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MYSTERY SOLVED AFTER 100 FISH DIE IN POOL AT WALSALL BEAUTY SPOT

28/5/2020

Dead fish have been found floating in Stubbers Green Pool in Walsall

Walsall Council have launched a clean up and recovery operation at Stubbers Green Pool.
In a post on social media, Walsall Council said: "We are aware of concerns on social media about the death of a number of fish at the Stubbers Green beauty spot.

We've assessed the site and the drop in water oxygen levels which was caused by a blocked inlet.

Ashley Sheffield, who captured the images, said "All the fish were gasping for oxygen, the bream were on their side struggling to swim.

"The carp and tench were suffocating. There were dead fish floating on the top of the pool."

The 27-year-old, from Walsall, added: "The water level was low with no running water. When I phoned the Environment Agency they said it wasn't their job but they would look into It.

"It was horrible to see."

"A clean up and recovery operation is currently under way.

"Our thanks must go to Veolia waste water specialists who under challenging social distancing restrictions are sourcing us with a specialist industrial pump so the water can brought back to the correct levels and will allow the fish to thrive.

"We are also very grateful to local bird lover Anne and keen angler, Matt, both of whom are great friends to the Stubbers Green site and who were a terrific support yesterday and today.

"We are also very grateful to local bird lover Anne and keen angler, Matt, both of whom are great friends to the Stubbers Green site and who were a terrific support yesterday and today.

"They have great local knowledge of the area and immediately joined in with the joint rescue plan."

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MATCH FISHING IN ENGLAND CAN RESTART NOW BUT UNDER SPECIAL GUIDELINES

27/5/2020

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Match anglers and venues in England are celebrating after it was confirmed by the Angling Trust that events can restart. They must be run according to safety guidelines.

In a slightly unexpected twist on Tuesday, May 26, the Trust confirmed: “Robust new best practice guidelines published by the Angling Trust to bring match fishing in line with Covid-19 procedures have now been agreed by the government as a basis for competitions to resume immediately.

“These include no gathering of competitors for the draw or prize giving and special equipment and arrangements to maintain social distancing during the weigh-in.”

The Trust’s best practice guidelines were produced in consultation with leading anglers, organisers and fisheries in the match fishing community across all angling disciplines.

The Trust have warned that failure to follow these guidelines would almost certainly invalidate the insurance of clubs or fisheries and will certainly expose anglers, and therefore the wider public, to a great risk of infection.

The sudden news means events at many venues will restart safely according to guidelines this week.
And bigger summer event plans can be examined and, hopefully, comply to the special guidelines.

Match ace and RiverFest creator Dave Harrell said: “I’m delighted with the news that competition fishing is back.

“The important thing now is that all match anglers respect the current situation we are in and work closely with competition organisers to ensure that we have totally safe events.
“We’ve got long daylight hours at present so we must take our time and think carefully about our actions when it comes to things like weighing in.”

Aaron Grantham of top match venue Lindholme Lakes, in South Yorkshire said: “Great to see that the hard work and commitment from the Angling Trust and all the other individuals involved paid off.

“We can now get match fishing going again in a safe manner.”

Angling Trust CEO Jamie Cook had stressed how competition fishing is different to other sports in ways which make it potentially compliant with the correct safeguards in place. These include:

Fishing competitions involve no contact between competitors and is more or less the comparison of catch returns at the end of the day
Social distancing is maintained at all times during an angling competition
There are no spectators
No competitor is allowed to make contact with another competitor or their equipment

The Angling Trust best practice document was presented to Sport England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport last week. They agreed that the guidelines were ‘sensible’ and could be issued this week as the basis for a safe resumption of match fishing in England.

In response, DCMS also stated that they were looking for sports to satisfy themselves that all guidance they are producing for their members adheres to the overarching guidance published by the government.

Angling Trust CEO Jamie Cook welcomed the response saying: “We were always committed to move through the phases of our plan for the resumption of all forms of angling as quickly as possible, bearing in mind the changes in government guidance and the need to present angling as a safe and responsible outdoor activity.

“It’s because we have acted sensibly and professionally that the government is happy to see the Angling Trust guidelines as the basis for a return to competitive fishing in all angling disciplines.

“My message to match anglers and organisers is not to take this for granted, particularly when many other sports are restricted to participation with no more than one other individual. By all means enjoy fishing matches again but please do so safely by following our guidelines to minimise the risk.”

To read the Angling Trust’s guidelines, download the PDF here. And find out more on the Trust’s website.

Source: Angling Times

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ANGLING ALLOWED FROM WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY 2020 – BUT ONLY IN ENGLAND

12/5/2020

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Lockdown measures are being modified - and for anglers in England, at least, that looks like the positive news so many have been waiting for.
On Sunday, May 10, Boris Johnson announced several tweaks to the rules during the deadly Covid-19 crisis.

The Prime Minister had earlier unveiled the new message of ‘stay alert, control the virus, save lives’ in England.

The social distancing message is still being emphased as crucial, everywhere, to halt the spread of the nasty Covid-19 disease.

In England only, and from Wednesday 13th May 2020, people will be allowed to take unlimited exercise outdoors. And they will be able to enjoy parks and public spaces without having to exercise.

The prospect of an imminent return angling, with safe social distancing, caught many people and fishery controllers by surprise.

Exact details were being sought by the whole sport, with the Angling Trust leading the way, and promising updates.

Leading MP Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, tweeted: “In recent weeks our daily exercise has been so important to our health and wellbeing.

“Now in tentative steps forward, and in the least risky outdoor environments, we can imminently allow some sports activity like golf, basketball, tennis, fishing – solo/in households. Guidance to follow.”

And on Monday afternoon (May 11), the Government officially published its full 50-page document, called Our Plan To Rebuild: The UK Government’s Covid-19 Recovery Strategy.

In the section on Public Spaces, and guidelines to kick in from Wednesday, May 13, it is stated: “People may exercise outside as many times each day as they wish. For example, this would include angling and tennis.”

It will be up to fishery controllers, landowners and clubs to decide if and when they re-open… safely.

Some fisheries and clubs have quickly issued statements to say they will be reopening straight away (on Wednesday 13th May).

Many of those that are reopening have extra safety measures and/or restrictions in place. Other venue controllers are delaying their return to action.

It is important to check carefully before you travel to any fishing waters. Note also that some clubs will be able to quickly reopen some of their venues – but not necessarily all of them.

Initial statement from Trust

The Angling Trust’s new CEO Jamie Cook and chief policy advisor Martin Salter, a former MP, have both reacted quickly to the breaking news. They posted this statement on the Trust’s Facebook…

“Last week we launched our #WhenWeFishAgain campaign – with thousands of you getting involved.

“This week #WeAreFishingAgain – with angling in England due to begin on Wednesday 13th May 2020.

“We’ll keep an eye on the detail and keep you updated – but for now it’s positive news for the angling community.

“It is absolutely crucial that social distancing measures are adhered to and that the guidance to participate alone or with members of your own household are followed.

“We must not breach the rules the Prime Minister has laid down and we must ensure that we all act as ambassadors for our sport.

“Our phase one guidance portal is available to help clubs, fisheries and anglers prepare for our safe return to angling.

“We’re proud to have represented anglers in these discussions. We appreciate the support of those who have had input and who have joined us over the past week.

“We hope that many more of you who have seen the benefit in working together with a single voice on the big issues impacting our sport will join us to build a bright new future for fish and fishing. We are stronger together!”

Subsequent developments

The Angling Trust’s Jamie Cook and Martin Salter shared more information, which is still evolving, via a Facebook Live on Monday evening (May 11).

That detailed video forum ran for over an hour and was broadcast via Angling Trust’s Facebook page, and was hosted by Ali Hamidi. All three men were speaking from home. We have added the recording below.

BBC News also highlighted angling as one of the pursuits to be widely possible again, giving Jamie Cook some TV airtime to explain its benefits.

Source: Anglers Mail

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CHARITY'S FISHING TACKLE STOLEN

11/5/2020

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Happier times at Headway, whose fishing therapy has helped so many people with brain injuries.

There was bad news for a charity last week after £1,200 of fishing gear was taken from an organisation that helps people living with brain injuries. Headway Birmingham and Solihull suffered the break-in at their Rednal centre, in the West Midlands, and the haul including rods, nets and poles.

Headway chief executive Sue Tyler said: "Even in normal times this would be a dreadful thing to happen, but in these current hard times we despair that someone can do this. "People have made friendships and enjoy getting out in the fresh air and having a chance to sit by a river, canal or lake.

It is therapy as much as a sport!' The equipment had been mainly funded from a £4,000 grant from the Angling Trust, which also paid for Headway staff to be trained to teach fishing.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact West Midlands Police, quoting crime number 20BW103657K/20.

Source: Anglers Mail

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GOVERNMENT AND BANK CASH HELPS ANGLING DIRECT FISHING CHAIN DURING CRISIS

4/5/2020

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Angling Direct how they are tackling the impact of coronavirus, as tackle shops everywhere await news of when they can reopen.

The Angling Direct fishing tackle business has also put most of its staff on the government furlough scheme.

This allows them to claim 80 per cent of their wages, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month.

In accordance with government guidelines, all 36 of the Angling Direct fishing tackle shops nationwide closed temporarily.

Their website sales continue, along with their customer services, with safety measures adhered to.

Meanwhile, all UK tackle shops – big and small – are awaiting news on when they will be allowed to reopen, desperate to start trading again.

Angling Direct also revealed that it had an overall sales growth of 23.3 per cent in February.

Group sales increased 19 per cent year-on-year over the first three weeks of March, prior to the significant impact of Covid-19.

An Angling Direct statement said: “Our webstores continue to trade and our distribution centres remain open, with encouraging levels of trade in both the UK and international markets.

“Given the current unprecedented circumstances, the board has moved swiftly to preserve capital and improve cash flow.

“This includes taking steps to reduce fixed costs and other expenditure, and putting investment plans on hold.

“The company has secured a short-term £2.5million credit facility from NatWest with an expiry date of September 2020, which will be used to help manage working capital as required during this period of disruption.”

AD chief executive Andy Torrance added: “Our focus remains on protecting our valued members of staff, ensuring appropriate and safe working conditions and, where possible, providing an uninterrupted service to our loyal and supportive customers.

“Like many in the retail community, we are also extremely thankful to the UK government for the support provided at this difficult time.”

Source: Angler's Mail

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ANGLING TRUST PUSH CASE FOR FISHING TO RESUME AFTER LOCKDOWN RULES ARE RELAXED

2/5/2020

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The national governing body for recreational fishing is pushing the case to Government for the pursuit we love to be allowed before too long.
Most keen anglers, aside from staying safe, have been wondering ‘when will fishing start again in the UK?’

Finally news has emerged about what is being said at a high level. But it might not be quite what anglers want to hear… yet.

We still don’t know when fishing will be possible but the Angling Trust has just revealed exactly how it is campaigning for angling to become one of the first permitted outdoor activities after lockdown.

That means being allowed as soon as possible when ministers review the coronavirus lockdown restrictions on May 7th.

A report entitled ‘When We Fish Again’ has been submitted to cabinet office minister Michael Gove, and the fisheries and sports ministers.

It sets out the means by which recreational fishing could be permitted, without saying when will fishing start again – as that is out of their hands.

The Angling Trust report recommends a phased resumption in line with the Government’s own criteria.

The all-important Phase 1 of the return would include local fishing only being resumed. It would need to be solitary….with no swim sharing except by member of the same household.

No sharing of tackle or other items would be in the guidlines, and it would insist upon no angler to fish within 15 metres of any other angler.

No matches would be allowed during this phase. And onsite shared facilities like cafes and clubhouses would have to remain closed.

There is also a second and third phase… returning us all closer to normal, but safely.

The report also draws on experience in other European countries including Germany, Holland, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Norway.

These are countries where angling has been allowed to continue under certain conditions during the pandemic with significant benefits to both wellbeing and the economy without having a detrimental impact on their efforts to combat Covid-19.

The recreational angling sector is estimated to be worth over £4bn to the UK economy. Experience from across Europe indicates that this contribution has grown significantly where angling has been permitted under lockdown.

On May 4th angling is set to resume in Belgium. Many other countries have now announced timetables for a lifting of restrictions on activities such as fishing that allow social distancing to be maintained.

The Angling Trust’s report

The report identifies a number of other reasons why angling should be an early candidate for consideration including:

being a largely solitary sport where self-isolation occurs naturally
proven benefits for mental health and physical wellbeing
appealing to people of all ages and backgrounds and engaging able-bodied and disabled participants alike
the majority of the population live within 5 miles of a waterway minimising the need for significant travel
evidence that non-contact outdoor activities will not increase infection rates
a reduction in pressure on other public open spaces.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has already confirmed to MPs that ministers are actively considering how low risk outdoor activities like angling and golf might be permitted in the first phase of any easing of restrictions.

The campaign has attracted the support of prominent figures within the angling community and senior MPs.

Trust leader Jamie Cook’s view

The report was compiled by the Angling Trust’s newly appointed CEO Jamie Cook and head of policy Martin Salter.

It is backed by groups including the Canal & River Trust, Salmon & Trout Conservation, the Institute of Fisheries Management and representatives of the angling trade.

Jamie Cook said: “We have demonstrated that angling in the UK could be permitted as a safe, healthy, beneficial outdoor activity and why it should take its position at the front of the queue when restrictions are reviewed.

“There is a large amount of evidence of the benefits angling has on both physical and mental health – it is prescribed by a number of NHS trusts as a proven therapy for mental well-being, and numerous military charities and organisations to combat PTSD.

“Fishing transcends social and physical boundaries, engages able-bodied and disabled participants alike, and with the majority of the population living within 5 miles of a waterway it can safely and practically be achieved without significant travel.”

Source:Angler's Mail

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STAY AWAY: STERN WARNING TO ANGLERS FLOUTING LOCKDOWN RULES IN SHREWSBURY

2/5/2020

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Gary Doddy, head bailiff for Shrewsbury Town Fisheries, has caught several anglers flouting lockdown rules

Shrewsbury Town Fisheries head bailiff Gary Doddy caught three people last week and another two at Monkmoor over the weekend.
The club has also spotted people in the same area, who disappeared before they could be approached, while another two people believed to have been angling were found with a

fire and drinking alcohol at Rea Brook nature reserve. They ran away before Mr Doddy arrived.

Government guidance has been clear that people should only be leaving home for exercise once a day and for food and medical supplies as sporadically as possible, and fishing is not included as an activity which is permitted.

The anglers that have been caught have not been affiliated to clubs.

Tom Perring, from Shrewsbury Town Fisheries, believes a handful of anglers are chancing it, thinking there is less chance they will be caught while fewer people are around during lockdown.
He has a straightforward but stern message for anyone considering flouting the rules.

"The message is there is no fishing currently and people will be prosecuted and banned," he said.
"Gary has been working extremely hard this past couple of weeks. He caught three illegal anglers last week, who have been visited by wildlife crime officer PC Phil Nock, whom is working closely with us.
"Two more were caught upon Monkmoor a few days ago and the information has been forwarded to the police. Last night, more were seen upon the same area but left when seen.

"I don't know if people think because of the lockdown they can just go out fishing and no-one will see them. That is clearly not the case.

"They're risking their own lives and other people's lives. There is no fishing at the moment so people need to stop."

Source: Shropshire Star

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ENDANGERED EELS ARE SURGING BACK

1/5/2020

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Elvers are returning in the best numbers than for many years.

Endangered eels look set for much better years ahead, after a bumper crop of 'babies' was spotted.

Andrew Kerr, chairman of the Sustainable Eel Group, has found huge numbers of elvers in the mighty River Severn catchment system.

Andrew Kerr, chairman of the Sustainable Eel Group, has found huge numbers of elvers in the mighty River Severn catchment system.

Elvers – also called glass eels – are the returning baby eels that were hatched out at the Sargasso Sea, 4,000 miles away, and are returning to Britain to mature.

Andrew explained: “There are extensive reports of glass eels in great volumes in the River Severn catchment.

“One fisherman who had been elvering for 25 years said he has never seen anything like it.

“I spotted them four nights in a row on the River Parrett, just below a lock gate.

“I caught over 10,000 in a few seconds, before I then released them unharmed.

“The fish are thickly spread over many miles of river. Eel regulation is working,” added Andrew.

Elvers boost for threatened species

Environment Agency manager Dave Throup welcomed the news on increased eel numbers.

Dave, who covers Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: “I haven’t been able to have a look this year, but it is great news.”

The European eel, Anguilla anguilla, is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list of threatened species.

It is thought that eel numbers are down by 90 per cent since the 1970s.

While migration issues and poor breeding success had been cited as causal factors for the decline, eels are subject to more sinister threats.

It was recently revealed that eel smuggler Gilbert Khoo was found guilty of smuggling more than £53million worth of live elvers out of the UK via Heathrow Airport.

London’s Southwark Crown Court sentenced Khoo, of Chessington, South West London, to 24 months imprisonment on each of three counts, but each was suspended for two years, so he walked free. No financial penalty was imposed on him, because hearings to retrieve the proceeds of crime will take place in the future.

Source: Anglers Mail

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MYSTERY SOLVED AFTER 100 FISH DIE IN POOL AT WALSALL BEAUTY SPOT

MATCH FISHING IN ENGLAND CAN RESTART NOW BUT UNDER SPECIAL GUIDELINES

ANGLING ALLOWED FROM WEDNESDAY 13TH MAY 2020 – BUT ONLY IN ENGLAND

CHARITY'S FISHING TACKLE STOLEN

GOVERNMENT AND BANK CASH HELPS ANGLING DIRECT FISHING CHAIN DURING CRISIS

ANGLING TRUST PUSH CASE FOR FISHING TO RESUME AFTER LOCKDOWN RULES ARE RELAXED

STAY AWAY: STERN WARNING TO ANGLERS FLOUTING LOCKDOWN RULES IN SHREWSBURY

ENDANGERED EELS ARE SURGING BACK

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