Talk Angling fishing chat and tackle advice - View Single Post - Anglers can now sign up to the ACA online

Mark Lloyd · 12th June 2007, 05:02 PM

Paul is absolutely right on that point; the damages we win go to the angling clubs and fishery owners who were affected. Last year we recovered over £140,000 in 18 cases, for clubs and owners who suffered pollution, abstraction and damage to habitats on their rivers, lakes, canals and private fisheries.
We also use the law to fight for anglers' interests more generally. The EA has to balance its fisheries duties with flood defence, water resources etc. The money paid in the licence goes to support its fisheries work, which involves stocking, habitat management, etc. Despite the fact that this income has been growing in recent years, the government grant which supports fisheries from general taxation has been falling, so anglers are paying more and more for the work done by the fisheries department, which has benefits for everyone. We have been lobbying government to reverse this decline, which looks as if it might be successful.
The ACA also campaigns to change government policy (see Blueprint for Water for an example of a recent campaign we were involved in). This isn't something the EA can do. This campaign has been very successful and we have had meetings with the head of the EA, the Water Minister, the head of OFWAT and numerous other government officials.
Again, this is not something the EA can do - it is guided by DEFRA policy, but isn't meant to lobby government like this.
The ACA does work alongside the EA in some cases, for example where our civil claim would back up a criminal prosecution. We have a good working relationship with the fisheries department. However, we also monitor their work and where they cause damage to fisheries, we will take action against them.
Are we making a positive impact? Certainly where we have members who own or lease fishing we can act, but tragically far too many pollution incidents occur and we are unable to act as the clubs/owners affected were not members. We have limited funds to act, as only 10,000 anglers are members, compared to the 1.3 million who buy a licence. If more anglers could spare just £20 a year to support our work, we would be able to do far more.
Hope this helps!
Sign up now at Welcome to the ACA

Mark Lloyd
Executive Director, ACA

12th June 2007, 05:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mark Lloyd Club Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 3	Paul is absolutely right on that point; the damages we win go to the angling clubs and fishery owners who were affected. Last year we recovered over £140,000 in 18 cases, for clubs and owners who suffered pollution, abstraction and damage to habitats on their rivers, lakes, canals and private fisheries. We also use the law to fight for anglers' interests more generally. The EA has to balance its fisheries duties with flood defence, water resources etc. The money paid in the licence goes to support its fisheries work, which involves stocking, habitat management, etc. Despite the fact that this income has been growing in recent years, the government grant which supports fisheries from general taxation has been falling, so anglers are paying more and more for the work done by the fisheries department, which has benefits for everyone. We have been lobbying government to reverse this decline, which looks as if it might be successful. The ACA also campaigns to change government policy (see Blueprint for Water for an example of a recent campaign we were involved in). This isn't something the EA can do. This campaign has been very successful and we have had meetings with the head of the EA, the Water Minister, the head of OFWAT and numerous other government officials. Again, this is not something the EA can do - it is guided by DEFRA policy, but isn't meant to lobby government like this. The ACA does work alongside the EA in some cases, for example where our civil claim would back up a criminal prosecution. We have a good working relationship with the fisheries department. However, we also monitor their work and where they cause damage to fisheries, we will take action against them. Are we making a positive impact? Certainly where we have members who own or lease fishing we can act, but tragically far too many pollution incidents occur and we are unable to act as the clubs/owners affected were not members. We have limited funds to act, as only 10,000 anglers are members, compared to the 1.3 million who buy a licence. If more anglers could spare just £20 a year to support our work, we would be able to do far more. Hope this helps! Sign up now at Welcome to the ACA Mark Lloyd Executive Director, ACA