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Post by highplains on Apr 17, 2007 18:43:10 GMT -1
An apology,
Sorry folks I made a mistake on the number of Bailiffs that there used to be in the whole of Wales. It was not 98 but 68, so that equates to an equivalent now of 140 not the 200 I suggested.
Regards.
Highplains
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Post by DAZ on Apr 17, 2007 20:35:43 GMT -1
Here is the first reply I have got.....Fair play to Mr Cairns he is on the ball. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for your e-mail. I have raised this matter with the Minister on several occasions and sadly, no progress ahs been made. Please be assured that I will continue to press the matter. I also raised the point very briefly on ITV’s Waterfront political debate last Thursday.
Thanks again,
Alun
Alun Cairns AM South Wales West Conservative spokesman: Enterprise, Innovation and Networks
DAZ.
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Post by jcmj on Apr 18, 2007 13:12:59 GMT -1
I have only just joined the Forum but am thrilled to see such determination by the few to help the many. The Minister's reply was both condescending and arrogant in that he did not respect the correspondent enough to read the letter properly and his arrogance was such that in his reply he publicly chose to ignore his ministerial duty to enforce the policing of Welsh Waters. On the point of closing rivers down all Rivers in England and Wales have a "Revised Consevation Limit" as set out by the EA. In the Salmon Stocks and Fisheries in England and Wales Review 2005 out of 36 Rivers just 5 passed, 13 were uncertain and 18 failed to reach the C L, furthermore and much more worryingly forecasts for 2010 predicted that only 4 will pass 22 will be uncertain and 10 are destined to fail including my own favourite the Dovey - It doesnt require a great leap of the imagination to belieive that if the predictions come to pass all the failing Rivers could well be closed !!!. Just the sort of thing that the Governement would do bearing in mind its well documented track record of blaming its own considerable failures upon everyone else barring themselves. The Headlines will no doubt read "River Closed due to lack of Fish Stocks - over fishing blamed following close monitoring by Environment Agency over 10yrs" - Information can be used in many different ways as we all know !!
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Post by Paul Dunstan on Apr 18, 2007 14:38:11 GMT -1
.......- It doesnt require a great leap of the imagination to belieive that if the predictions come to pass all the failing Rivers could well be closed !!!. Excellent post jcmj - I wonder if the rivers will be closed to canoeists? It is an interesting use of language that the EA refers to both angling and poaching together as 'exploitation'. I wonder if other water users, canoeists et al are to be classed as 'exploiters'?
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Post by sewinbasher on Apr 18, 2007 15:57:52 GMT -1
In the good old days when men were men and no-one had ever heard of Health & Safety at Work the bailiff on the lower Wye was a Mr. and he patrolled the river single handed... except for his dog "Bear" which was a very large long haired, well named black alsatian.
If he saw anglers on the far bank he would shout across and ask if they had licences... if he received a less than helpful reply, given the large width of river that separated them, he would send Bear across to "keep the anglers company" whilst he leisurely went up to the next bridge and came down to interview them on a more personal basis.
If the anglers tried to leave, Bear indicated with a low growl that this might not be a good idea.
These days the anglers would sue for excessive anxiety and the dog would be destroyed!
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Post by rwgbridgend on Apr 18, 2007 19:27:46 GMT -1
Gentlemen,
when emailing your local assembly members dont forget to email those AM'S on the regional list as well as your constituency.
one thing I have learnt over the past year whilst fighting this campaign is that the regional AM's take this issue more seriously.
Alun cairns AM who replied to DAZ above has been particulary helpful with regards to this matter. He has met with EAW and raised the issue with the minister. He was responsible for the western mail story and a few tv interviews.
If most of your local AM's have been contacted regarding this issue, i am sure that when the results of the review come before the assembly it cannot be brushed under the carpet.
Get Emailing Gents!
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Post by highplains on Apr 21, 2007 18:01:27 GMT -1
Well said Rwbridgend! Has anybody taken your advice? This thread seems to have gone rather quiet over the last few days.
The elections are looming and we really do need to capitalise on the opportunity this offers.
This next season will be critical. With luck we will see more fish, water and weather permitting, thanks to the removal of the Irish drift nets. We should be looking at better sport. We are also looking at greatly increased opportunities for poachers. Did you see the posting about the lads asking the householder if they could put a net across the river? I know Clwydman and I know this was not a put up job, it was a fact. If the poachers are getting that blatant then they really are treating us and the EAW with contempt.
Fellow forum members complacency is not an option. Please write, email and call. Now is the hour.
All the best
Highplains
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Post by highplains on Apr 21, 2007 18:09:16 GMT -1
For those who missed the posting to which I was referring in my last post, the following is copied from the Clwyd and Elwy thread on the Rivers Reports head.
It was posted by Clwydman, for whom I can vouch as an honest and genuine forum member.
Regards.
Highplains
Talking to a lady who owns a property on the banks of the Clywedog over the weekend, i commented that she could wet a line from her veranda, to which she informed me that a couple of characters had asked if they could tie a net across the river last winter, brass bloody cheek of it! No poaching on the river my arse
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Post by wnion on Apr 21, 2007 19:26:35 GMT -1
I'm sorry that I have not had much time lately(lambing season) to send any emails until yesterday. I sent the 'standard letter' written by Highplains to all the Conservative and Plaid Cymru members and candidates that I could find on the web. I will send it to the Lib Dems and Labour candidates tomorrow. One reply so far-
Dear ******
I read your email with interest I would like to assure you that were I elected to the Welsh assembly I would certainly pay your cause great attention.
Points A,B,C & D all seem common sense to me and I would support them as long as budgetary constraints allowed.
Our rives are great assets that the whole of the country should be free to enjoy, and we have a responsibility to guard them from abuse.
These are of course personal views.
Yours.
Richard Foley
Conservative Candidate for Caerphilly
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Post by highplains on Apr 22, 2007 18:26:30 GMT -1
Greetings,
It's nice to see the membership numbers on this forum almost rushing up. Well done Hoppy and friends!
I thought the new members might like to take a few minutes to read this thread, which is about our campaign to persuade the Environment Agency Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government to provide sufficient funding to allow the proper policing of the waters of Wales.
This really matters and it will be really nice to have some comments from those of you that are new to the forum. We can only succeed by working together.
All the best
Highplains
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Post by wnion on Apr 22, 2007 21:29:04 GMT -1
Reply from Lord Dafydd Ellis -Thomas
Diolch am y neges.(thank you for the message) I have regular meetings with Environment Agency Wales on fishery conservation issues. I take a particular interest in the Conwy Glaslyn Mawddach and Dyfi and tributaries. I have also met with angling interests on all local rivers regularly. I will ask the Minister about the detail of the remit letter. I thought the Agency had statutory obligations on poaching issues and that the remit letter was more focused on issues which particularly related to the relationship between Welsh Government and the Agency's activity in Wales. I will get back to you when I have a response. Dafydd
I was reading in their Election campaign leaflet that came through the letterbox yesterday, that Plaid Cymru want to "introduce a Welsh Maritime Bill as a framework to protect and enhance our maritime resources including fisheries"
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Post by highplains on Apr 23, 2007 20:25:19 GMT -1
Another response that is encouraging.
The thing about posting these replies is that it puts the senders comments in the public domain, so later we can remind them of what they said when seeking support.
Please keep up the good work.
Regards.
Highplains
Michael German OBE (Liberal Democrat - South Wales East)
Dear *.*,
Thank you for your e-mail regarding the protection of fish stocks in Welsh waters and for your comments on what you and your associates feel needs to be done to prevent poaching and to encourage the increase of fish stocks. We are very well aware of the importance of maintaining the number of fish in Welsh rivers, lakes and seas and of the value of angling as a sport to Wales.
You are of course aware of the review currently being carried out by the Environment Agency Wales. We look forward to hearing at a later date the findings of this review and will examine at that time whether the remit of the Agency should be extended as you suggest.
Thank you for informing us of your specific concerns. It is always useful to hear from representatives of organizations such as those you represent, so that we can make sure that your views are taken into account when deciding on policy in the Assembly.
Yours sincerely, Michael German AM
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Post by highplains on Apr 28, 2007 20:48:25 GMT -1
Another response to our appeal.
All the best
Highplains
Janet Ryder (Plaid Cymru - North Wales)
Please find below a response from Janet Ryder AM for North Wales to your e-mail 'The plunder of Welsh Fisheries'. Dear *.* I should like to thank you for your e-mail and the information contained within. I apologise for the delay in providing you with a reply. I would support the campaign by fishing associations requesting more enforcement officers on the rivers, as I see the rivers as an integral part of the tourist industry as well as offering every kind of opportunity to local people. The call for the Environment Agency to collaborate better with fishing associations is a sound one and this may even help some of the associations to employ enforcement officers directly. I apologise for the brief reply but hope that this will prove useful to you. Yours sincerely Janet Ryder
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Post by highplains on Apr 28, 2007 21:30:21 GMT -1
Peter Black AM sent me a copy of Carwyn response, which like the others said to wait the report to the Assembly by the EAW. I have posted the attached section of his letter as he was decent enough to actually follow follow up on his promise. The heading has been cropped to hide my personal details. All the best Highplains
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Post by highplains on May 4, 2007 20:06:08 GMT -1
Well fellow campaigners, this thread has run its course as has this stage of the campaign. 2,416 hits - not bad.
I will write and thank those AM's that showed support and let's hope they are as good as their word. The political climate following the elections means that if we gather all the support we can and keep on the pressure then we have a good chance of influencing things in future.
The report on the enforcement review is out soon so when we know the outcome, recommendations and so on, the next phase can begin.
We will make a difference.
Thanks to one and all for your support and for the efforts made to influence the protection of our fish and our fishing.
All the best and tight lines.
Highplains
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