|
Post by highplains on Sept 17, 2006 15:50:18 GMT -1
I was invited to meet with Alan Winstone and Jason Liptrot to discuss the various issues relating to poaching. I found both Alan and Jason to be typical of the EAW staff I have met thus far: they were clearly dedicated to their work about which they care passionately. However there was a clear reluctance to accept any criticism of the current EAW policies or any implication that they were short staffed.
I attach the EAW notes of the meeting, including the ideas brought forward as ways of improving communications. I feel it would be unfair for me to make any further comment but invite your views on the contents of the notes.
All the best.
Highplains
Allan, Many thanks for sparing the time today to talk to Jason Liptrot and myself about fisheries enforcement in North Wales. I felt that we had a really useful and open discussion about the challenges of combating illegal fishing and protecting fish stocks. As agreed the following are based on my recollections and brief notes of the main points: 1. You explained that your main concern was the number of 'bailiffs' which you believe are inadequate to protect fish stocks. You also had doubts whether our anti-poaching work was 'intelligence - led'. You gave a couple of examples, to illustrate your concerns. You also explained that you were involved in a concerted campaign to lobby the Welsh Assembly Government for more resources to protect salmon and sea trout fisheries. 2. Jason and I explained how our fisheries enforcement is organised and walked you through our Area Fisheries Enforcement Plan and the Performance targets that we report on a quarterly basis to our Local Fisheries Groups. We explained that the level of overall funding from the Assembly had remained stable over the last few years and additional funding had been provided for the Sustainable Fisheries Programme of fishpass construction, habitat improvements and angling marketing and development. However, funding for other areas of fisheries work, including enforcement, is under pressure due to inflation over that period. 3. We also discussed the difficulty in quantifying the level of poaching and the impact on fish stocks, particularly as, unlike other types of crime, reporting rates are low and there is a perception that the 0800 number does work well. We also need to balance our resources between the different fisheries activities and priorities. 4. We then discussed how we might make things better and the suggestions included: * Better promotion of the 0800 number. This could include a higher profile on our webpages(for example pop-ups), circulation of information cards to anglers etc and signs at fisheries. *Higher profile on our website, publications etc about poaching, similar to the profile achieved on fly-tipping. * Establish a website or forum where anglers could post information online about illegal fishing activities, views etc which could then be assessed and followed up. * Agency to engage with the various angler forums, such as the Sea Trout Forum to aid communication. I hope that this adequately reflects the main points in our discussions but I would welcome any additions or amendments that you may have. Finally, I agree with your conclusion that we all need to work better together to protect our valuable and important fish stocks. Once again thanks for your input and let me know if I can help with any queries or concerns in future. Regards Alan Alan Winstone Environment Manager North Wales Coast Internal: 7 26 4013 Direct Dial 01248 484013 alan.winstone@environment-agency.gov.uk
|
|
|
Post by rwgbridgend on Sept 17, 2006 18:10:44 GMT -1
Very interesting. They seem to be changing their story frequently as to whether funding has been cut or not.
as a point of interest i include below a statement from EAW's Salmon Action Plan for the river Ogmore 2002:
'Effective enforcement and public awareness initiatives have resulted in a reduction of poaching in the area, However unlicenced netting within the estuary and lower reaches, along with snaring and the use of lamp and gaff to take fish from the spawning grounds continue to be threats.The reduction in resources available to the Agency in recent years requires greater emphasis on intelligence - led approach to enforcement.'
so effective enforcement has reduced poaching eh? so what happens when you take the police off the beat - crime inevitably increases again. so what happens when you take enforcement officers off the river?
|
|
|
Post by Gwyniadun on Sept 18, 2006 9:51:40 GMT -1
Highplains,
I, for want of a better word 'envy' your faith in any form of meeting with the present management. I think that the below copied details spells out the present thinktank from within.
* Better promotion of the 0800 number. This could include a higher profile on our webpages(for example pop-ups), circulation of information cards to anglers etc and signs at fisheries. *Higher profile on our website, publications etc about poaching, similar to the profile achieved on fly-tipping. * Establish a website or forum where anglers could post information online about illegal fishing activities, views etc which could then be assessed and followed up. * Agency to engage with the various angler forums, such as the Sea Trout Forum to aid communication.
Even 'Carwyn ' says that there is a review ongoing over the 'Enforcement' issue with an outcome report expected in March 2007.
I copy for your information an extract from my last letter to the minister:
Why does the minister require a review when he was told about this, by a ‘review’ group back in 2005?.
The Inland Fishery Stakeholder Group was formally convened on 2nd February 2005 to provide advice to the Welsh Assembly Government on the formulation of a sustainable fishery policy for the management of the salmon and freshwater fisheries of Wales.
Their report to the Welsh Assembly states D FISHERIES REGULATION
D.1.6. BAILIFFS & ENFORCEMENT.
No single issue has caused so much hostility towards the EA as the apparent lack of an adequate force of full-time fishery bailiffs engaged on active front-line enforcement work to combat illegal fishing in rivers, estuaries and coastal waters.
When you see replies from Mr Winstone as copied above, you realise that there are two possibilities and I make both statments without prejudice to any EA employee.
1) They do not begin to understand.
or if they do
2) They are failing in their duty to deliver what is stated in statute law as part of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act in enforcing the law against illegal activities.
Whilst collectively we all have a duty to improve our rivers and fisheries, we do want to work together to acheive this, the EA's duty is a statutory one whilst ours is a civic one.
rw touches on the very point in his preceeding message...we want the EA to re instate fisheries enforcement staff, those dedicated to the cause that were filtered out to 'non fisheries' enforcement activities, then and only then will matters start to improve. Meeting's I am afraid and computer or office based projects will not address the present day problems.
Gwyniadun.
|
|
|
Post by Hoppy on Sept 18, 2006 11:14:22 GMT -1
How can EAW say that there is no increase in poaching (see reply in Daily post by EAW), when they say that it is difficult to quantify - Great Hoppy
|
|
|
Post by wnion on Sept 18, 2006 11:20:13 GMT -1
Even 'Carwyn ' says that there is a review ongoing over the 'Enforcement' issue with an outcome report expected in March 2007. I suppose that this will be an internal review conducted by the EA themselves. They are hardly going to find anything wrong with themselves are they. The welsh assembly should be conducting this review.
|
|
|
Post by Gwyniadun on Sept 18, 2006 14:47:41 GMT -1
I hear what you say 'wnion' but the review has already been conducted by a group set up by and on behalf of the Welsh Assembly in 2005? I was invited to join the local group recently, I declined for obvious reasons... this matter is beyond the remit of any local group or any investigation, be it internal or external to the EA, it surely sits in the lap of the Welsh Assembly now to ensure that the EA meets its remit as far as Fisheries Enforcement are concerned.
Gwyniadun
|
|
|
Post by clwydman on Sept 18, 2006 17:48:10 GMT -1
The critisism and cynisism of the EA and their inconsistencies described thus far are I believe quite justified. This however will not stop fish being lost to poachers on our rivers and around our coast-line. Fully supporting what Alann Winstone and Jason Liptrot have suggested possibly could. As I have said regularly, moaning about what should be done gets nothing done! Supporting the people on the ground who do their best can help and could reduce fish losses. Well done Highplains, you are to be admired standing up for what you believe in and doing something about it. So here is an opportunity for every angler to stand up. Each of the suggestions made should be put to all angling club AGM's. If we do our bit, maybe the people who hold the purse strings in the EA and above will be forced into further financial support.
|
|
|
Post by Hoppy on Sept 18, 2006 18:42:15 GMT -1
... Fully supporting what Alann Winstone and Jason Liptrot have suggested possibly could. As I have said regularly, moaning about what should be done gets nothing done! Supporting the people on the ground who do their best can help and could reduce fish losses. I dont know if ive taken this the right way, but the concerns of the persons involved in this debate is poaching. We are in full support of the staff on the ground so to speak.....BUT there are only 7 bailiffs in North Wales! Something needs to be done! Hoppy
|
|
|
Post by highplains on Sept 18, 2006 18:56:12 GMT -1
Its taken me a while to get these published, technology had me beat. These were handed to me at the meeting I had with the EA All the best. Highplains
|
|
|
Post by Gwyniadun on Sept 19, 2006 6:17:03 GMT -1
I do not appologise for appearing to be negative clwydman, the EA management would want to see a crack in the armour make no mistake.
What you have posted Highplains I do not have to explain to you as you well know that they are documents prepared to fulfill obligations as performance indicators of visits and patrols made to the various locations not the result of 'Enforcement Activities' that have resulted in a measureable percentage of 'success' in bringing prosecutions for illegal activities.
The EA will have a wish to provide these figures for the insurgence and their own head office showing in effect...'look how well we are doing' when infact the poaching still goes on as they do not have the resources to tackle the real problem. DEDICATED FISHERIES ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS in support of those who are so thin on the ground that they have become invisible for most of the time, Officers that patrol rivers / costal area's on a daily basis is the cry, will none of the EA or Welsh Assembly members stand up to the reality of the situation.
Gwyniadun
|
|
|
Post by Hoppy on Sept 19, 2006 6:39:21 GMT -1
Again I reiterate, what percent of the licence checks are on rivers / compared to still waters.
How easy would it be to turn up on Brenig or another big fishery on a saturday or sunday and get 50 licences checked?
Hoppy
|
|