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Post by highplains on Dec 1, 2006 15:22:41 GMT -1
I have just finished looking on the EAW web site, from an angling point of view it leaves much to be desired, from an information point of view; with regards to poaching it is at best a disgrace!!
There is no indication on the site Environment Agency Wales that they are the "organisation" to whom poaching should be reported, the site headings are as follows:
About Agency Wales: No reference to poaching reporting here! Environmental Issues in Wales: a search start site Environmental reports: Top of the list bathing water 2005 Welsh Fisheries: Starts with bye laws and buy a license no mention of poaching as an issue or how to report it there Floods in Wales: what you would expect Water resources in Wales: apparently Wales is famous for its rain! Managing Waste in Wales: Does not mention squandering its natural resources. Afloat in Wales: The Wye and Dee get a mention. Events: Consultation on flooding Jobs: What can I say!
What about "Reporting Poaching, Fly tipping and other Criminal Activity"
Leading to:" What illegal activities should be reported to the EAW" followed by a list of offenses describing them and clearly stating that netting estuary waters is illegal except ......, netting rivers is in all cases illegal etc.etc
What about letting the general public know that the Environment Agency Wales is the body to whom illegal fishing and poaching activities should be reported. Also give the general public some idea of what constitutes illegal fishing and poaching.
Whoever designs and maintains the EAW site does a good job, they do however need to be given some direction from departmental mangers managers and above. For goodness sake show some concession to the angling fraternity that you give a d**n.
I have made these comments direct to senior management at the Agency and intend to email this to the EAW for the attention of Chris Mills.
Highplains
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Post by highplains on Dec 4, 2006 12:24:16 GMT -1
Hoppy, Sorry I've pinched this link from your thread on Gethyns' forum. www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/recreation/345720/1467794/In view of my comments on the first posting under this thread I really do think this is the EAW taking the "p". They really must be brought to account, this is a disgrace. I have no argument with the canoing fraternity. However I do object to their being given this sort of publicity when poaching gets non. Perhaps they are trying to improve access for poachers! For the record does any body know the number of canoeists there are compared with anglers? This is adding insult to injury!!!!!!! The really do provide all the incentive I need to keep up this fight, I hope the same applies to other forum members! A revived Highplains p.s. I did sent a copy of the previous post to Chris Mills. No reply yet.
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Post by highplains on Dec 7, 2006 12:10:00 GMT -1
Just to let you know that the EAW have advised me that the email was passed on to Chris Mills.
We shall see what happens.
Regards.
Highplains
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Post by highplains on Dec 7, 2006 20:00:50 GMT -1
I should like to wish all those at the Environment Agency Wales a very happy Christmas and a healthy and prosperous New Year.
I should also like to add a very special thank you to those hard working enforcement officers for their dedication throughout the past year and hope that their numbers may be swelled during the next year.
To borrow a well worn but sadly apt phrase:
"Never has so much been owed to so few by so many"
All the best
Highplains
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Post by kwilliams on Dec 8, 2006 9:10:41 GMT -1
Highplains, If only you knew................!!! I however felt it more appropriate and apt to say in regards to those that identify with a certain lax attitude to hard work :- " Never has so Little been done for a hell of a long time !"
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Post by highplains on Dec 8, 2006 10:29:32 GMT -1
Keith,
I can only speak as I find. You were a great help to me and the various clubs in this area and for that I am truly grateful. As far as I am concerned you are greatly missed.
I have only met a few EAW staff, but those I have met seem hard working honest and dedicated. I have made a "crusade" of trying to get the EAW to improve the enforcement service it provides and will continue to do so for as long as I have the strength or until the required changes are made.
I can never have your understanding of 'the inner workings' of the EAW, so please forgive my ignorance. On the other hand please understand that we have a need to work with the current staff to do all we can to assist them whist they are under such pressure.
I hope I have expressed my self well enough for you not to be offended. I have no wish to do that!
With best wishes.
Highplains
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Post by Gwyniadun on Dec 8, 2006 14:52:52 GMT -1
Keith, it may be appropriate to remark regarding your last post that it is time to think laterally, so please remove the blinkers maybe you would like to comment on the 'Liming' issue, you were about in an official capacity when the rivers abounded with fish. Highplains your thread on the issue of the EAW Website is spot on, keep at them. Gwyniadun
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Post by highplains on Dec 8, 2006 17:33:20 GMT -1
Thank you Gwyniadun, I am much obliged
All the best
Highplains
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Post by kwilliams on Dec 9, 2006 0:40:14 GMT -1
Gwyniadun Your Points are taken with respect to your post and it is amended accordingly. Highplains, You have expressed your views eloquently and no offence has been taken in any way, thanks to you for your considerate remarks which are appreciated.
I do feel obliged however to say that there isn't enough being done to protect our rivers and know that more could be done if due dilligence and a greater level of enthusiasm was applied by Enforcement staff based at Bangor. I don't for one minute cast all as lax in fact some are more conciencious than others and this is evident in reported outcomes. It is worthy to state that there is a Performance Related Pay scheme within the EA which is for want of a better description .. badly abused, misused and riddled full of nepotism and where hard work by some is NOT certainly not rewarded. One only has to see the past available records of prosecutions brought and see which officers were most evident by their activites and thereby see who isn't pulling their weight. It would be by this form of determination whereby the angling community could make greater demands of the EA for operational value for money (VFM) from the licence revenues expended through each and every river catchment in N.Wales and throughout the Operational boundaries of the EA Wales Northern Area. There is much greater need for Enforcement staff to be based and operational in the Dee and Clwyd catchment than ever before and yet all staff who have to work there all have to travel in from the Gwynedd area thereby expending considerable costs in fuel which effectively reduce manning and increase expenditure unneccessarily despite past and present managerial protestations. Not one single officer lives within the Dee or Clwyd catchments and the most senior managers of the Agency were constantly reminded of this failing and they constantly denied all requests to put these deficiencies right, therefore they and they alone are to blame for the past and present shameful state of affairs. Such questions raised about the above issues through the Freedon of Information Act would illuminate the present thinking of all concerned and no doubt alarm many others after such illumination.
Keith Williams
Who Guards the Guardians
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Post by Gwyniadun on Dec 9, 2006 1:05:26 GMT -1
Keith, thank you for that input and spelling out factual information on the Dee and Clwyd catchments, we are aware that the position left vacant by your , can I say from my limited personal knowledge, dismissal was to be filled early in 2006, detailed in an EA letter to me. We are now approaching 2007 and what happened, a further two fully warranted fisheries enforcement officers were taken away from their duties in North Wales. They tell us one thing and do another, the management will have to live with the wrath for some time to come. Gwyniadun
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Post by highplains on Dec 9, 2006 9:25:17 GMT -1
Keith,
You have, as usual, hit the nail squarely on the head - Performance Indicators. They are the curse of good management in many cases and this is one. There are some areas where Performance Indicators are inappropriate. I challenge anybody reading this to come up with even the vaguest performance target for tracking and locating real poachers!
The whole point of the campaign has been to point out to the Assembly that they need to change the performance indicators for the EAW. I have read them all and there is no reference to poaching and or poachers in the whole document only that , I think it was 17% of all licences purchased must be checked. Great!.
Any information you can provide that confirms the actual turn away from real enforcement to the start of what I would call "pretend enforcement" will be of great help.
With respect to the current staff I am aware that even licence checking in these days produces "red areas" where you have to go mob handed because of the risk to your own life and limb. However this does not detract from the shear futility of the exercise. I'm sure the current staff would be much happier catching the real poachers.
All the best
Highplains
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Post by rwgbridgend on Dec 10, 2006 16:46:27 GMT -1
Gentlemen,
changing the subject a little. This is the time of year when enforcement is crucial. I have spent many hours on our spawning tributaries. Sewin and salmon are so vulnerable in these small streams.
EAW now only provide 'reactive' enforcement on the river ogmore, that is they only respond to reported incidents. Can anybody answer my question - the fishing season is over there are no fishermen about. The tributaries are in remote areas where no members of the public are likely to venture. Who exacaly is EAW hoping to report incidents?
Intelligence i have received in the past 6 weeks has suggested many fish have been poached out of the ogmore. The number of redds is once again disasterous. the coming years will be a disaster on our rivers unless urgent action is taken now.
I would be interested if anybody could answer my question above, including anyone from the EA!
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Post by highplains on Dec 10, 2006 19:12:26 GMT -1
Rwbridgend,
Worth an email to Chris Mills?
Just wondered!
Highplains
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Post by Hoppy on Dec 11, 2006 22:48:46 GMT -1
Gentlemen, changing the subject a little. This is the time of year when enforcement is crucial. I have spent many hours on our spawning tributaries. Sewin and salmon are so vulnerable in these small streams. EAW now only provide 'reactive' enforcement on the river ogmore, that is they only respond to reported incidents. Can anybody answer my question - the fishing season is over there are no fishermen about. The tributaries are in remote areas where no members of the public are likely to venture. Who exacaly is EAW hoping to report incidents?Intelligence i have received in the past 6 weeks has suggested many fish have been poached out of the ogmore. The number of redds is once again disasterous. the coming years will be a disaster on our rivers unless urgent action is taken now. I would be interested if anybody could answer my question above, including anyone from the EA! Where are the Enforcement Officers? This is prime time for spawning fish - at a time they are most vulnerable. Does this highlight that the EAW only direct Enforcement Officers to river banks in the season, because if this is the case it must be Performance Indicator based, i.e To catch anglers without licences? - a Revenue earner! Come on EAW this is the time when there are no anglers on the riverbanks, and when redding fish are susceptable. Hoppy
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Post by highplains on Jan 2, 2007 17:38:55 GMT -1
Happy New Year one and all, You will recall that I started this thread on 1st December with an overview of the EAW web site and a note to say that I would email Chris Mills one of the Directors of the Agency a copy of my comments. Well, surprise surprise I have received a reply from which I hope we can draw some comfort, I look forward to your comments. I enclose a full copy of the email I received from Andy Schofield, that included some details of Chris Mills background followed by a copy of the letter addressed to me. The only adjustment I have made to the letter is to remove my name as the letter was formal and I do not want my full name public. Let us hope that we may be making small progress. Email from Andy Schofield follows:Hi Alan - happy New Year ! please find attached a response to your letter before Christmas sent for the attention of Chris Mills. As indicated in the letter I have spoken to Chris about the issue and he requested that I respond in his absence. Chris is concerned about issues raised during the enforcement review process and being 'action' orientated expects (and will get) some positive outcomes. On another point I think there was a question raised on the sea trout forum about Chris Mill's background. The following might help if you wished to use it : Chris started work in 1980 as a biologist at the Salmon Research Trust in Co Mayo. He progressed to manage the Burrishole fishery for 9 years after which he started work the the NRA notably as FRCN Manager for the Ribble and Lune. He had several other positions in fisheries before becoming Head of Wildlife, Recreation and Marine after which he got his current job in Wales. He has been a keen angler since the age of 5 and still fishes for salmon, sea and brown trout. Regards, Andy There now follows a copy of the letter from Any Schofield in response to my letter to Chris Mills:Ty Cambria, 29 Newport Road, Cardiff CF24 0TP 2nd January 2007 Dear, Thank you for your comments on the content of the Environment Agency's website. I discussed the matter with Chris Mills our Regional Director just before Christmas and I was asked to produce a response for you. Firstly, I acknowledge and concur with your concerns regarding the lack of enforcement information on the Agency’s website. There is, quite rightly, lots of positive information available but references to fisheries enforcement work, other than through press releases, are thin on the ground ! As a consequence of your letter and following the recent fisheries enforcement workshops I will be looking at ways of improving the provision of information on a range of fisheries issues, including enforcement. We have already made one albeit very minor change to the site in the ‘Report an Incident’ section. Other documents that you may find of interest can be found at : www.environmentagency.gov.uk/business/444217/444661/112913/www.environmentagency.gov.uk/business/444217/444661/112913/?version=1&lang=_eThank you for your helpful suggestions that will be fully considered. I am also passing them to Dafydd Evans, our Head of Fisheries for consideration on an England and Wales basis. Yours sincerely, Andy Schofield Correspondence from Andy Schofield ends.I look forward to receiving your comments. I will reply to Andy Schofield and post the email on the forum. Best wishes. Highplains
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Post by highplains on Jan 2, 2007 19:23:42 GMT -1
A copy of my email reply to Andy Schofield.
Greetings Andy,
Thanks for the email and the good wishes, happy New Year to you too.
As you kindly offered, I have posted both the letter and your email, in its entirety, on the sea trout forum with a request for feedback. I said I would also post this reply.
I appreciate the information you provided and the candour of the content. I hope the words will be translated into actions in the not to distant future and that in the fullness of time we can look forward to a substantial increase in the number of full time qualified enforcement officers protecting our waters and the fish in them.
The forum members will be pleased to read of any comments you wish to make on the forum and with your permission I will be pleased to post them.
With best wishes
Allan
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Post by rwgbridgend on Jan 3, 2007 20:27:28 GMT -1
Highplains,
it is nice to read that Chris Mills has found areas of concern from the workshops. Lets hope that these can and will be addressed in due course!
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