myself but I am not naive enough to believe it doesn't go on. Both methods are designed to catch lots of fish, which are most probably sold on for profit at the expense of our native stocks.

Illegal netting

Environmental Officer Roger Ferguson said, "The vast majority of anglers in the UK fish for sport, and have great respect for wildlife and their welfare. Unfortunately, there are still some people who try to take fish away to eat using this illegal fishing method." He added, "Increasingly we are finding these methods used in both urban and rural areas. We would urge anyone who sees a set line in use or being set up to contact us immediately so we can come and remove it."

The Environment Agency said they would prosecute anyone caught using set lines, and anyone found guilty could be fined up to £2,500 making it imperative that any such cases are reported immediately. In addition, the Angling Trust have created a partnership with Crimestoppers and commenced Project Ghillie. It is aimed at combating illegal methods and poaching and incidents can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers. More information on the operation can be found here but it is well worth carrying the telephone number with you whilst on the bank.

Taking fish for the pot

Taking fish for the dinner table is not a new idea, indeed that was why fishing was invented. It was also common in the UK during the last century before it became unfashionable. The EA have strict bylaws on the amount of fish that can be taken legally [here]. I believe that for the majority of anglers, taking fish is not on the agenda. However, there are a minority that do and that they fall into two groups: the lone angler taking a fish or two for dinner and then more organised groups that are using methods to catch large numbers of fish for the black market. Eastern Europeans have been labelled as the main protagonists but again, scouring the news section of the EA website [here] seemed to show a different picture. I checked the news reports of each month during 2013 and could not find a single story that named a foreign angler. Indeed, of the dozen or more incidents making the news, it appeared that UK nationals were involved in illegal methods, taking fish and fishing without the necessary paperwork.

Catches of this magnitude would damage any fishery

It is my view that it is the methods aimed at catching numbers of fish obviously do the most harm to the fish populations of our waterways. Either that or your local Polish angler knows more about fishing than you do and is emptying the river using a spinning rod from Aldi. Using gill nets or set lines will cause damage at an alarming rate but poaching doesn't appear to be solely an eastern European problem.

So what next?

Looking into this area in more detail has shown that eastern Europeans may be guilty of fishing unlawful methods and/or contravening license laws and club rules but they are not alone. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that it is not only foreign nationals that are to blame for breaking the rules and damaging our sport. Whatever your views on who is responsible there is no doubt that something has to be done to prevent our fish stocks being damage further.

Firstly, anglers themselves have to help. It is not point moaning if you then take an apathetic view when you see something wrong. The EA offer the following advice should you see something suspicious on a waterway near you:

Call the EA on 0800 80 70 60 and tell them:

• exactly where the alleged offence is happening 
• what is happening
• how many people are involved and a description of them the methods used 
• a description and the registration numbers of any vehicles 
• whether it is happening at that moment 
• whether this happens regularly at this location

I have already mentioned the Angling Trust have formed a partnership with Crimestoppers and they can be contacted on 0800 555 111.

The Police are also supposedly there to support angling related crime. However, I have major doubts that they take the issue seriously or are familiar with the the law in this area. This was somewhat confirmed when I contacted West Mercia Police to seek their views on this matter. Despite guaranteeing a response with 48 hours I still find myself waiting suggesting it's not on their agenda. There are also accusations that the EA and Police force are unaware of the roles each has to play meaning matters are left unattended. It certainly doesn't give me confidence. I personally think the AT are being the most proactive in attempting to improve matters. 

Reporting incidents can catch offenders red handed

Secondly, education also has a major part to play. The Angling Trust (AT) has at least tried to make inroads in this area by initiating programmes and producing posters in many languages detailing rules and regulations. These can be downloaded from their website and displayed at fisheries meaning no angler has the excuse of the language barrier.

I am aware of a 'Respect the River' event that was run in Evesham during 2010 involving local tackle shops, anglers, EA representatives and other interested parties that invited foreign and local anglers to attend to learn more about the rules and angling culture that exists in the UK.

Coordinator, Tomasz Piotrowski said, "Both the first event and this one are very much about fishing, but are also about building bridges between the police and local authorities and European migrant workers and helping them achieve a better understanding of the many facets of British life. 

It is not always just about rules, but often about culture, which is not as clear-cut. The atmosphere at the first meeting left us hopeful that some friendships and mutual understanding will develop even further."

Having met a Polish angler myself in the summer I found he was keen to learn and understand where permits could be obtained and why we returned fish and I think this should always be the initial approach. If you then find rules being abused then we, as guardians of our sport, have to report incidents rather than moan. There are many threats to angling and our waterways, particularly rivers, are declining. It is unlikely to improve in the near future so everyone has to take responsibility and help in anyway possible or else the future of fishing could well be stocked ponds. Obviously, this is a sensitive issue but I would be interested to hear stories or opinions on this matter so please feel free to comment. 

Angling - Is there a future? (Part 1)

Like many, this season has been hit and miss on the angling front. In fact, as far as barbel are concerned it's been a near disaster. Only one double and fewer barbel than this time last year got me thinking. Granted, the summer's weather conditions were far from ideal with low, clear rivers the order of the day. However, with the rivers looking more ideal following our recent wet and mild conditions, the barbels' presence is still proving to be elusive. Therefore, are there other influences at work? Over the coming weeks I am going to discuss some of the main dangers to the fish population on our natural waterways and see if this season's form is a sign of things to come.

Hydro Power

Pershore's weir: a distant memory?

For those that are not aware, hydro power is a method of generating electricity using the water's flow. Of course, this is not a new idea with small water mills providing power in various guises all over the UK for many years. However, with the government applying pressure to source power from renewable sources, larger schemes are being planned and implemented on our rivers. There are number of issues that anglers and indeed any conservationist should be wary of. There is such a scheme being constructed a few miles away from me at Pershore, a small market town on the banks of the Warwickshire Avon. With this in mind I am going to highlight the key issues.

The plan has been proposed by the landowner, Mr C Hudson, and appears to have got the full backing of the Wychavon District Council. Indeed the development is now under construction. From an angling perspective there have been many concerns with regard to how the development will affect the flow and in turn how this will alter fish spawning grounds.  

Indeed, the Angling Trust's Alan Butterworth said, “I have commented on over 70 schemes on behalf of the Trust in the past year and this is by far the worse I’ve seen. The way that the EA has dealt with the proposal and acceptance of this scheme is nothing short of shocking.” 

In reply, the Environment Agency defended its stance by issuing the following statement: “In summer 2010 we issued an abstraction licence in Pershore with strict terms and conditions to protect fish, their migratory passage and the wider environment. These include ensuring a certain flow of water over the weir, especially during the fish spawning period, and a screening requirement to stop fish entering the turbine.”

The landowner's initial application to Wychavon District council is available online [here]. As part of the plan, a fisheries assessment was requested [here] and Fishtek Consulting carried out a detailed analysis together with computer aided models to predict and compare the effect of the hydro power scheme on the river's flow and its likely effect on the existing spawning grounds.

An aerial image of Pershore weir showing the location of the hydro turbines

You may recall I mentioned that the Angling Trust commented that this was poorly thought out scheme. Interestingly, Fishtek based their report on fisheries data dating back to the 1990s. This was because no surveys had been carried out since and the Environment Agency did not see fit to commission one. The table below shows the species present in various locations along the Warwickshire Avon but you will notice one notable omission: Pershore, the site of the scheme. This was because Pershore was not included in the 1990s survey. It was concluded that Evesham is a similar site and with it being only a few miles upstream then it would surely be the same. Quite a lot of assumptions here!

The 1990s survey used in the planning process

There is also another huge anomaly as far as fishing is concerned. That is the lack of a barbel population. During the 90s, barbel were beginning to show in some areas of the Avon. These days they are present in most areas of the river and are probably one of the main target species for anglers. They of course enjoy pacier, oxygenated river stretches typical of habitat found below weirs. This means assumptions have been made without considering one of the river's major species using data that is almost 20 years old. 'Poorly thought out,' perhaps the AT had a point.

Before works commenced, Pershore weir obviously contributed to increased flow of the river Avon in this area. This in turn resulted in increased oxygenated water and clean gravel areas which provide excellent spawning grounds and habitat for juvenile fish. The following diagrams show the current depths and flow speeds.

The weir's current flows

Projected depths following the turbine installation

With the weirpool's hydro turbines installed the river's flow was again analysed and predicted as follows:

Projected flows below the weir after turbine installation

Obviously, one of the biggest concerns amongst anglers is the effect on flow rates. Comparing the two images you can see that the effect is not as big as one might have imagined and the tail of the weir, important for spawning, remains largely unaffected. This leads nicely onto spawning. The increased flow and oxygenated water below any weir makes it an obvious spawning site on a river for many species that take advantage of the shallower water, clean gravel and plant growth. The diagrams below show the current spawning situation below the weir and what the effect of the turbines will be.

The current spawning situation at Pershore Weir

Projected spawning areas following works

The brown areas below the weir itself do not represent good spawning sites due to their depth and an unsuitable layer of fine substrates. This remains unchanged by the proposed hyrdo power turbines. You will notice that the tail of the weir provides some of the best spawning sites due to shallower, gravelly areas. Again, the proposed changes should not alter the effectiveness of these locations.

Fishtek Consulting (2012) offered the following key recommendations:

The turbine discharge is sited as close to the toe of the weir as possible maintaining the maximum distance from the region of spawning habitat identified.

The turbine discharges into the area of deep water in the left hand corner of the weir (looking downstream), forming an effective stilling basin to dissipate velocities.

The spawning habitat is mapped annually post installation to ensure that there is no  reduction. In the unlikely scenario of a reduction occurring, mitigation in the form of gravel addition or altering the flow should be considered.

The fish pass entrance should be located 1-2 m downstream from the turbine discharge point in order to reduce the potential masking effect that the turbulent outflow may have.

Compressible bumpers should be fitted to the turbine leading edges to eliminate fish damage.

It remains to be seen if Fishtek's recommendations have been implemented in full. However according to the study, negative damage as a result of the installation of hydro power turbines is negligible. Although it is worth noting that there were assumptions made on the species inhabiting the river following the use of old data that is not reflective of today's Warwickshire Avon. Therefore, the Angling Trust do have a point when they say a thorough study was not carried out. It does beg the question as to why a new survey was not carried out in the immediate area especially when the Environment Agency are supposedly the guardians of our waterways. Despite the fisheries analysis suggesting it's not all doom and gloom, only time will tell. The Birmingham Anglers Association (BAA) who lease the fishing rights from the landowner were not notified of the scheme. Since planning was granted, they are still waiting for any communication. As for how this will alter the access to the club's fishing rights, BAA's John Williams stated, "We will not know anything until the scheme is complete. Access to the fishing will be determined by the landowner's wishes." Not great news when the landowner has already demonstrated a lack of consideration for river users by failing to take part in any meaningful consultation. Basically, a landowner can do what they like regardless of what lease agreements have been previously put in place, or at least that's what is being suggested. It is a pity, in my opinion, that the landowner, the council or the Environment Agency could not have had a discussion with interested parties such as the BAA and the Angling Trust.  The BAA have seemingly lost fishing access to one of their prime spots without consultation and only future studies will determine whether the area's fish friendly habitat and attractive spawning grounds remain unharmed. I must admit there is something fishy (pardon the pun) with the ease in which this scheme found favour. Could it be that since the scheme will provide electricity for the nearby leisure centre, run by Wychavon District Council, it assisted in gaining full support? After all, this could cut the council's electricity bills so there is a slight conflict of interest. Did government incentives for green energy ensure this scheme was always going to be given the green light? There have been alleged accusations of money changing hands given the EA's lackadaisical attitude but of course this will only ever be rumour and conjecture. However remember, hydro power could be coming to a weir near you and you'll probably be the last to know!

Pershore's locals have an online petition which you may wish to support [here].

What is your opinion on such schemes? Would you be happy with the assurances made in the fisheries assessment? Would you welcome a scheme on a river near you?