|
Post by DAZ on May 20, 2007 0:22:12 GMT -1
johnf. WELL SAID THAT MAN,WELL SAID INDEED. It really is unbelievable that some thing so valuable to the economy IE,Salmon/Seatrout,is so badly neglected by the powers that be. EAW/WELSH ASEMBLY......WAKE UP!....OPEN YOUR EYES AND EARS.....WE AND THE FISH NEED YOUR HELP NOW!. DAZ.
|
|
|
Post by buzzerman on May 20, 2007 9:12:59 GMT -1
john f hit the nail on the head, we need to take some form of action here before its to late ,lets all try to find ways of making our point /people wake up look around you ,youwill not have anywhere to fish in safety if this is allowed to go on, we need to stand together and make some form of protest, its bad enough being sold short on fish stocks without feeling threatened, take note E.A. the time is nearly upon you to change your ways signed confused and angry billy p
|
|
|
Post by johnf on May 20, 2007 19:04:00 GMT -1
Thanks for the words of encouragement. For your information this link is a snippet of words from my local club, this text is a scratch on the surface from what is being said. www.btinternet.com/~fishwight/news.htmAnd I can assure you that this prospect will not be welcomed. Oppourtunity to unite with 5 million sea anglers is imminent! Get the freshwater anglers involved too = a lot as they MUST be fed up too? I'm going to get my finger out and do some writing, I admit I have no clout as an individual, but if I get my clubs behind me and inform them of the troubles outlined here. and of course if they have the bottle to stand up and be counted, we might be heard. I think the key in this matter is the fact that WE NEED to UNITE. Angling for pleasure is Angling, be it Sea, Course or Game. The fact is that within my little existance on this planet, I enjoy angling, I spend a lot of money on my sport, and yet my experience historically with the EA has been the following; I pay my licence fee every year, what do I get in return? That space should be filled, but it isn't! Join forces I think, get the mags involved and speaking to each other - celebs, Chris T loves his fishing " I see it now"; Q; What is th most commonly known internet abreviation for use with the enviroment Agency, is it' A- WTF B- FFS C- LMFAO D- RLMFAO Or in this episode is it - E-all of the above Don't know about you lot, but I just answered the millon pound question.
|
|
|
Post by Barcud on May 21, 2007 14:14:07 GMT -1
From tonight's SOUTH WALES ECHO
May 21 2007
by Gareth Rogers, South Wales Echo FISHERMEN are appealing for protection after a spate of violent attacks by illegal poachers. Members of the Ogmore Angling Association, the largest river angling club in Wales, say that May has been “open season” for poachers. The club said legal fishermen who have tried to stop them have been punched, kicked and pelted as well as receiving regular verbal abuse. Angler Wynne Griffiths, 33, said: “One member was pelted with boulders and forced to flee the river for fear of life and limb.” The Bryncethin radiographer says the poachers, who are believed to have travelled to Bridgend from up to 20 miles away, have been catching fish stocked in the rivers especially for club members. He said: “Officers of the club who have been brave, or foolhardy enough, to approach these poachers have been chased away by the thugs.” Mr Griffiths says club members have informed Environment Agency Wales on several occasions but each time officers have been unable to attend, so some of their 500 members have been logging incidents themselves. He said: “This issue needs to be addressed before there is a death or serious injury.” The issue has also been brought up on the message board of the Ogmore Angling Association’s website. When asked what members’ views were of the current enforcement of the river, a poster calling himself Oggy876 said: “What enforcement would that be? I don’t know of any.” Another member called Highplains added: “The association has my sympathy in respect of current issues and my full support for future action.” Environment Agency Wales spokesman Martin Watkins said: “We have a dedicated team of enforcement officers who cover the whole of Wales. “They do all sorts of things from checking rod licences to sorting fly tipping problems. With the best will in the world, they can’t be everywhere but we are looking at the problem.”
gareth/rogers@wme.co.uk
|
|
|
Post by highplains on May 21, 2007 16:31:35 GMT -1
I just do not believe it!!!!!
Notice even on a topic as sensitive as this the *.* EAW still have to mention *.*b waste!!
They really are a waste. Who the heck have they got in charge of public relations, the same chap as in charge of enforcement?
Taking the p or what?
This is the health and safety of genuine anglers we are talking about.
Almost speechless
Highplains
|
|
|
Post by rwgbridgend on May 21, 2007 19:53:32 GMT -1
Highplains,
I hope that your blood pressure is ok!
Surely after all this time nothing surprises you with regards to EAW comments!!
|
|
|
Post by greyduster on May 23, 2007 14:08:42 GMT -1
Oggy, I don't for one minute think you'll need your bat Utility belt as most of the EA management appear to " Batty" in every sense of the word. Its obvious to most of the old hands I knew that bright weather and holidays was a signal to the poaching mobs, to get in and get wet.... nothing will ever change that fact especially as some staff refuse I hear to work weekends. As with all Bats, the EA is keeping all its customers truly in the dark and if rumours of serious miscontent amongst the Enforcement staff in Nth wales is true then there is need of managers for that area to be open and transparent. For too long there appears to have been a onesided trade of misinformation and I along with many others hope that the bedraggled Assembly can pull together after the last elections and demand the EA staff on the ground be questioned openly as to what really has been going on.
One can live in the dark for only for so long ... bring forth the light!
|
|
|
Post by Hoppy on May 23, 2007 14:51:26 GMT -1
The problem is not with the enforcement staff on the ground, its the management, and WAG that need a rocket! Hoppy
|
|
|
Post by johnf on May 24, 2007 20:33:48 GMT -1
Couldn't agree more Hoppy, I am sure they are nice guy’s n gals, but I couldn't verify that as I have never seen one! I have been fishing for 30 years and as I just said I have never seen one let alone been challenged by one for my licence or anything. A police man once asked me for my licence at Weirwood reservoir years ago, and the nice lady at the Salmon leap Cenarth falls enquired if I had a full migratory fish licence when I bought my week T.T.A ticket the first year I fished the Teifi, as she rightly pointed out a lot of visitors think they can get away with the standard licence. Those were the only two times in 30 years of fishing that I’ve ever had a sniff. I have however had some serious cases where they did very little or nothing at all. One of which Paul D might remember as he is from Northants somewhere, it was a long time ago and I was only a nipper, but I will never never forget that day. I turned up just before light on the Saturday morning on my favourite part of the Nene, not the main body of water but a backwater out of the way a bit. Some time later that morning a man walking his dog came over to me and asked what I was doing? "Fishing" I replied. He really was quite remorseful when he explained that the Carlsberg factory in Northampton had dumped a load of yeast into the river killing it of oxygen! He then told me I ought to go and have a look down the main river and that all would be revealed! The picture of death was quite remarkable, tons of dead fish floating on the surface for over 20 miles of river! Carlsberg received a small fine = um! Admittedly back then they were called something different that the EA! The second time, a major incident was reported by me. I live very close to the river Medina IOW. At the time I had to travel (by foot) to work and would pass several storm drains that flow into the Medina, the Medina is an estuary by the way “salt water” not brackish. One spring morning on my way to work, I peered over the edge of one of the bridges to see if the mullet had turned up, as I normally do, only to be amazed at the sight of several carp cruising around! I knew at the time that they must have been pushed down the storm drains by some serious weather we had recently had, but at the same time I knew these were dead fish on the next spring tide! I phoned the EA only to be told that nature would have to take its cause because they did not have the recourses required to re-locate the fish. Upon voicing my dismay at a possible 40+ fish some of which in the 25-30lb region dieing on the next tide, I offered the proposal of myself and other fellows concerned to re-locate the carp ourselves. I was told that this was illegal and that if caught I would be subject to prosecution? I still visit a pond quite close to where I live and feed some carp, which allegedly arrived overnight some time ago. I’m not sure what happened to the poor blighters left in that silt hole of a storm drain at the mercy of the EA and tide though. I hope they are OK. And yet I still purchase a licence. As for front line workers, they have a hard job I know and believe me I do know as I work for the NHS PCT. But you won’t see me offering my hand to a traffic warden, they don’t do anything to help, they are just there to make your day a bad one and put cash in the pot. Sound familiar? Should I have sympathy for an unknown entity? Or blast the gits that take my money and do nothing – all of them? I feel a change of forum name to “ON HIGH HORSE” becoming more appropriate? And they want to licence sea anglers? Big “GUUFFAAWW” John
|
|
|
Post by Barcud on May 28, 2007 11:43:43 GMT -1
May 28 2007
Western Mail Joint action will crack fish poaching
Sir – Your article, “Welsh anglers turn vigilante to fight poachers’ ‘mob rule’” (May 19), uses highly emotive language and portrays our rivers as being violent, scary and intimidating places to go. We can confirm that this is not the case, with the vast majority of our waterways being enjoyed by thousands of anglers and other water users every week. We recognise that the local club, Ogmore Angling Association, have concerns regarding the loss of fish from the River Ogmore – fish that their members have paid for. We also acknowledge the efforts that they have gone to in order to try and protect their fishery. Clearly, threats of violence and verbal abuse are serious and where such public order incidents do occur we would recommend that club officers back away from the situation and report it to both the police on 999 and ourselves on 0800 807060. Whilst the article referred to prosecutions being taken by the police, it failed to mention that Environment Agency Wales are taking forward a prosecution in conjunction with the Ogmore Anglers following the receipt of information from club officers. It is, of course, a joint approach that will crack this problem and we look forward to working with Ogmore Anglers to address these local issues.
CHRIS MILLS Director, Environment Agency Wales
|
|
|
Post by highplains on May 28, 2007 12:05:21 GMT -1
I can only think to reproduce my previous post which read.
The Agency tell us the 0800 80 70 60 is their emergency hotline, direct to an Environment Agency Enforcement Officer.
This is not a hot line, it is not even a Luke warm line. For heavens sake this "incident" went on from the 1st to the 7th of May. You now have the gall to tell us that you have made no arrests, brought no charges or indeed done anything apart from say that you have been on patrol there!
I apologise for the inaccuracy in this post. It seems the EAW waited from the 1st to the 7th of May before following up on one potential prosecution as a consequence of information provided by the Ogmore Angling Association.
Chris Mills should be ashamed of himself for writing his article.
Spot the comment on the end of his "piece" that implies this is or was an isolated problem. Same old same old - no such thing as poachers in Wales. *.* Mr Mills.
|
|
|
Post by rwgbridgend on May 28, 2007 18:01:36 GMT -1
Further to the letter above, Ogmore Angling Association Bailiffs will be handing over a further 4 reports for prosecution, which we hope given the efforts of our Club Bailiffs will be carried through.
I cannot understand why the letter above did not respond to the purpose of the article - that being the lack of EAW enforcement officers. Not once did the writer refer to this.
This letter is merely another PR stunt so that the EAW are portrayed as smelling of roses once again. In my opinion the smell is much nastier than that !
|
|
|
Post by Gwyniadun on May 29, 2007 14:05:12 GMT -1
Referred to as political 'spin'
|
|
|
Post by Barcud on May 31, 2007 10:54:54 GMT -1
May 31 2007 Western Mail Angling problems over law enforcement
SIR – In his letter (May 28) Chris Mills, director of Environment Agency Wales, stated that joint action between anglers and the Environment Agency would crack the problem of poaching and violence on the River Ogmore. Although Mr Mills suggests this is a local problem, he fails to mention the fact that due to stakeholders’ concerns from all over Wales, the Environment Agency was last year instructed by Assembly Minister Carwyn to carry out a review of fisheries enforcement. Mr Mills appears not to respond to the aspects of the article that highlight the inability of his enforcement officers to respond to calls from anglers to the Environment Agency emergency hotline. Yet he states that anglers should continue to call that hotline. Mr Mills also fails to state that illegal poaching not only affects introduced fish that anglers pay for, but also indigenous species such as salmon which contribute greatly to fishing tourism in Wales, which is valued at over £69m to the Welsh economy. Mr Mills must come clean on these issues.
WYNNE GRIFFITHS Hon Secretary,Ogmore Angling Association
|
|
|
Post by highplains on May 31, 2007 17:40:01 GMT -1
Well done rwbridgend.
Nicely put and to the point.
Thank you.
|
|
|
Post by Barcud on Jun 1, 2007 11:12:42 GMT -1
Jun 1 2007 Western Mail
Good-angling threat
SIR – I must support the views expressed by Wynne Griffiths (Letters, May 31), although this is not a local issue confined to the River Ogmore.
The Environment Agency Wales spends huge amounts in promoting the return of migratory fish to Welsh Rivers through stocking, salmon homecoming schemes, fish passes and various environmental improvements, and yet does not protect the fish stocks when they are in our rivers.
It is stressed again and again that improving the environment and fish stocks of Welsh rivers would help improve tourism and benefit the Welsh Valleys but what tourist wants to fish when fish stocks are depleted by poachers and the anglers are left on their own, totally unsupported, if they try to tackle poachers?
It is a very short-sighted policy that does not provide for bailiffs on all waters and a rapid response to reported poaching which means that ultimately all attempts to regenerate a “tourist fishing” policy is bound to fail.
I have made these views clear many times and in many forums over the past few years. The Environment Agency and the Welsh Assembly must acknowledge the problem and respond, not pretend there are only “local problems”.
The future of good angling could be lost for the shortsighted lack of adequate bailiffing of our rivers.
ROBIN WOODYATT
Hon Secretary, Maesycwmmer Friendly Anglers, and Hon Secretary, Rhymney River Federation of Angling Clubs
|
|
|
Post by highplains on Jun 1, 2007 21:01:45 GMT -1
Nice to see the EAW comments shown up again for what they are!
If anybody has contact details for Mr Robin Woodyatt I would be most grateful for a PM.
Many thanks
Highplains
|
|
|
Post by rwgbridgend on Jun 2, 2007 19:07:31 GMT -1
Thank you once again to one and all for contributing to this thread.
I did not realise that there would be so much support when i posted it.
I think the current round of press coverage has posibly run it's course.
I am optimistic that between us all we can make a difference.
Thank you,
Wynne Griffiths.
|
|
|
Post by Gwyniadun on Jun 4, 2007 10:15:53 GMT -1
Wynne.
Whilst I share your optimism and do hope that our efforts succeed, reality prevails. Without a total shake up of management and policies within the EA, demise will continue within the spiral, for want of a better phrase 'They do not begin to understand' which is the unfortunate part.
The review was due to be completed in March, it is now June and still no outcome that I know of. I wonder which March they mean?
Gwyniadun
|
|
|
Post by rwgbridgend on Jun 4, 2007 19:01:31 GMT -1
Gwyniadun,
I agree, where is the review?
I think carwyn was being cunning asking for it to be completed by April knowing full well the assembly was closed and he would not be around to have to deal with it.
|
|