Post by davewallbridge on Mar 17, 2006 10:52:15 GMT
I hope you will forgive me for raising this matter on this board, but I feel that it is of sufficient importance to all anglers for it to be aired again.
You are all probably aware of the Early Day Motion in favour of allowing canoeists and similar watersport users the unhindered right of access to UK waters.
Although EDM's seldom reach the voting stage nowadays, the odd one can slip through. From what I have read elsewhere, the canoing lobby are pushing for a debate on this to held in the House chamber and if this happened it would raise the matter to a different level altogether.
Of the 646 MP’s, the latest information on the levels of support for the motion and its amendments show that 155 have signed the original motion or an amendment as follows :
EDM 957 - RIVER ACCESS FOR NON-POWERED CRAFT 07.11.2005
Grogan, John 115 signatures (original motion)
EDM 957A1 - RIVER ACCESS FOR NON-POWERED CRAFT 06.12.2005
Salter, Martin 19 signatures (amendment 1)
EDM 957A2 - RIVER ACCESS FOR NON-POWERED CRAFT 06.12.2005
Salter, Martin 26 signatures (amendment 2)
From these figures it would seem that, to date, the canoeists have been more effective in lobbying their MP’s than have anglers.
I think it is very important that those anglers who feel that the question of access to rivers for other water sports should resolved by negotiation and who have not yet contacted their MP should do so ASAP.
The website : www.writetothem.com/ makes it a very simple matter to e-mail your MP and checks back later to see if he/she has replied.
Although there are links to a 'standard letter' the advice given is that this is not the best approach as MP's assistants are often instructed to bin these 'circular' type letters.
It's far better to write a brief note, in your own words, explaining how you feel about the issues involved and requesting that your MP signs the amendment to EDM 957 - EDM957A2 as tabled by Martin Salter.
To me it seems obvious that if totally free and non-negotiated access is given to canoeists in this and other areas of the UK then the result would have a devastating effect upon both the ecology of the rivers and, in turn, the tourist industry in those areas that rely on tourist trade. I'm sure you can imagine the effect it would have on fishing particularly fishing on the smaller spate rivers (those favoured by canoeists)
I have copied a press release from FACT (Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust) below
Dave.
River Access
[COPY BEGINS]
The Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust (FACT) is calling upon MPs to support the principle of Voluntary Access Agreements to address the recent demand by canoeists for free access to English and Welsh waterways for all water users.
FACT is working closely with Martin Salter MP (Parliamentary Spokesman for Angling) who has tabled an amendment to the original Early Day Motion (EDM 957), which urges Government to extend legislation on access to the countryside to allow canoeists and users of other non-powered craft the same access rights as those provided for walkers.
Whilst anglers are perfectly willing to seek voluntary joint access agreements with other water users, sustainable protection of the aquatic environment must be paramount, together with the proper regulation of all craft, whether or not they are powered, on inland waters.
FACT’s amendment, tabled by Martin Salter, reads, “urges the Government not to alter riparian rights; recommends that any increase in access to canoeists and non-powered craft be by voluntary access agreements only, which have been proven to work in both England and Wales; believes that the users of all canoes and non-powered craft on inland waterways should be subject to the same restrictions as anglers, and penalties for infringements; further believes that the Environment Agency should have the power to close any waterway to any craft in the interests of protecting sensitive aquatic environments; and considers that, notwithstanding the forthcoming Olympic Games, it should be remembered that angling is a sport which has 4 million participants in England and Wales with an annual economy of £3.5 billion and which has had great success in recent World Championships.”
Jim Glasspool, Chairman of FACT commented:
“Angling is heavily regulated, and provides £17m net income to the Environment Agency’s Fisheries Department. Anglers also provide many times that figure each year through fishing fees for habitat management and environmental protection, which gives the sport genuine stakeholder status in the aquatic environment. Other water users should be made to take a similar responsibility for their environment.”
Individuals and organisations with an interest in angling / fisheries are encouraged to write to their local MP (contact details are available by entering a post code on web site www.locata.co.uk/commons) seeking their support to the amended EDM. A draft letter is also available for download from the following web sites www.nafac.co.uk , www.salmon-trout.org , www.nfadirect.com , www.saauk.org
ENDS
You are all probably aware of the Early Day Motion in favour of allowing canoeists and similar watersport users the unhindered right of access to UK waters.
Although EDM's seldom reach the voting stage nowadays, the odd one can slip through. From what I have read elsewhere, the canoing lobby are pushing for a debate on this to held in the House chamber and if this happened it would raise the matter to a different level altogether.
Of the 646 MP’s, the latest information on the levels of support for the motion and its amendments show that 155 have signed the original motion or an amendment as follows :
EDM 957 - RIVER ACCESS FOR NON-POWERED CRAFT 07.11.2005
Grogan, John 115 signatures (original motion)
EDM 957A1 - RIVER ACCESS FOR NON-POWERED CRAFT 06.12.2005
Salter, Martin 19 signatures (amendment 1)
EDM 957A2 - RIVER ACCESS FOR NON-POWERED CRAFT 06.12.2005
Salter, Martin 26 signatures (amendment 2)
From these figures it would seem that, to date, the canoeists have been more effective in lobbying their MP’s than have anglers.
I think it is very important that those anglers who feel that the question of access to rivers for other water sports should resolved by negotiation and who have not yet contacted their MP should do so ASAP.
The website : www.writetothem.com/ makes it a very simple matter to e-mail your MP and checks back later to see if he/she has replied.
Although there are links to a 'standard letter' the advice given is that this is not the best approach as MP's assistants are often instructed to bin these 'circular' type letters.
It's far better to write a brief note, in your own words, explaining how you feel about the issues involved and requesting that your MP signs the amendment to EDM 957 - EDM957A2 as tabled by Martin Salter.
To me it seems obvious that if totally free and non-negotiated access is given to canoeists in this and other areas of the UK then the result would have a devastating effect upon both the ecology of the rivers and, in turn, the tourist industry in those areas that rely on tourist trade. I'm sure you can imagine the effect it would have on fishing particularly fishing on the smaller spate rivers (those favoured by canoeists)
I have copied a press release from FACT (Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust) below
Dave.
River Access
[COPY BEGINS]
The Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust (FACT) is calling upon MPs to support the principle of Voluntary Access Agreements to address the recent demand by canoeists for free access to English and Welsh waterways for all water users.
FACT is working closely with Martin Salter MP (Parliamentary Spokesman for Angling) who has tabled an amendment to the original Early Day Motion (EDM 957), which urges Government to extend legislation on access to the countryside to allow canoeists and users of other non-powered craft the same access rights as those provided for walkers.
Whilst anglers are perfectly willing to seek voluntary joint access agreements with other water users, sustainable protection of the aquatic environment must be paramount, together with the proper regulation of all craft, whether or not they are powered, on inland waters.
FACT’s amendment, tabled by Martin Salter, reads, “urges the Government not to alter riparian rights; recommends that any increase in access to canoeists and non-powered craft be by voluntary access agreements only, which have been proven to work in both England and Wales; believes that the users of all canoes and non-powered craft on inland waterways should be subject to the same restrictions as anglers, and penalties for infringements; further believes that the Environment Agency should have the power to close any waterway to any craft in the interests of protecting sensitive aquatic environments; and considers that, notwithstanding the forthcoming Olympic Games, it should be remembered that angling is a sport which has 4 million participants in England and Wales with an annual economy of £3.5 billion and which has had great success in recent World Championships.”
Jim Glasspool, Chairman of FACT commented:
“Angling is heavily regulated, and provides £17m net income to the Environment Agency’s Fisheries Department. Anglers also provide many times that figure each year through fishing fees for habitat management and environmental protection, which gives the sport genuine stakeholder status in the aquatic environment. Other water users should be made to take a similar responsibility for their environment.”
Individuals and organisations with an interest in angling / fisheries are encouraged to write to their local MP (contact details are available by entering a post code on web site www.locata.co.uk/commons) seeking their support to the amended EDM. A draft letter is also available for download from the following web sites www.nafac.co.uk , www.salmon-trout.org , www.nfadirect.com , www.saauk.org
ENDS
