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ARMY OF 10,000 WEED-FIGHTING BUGS RELEASED INTO CANAL LEFT 'LOOKING LIKE A FOOTBALL PITCH'

22/9/2023

Weevils have been released into the canal to tackle the Azolla problem.

Dudley No.1 Canal at the Waterfront, Brierley Hill has been hit by a water fern outbreak.
An army of 10,000 bugs have been released into a Dudley canal to feast on a problematic water weed. The borough's first water fern 'outbreak' has left the surface 'looking like a football pitch'.

The invasive plant, also known as Azolla filiculoides, has been found in the Dudley No.1 Canal at the Waterfront, Brierley Hill. It is believed to have been transferred from other sections of the network and has also been spotted on the Birmingham Main Line Canal.

It’s the first time this has happened in the West Midlands, according to the Canal & River Trust.

A spokesperson for the trust said: “It grows really quickly in warm, wet weather – which is why it’s gone absolutely crazy.”

The trust said to tackle the problem - thousands of weevils have been released to eat the weed and stop it spreading further along the waterway.

It said the 2mm-long weevils will munch up the invasive water fern (Azolla filiculoides) which, if left unchecked, can cover canal surfaces with a thick weedy mat.

The weevils are said to be an effective natural means of tackling the problem as they rapidly eat up a very large mass of the water fern, and they feed exclusively on azolla - without damaging other native species.

The canal is said to be "one of the worst affected areas in England" at the moment. One passer-by thought the stretch of water, near Merry Hill shopping centre, had been 'filled in' due to it's solid-like appearance.

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ANGLER FINED £443 FOR ILLEGAL FISHING IN STAFFORDSHIRE

15/9/2023

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A court has imposed fines totalling £443 on an angler from Stafford for fishing without a licence at Chorley Springs, Burntwood, near Lichfield, Staffordshire on 23 April 2023.

At Northampton magistrates on 30 August 2023, the Environment Agency successfully prosecuted John Smith, 58, of Young Avenue, Stafford.

On April 23 2023, at Chorley Springs, Burntwood, in a place where fishing is regulated fished for freshwater fish or eels by means of unlicensed fishing instrument, namely rod and line.

Contrary to Section 27 (1) (a) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

The case was proved in the absence of the defendant who was fined £220, ordered to pay costs of £135 and a victim’s surcharge of £88.

A spokesperson for Environment Agency said:

“We hope the penalties received by this illegal angler will act as a deterrent to anyone who is thinking of breaking the laws and byelaws we have in place across England.

“The case shows how seriously the courts take these type of offences and the angler has been rightly punished for the illegal fishing he undertook this year.

“Fishing illegally can incur a fine of up to £2,500 and offenders can also have their fishing equipment seized. We inspect rod licences 24/7, seven days a week to check on cases of illegal fishing.

“Illegal fishing undermines the Environment Agency’s efforts to protect fish stocks and make fishing sustainable.

“Money raised from fishing licence sales is used to protect and improve fish stocks and fisheries for the benefit of anglers and, for those caught cheating the system, we will always prosecute.”

The Environment Agency enforcement teams continue to make sure anglers comply with regulations to protect fish stock. In 2021 to 2022, fisheries enforcement officers checked just over 41,000 fishing licences and successfully prosecuted nearly 730 anglers for fishing without a licence.

You must purchase a fishing licence to fish in England and Wales. Annual licences start from £33 and can be purchased online or by phone, more information can be found here: Buy a rod fishing licence: When you need a licence - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The Environment Agency’s fisheries’ annual report 2021-22 reveals how nearly £22m in rod licence income – achieved through almost 935,000 fishing licence sales – has been spent during 2021 and 2022 to enhance and protect England’s fisheries.

Anyone with information about illegal fishing activities can contact the Environment Agency incident hotline 24/7 on 0800 807060 or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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CANAL FISHING AT RISK AS 40% CUTS TO CRT FUNDING ANNOUNCED

3/9/2023

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The future of over 2,000 miles of English and Welsh canals, and all the things they support, has been thrown into uncertainty after major funding cuts to the Canal & River Trust (CRT) were announced.

Experts fear that disrepair, poor angling access and a potential return to the dire state of the 1960s are the sad realities our canal network faces if the Secretary of State’s plans come to fruition.

April 2027 marks the date for a dramatic reduction in the CRT’s grant funding – a drop of at least 40 per cent represents a £300m fall over a 10-year period. As a result, experts, such as Professor Sarah Niblock, of the Inland Waterways Association, are fearful over the fate of our currently thriving canals, and the people and wildlife that rely on them.

“The waterways renaissance has been one of the UK's biggest success stories of the past 50 years,” she said.

“It is hard to express how devastated we feel and how fearful we are. Sadly, the government doesn't seem to have even referred to its own data on the sheer scale of benefits offered by the waterways to our economy, ecology, and wellness.”

PROGRAMMES AT RISK

Of course, the funding cut still leaves the CRT with the resources to carry out some work. However, it will be the tasks the charity must do by law – such as removing non-native zander – that are likely to be prioritised.
Programmes for junior fishing, including the hugely successful Let’s Fish initiative, are the ones at risk.

“On the balance of probability, unless the whole angling industry get behind it, Let’s Fish won’t survive in the long-term,” John Ellis, national fisheries manager at the CRT, said.

“That would be deeply saddening on a personal level, and for angling, after all we’ve done. Junior fishing on canals is in the best place it’s been in decades, with 350 participants expected in this year’s National Celebration competition. That’d make it the biggest junior match since 2004. If the funding cut takes place, events like this will be lost.” John also fears that the accessibility of canals is at risk.

“Canals are a breeding ground for anglers of all types and abilities. Think of how many of today’s stars caught their first fish on a canal. If they’re left to rot, we risk losing so much.”

WORST POSSIBLE TIMING

Currently, our canals are arguably fishing better than ever. The average match weights are far higher than they once were, and with fish of almost all species thriving, our navigable waterways are of high interest to specimen, predator and carp anglers, too. However, if the cuts go ahead, everything we’re currently enjoying is cast into peril.

“Some canals will face closure in the long term, probably in the 2030s,” John explained.

“Who knows which ones, but I don’t think it’ll be good for anglers. Perhaps in the first few years, when the water clears, the fishing will be good. But when not maintained, canals will become overgrown and inaccessible. Dredging also does canal angling good, in my opinion, as it keeps the water deeper and less silty. Without it, catches could go downhill.”

There’s also been a real boom in canal match fishing over recent years, with events such as the Canal Pairs growing year-on-year. Not to mention historic contests like the Division 1 and 2 Nationals that took place on the Gloucester and Shropshire Union Canals this year.

“Match anglers are almost spoiled on canals these days,” John joked.

“If a match isn’t won with double figures, people complain! In my day, back in the 1980s, I’d fish 400-peg events where 6lb would win, and people would be pleased with that. The canal network is fishing as well as it ever has.

“We’re seeing the results of our work at the CRT across the board, from the thriving junior scene to the excellent fishing. But just as we’re getting these results, the rug is being pulled from under us.”

Is there anything that can be done to stop the cuts? John isn’t sure, but there’s one thing we, as anglers, can try “Judging by our current government, it’s hard to say anything will change, but I’d urge all anglers to write to their MP. Ask yourself: do you want our canal network to survive?

“If the answer is yes, I urge you to take action. We’ve got a general election coming in 18 months, so anglers might want to think carefully about who they vote for.”

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MORTIMER & WHITEHOUSE ARE BACK FOR GONE FISHING SERIES SIX!

2/9/2023

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One of the nation's favourite fishing TV shows returns to screens at 9pm this Sunday 3rd September, as Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing series six gets underway. Running for six weeks on BBC2, this year's show takes comedians Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse on a tour of the UK, including

visits to the Scottish Borders, Wales, Shropshire, Wiltshire and Burgh Island off the Devon coast. The legendary duo will be fishing for everything from carp to chub, and no doubt staying in some rather interesting accommodation.

Kicking off with a visit to Welsh rivers Irfon and Wye in episode 1, Bob and Paul meet Tackling Minds founder Dave Lyons, who explains how angling can help people battling mental health issues. An example of just one of the many ways this popular show helps promote angling to the wider public.

Recently appearing on BBC's The One Show to talk about the new series, one of the main topics of conversation was the third star of the show, Ted the dog, who apparently according to Bob, "goes on a date, that doesn't go too well." The pair also celebrate Ted's 10th birthday.

A seventh series has already been commissioned to go ahead by the BBC and air next year, so anglers have plenty to look forward to!

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ARMY OF 10,000 WEED-FIGHTING BUGS RELEASED INTO CANAL LEFT 'LOOKING LIKE A FOOTBALL PITCH'

ANGLER FINED £443 FOR ILLEGAL FISHING IN STAFFORDSHIRE

CANAL FISHING AT RISK AS 40% CUTS TO CRT FUNDING ANNOUNCED

MORTIMER & WHITEHOUSE ARE BACK FOR GONE FISHING SERIES SIX!

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