CAMPAIGN FOR THE PROTECTION OF WELSH FISHERIES

[Hoppy]

Totally unbelievable - you only have to read some of the Press releases on ths forum to see how bad Dwr Cymru are...

EA Management are at it again.

I hope that FERAC are addressing this, and Rivers Trusts and Clubs a like. The ACA cant do this alone and need further support.

Cost cutting and performance indicators = disaster for fish.

Truly disgraceful, can someone explain why i bother paying my licence fee?

Hoppy

[buzzerman]

just think how bad it would be if you didnt mate l.o.l. ;D

[highplains]

Clwydman,

If you have problems posting pictures either email me them or give me a ring and I will explain. It is really quite easy - once you know how.

All the best.

[highplains]

It would seem that we are getting, as a society, what we deserve. If so many are apathetic then the government and its quangos and the like will walk all over us.

This new age with computer and Internet power will allow those that actually care to try to wake up the public to what is really happening. It is for this reason that the Campaign is running and will continue to run until something positive is done to address the issue. We have the chance to make a difference. Please sign up for the campaign.

Regards,

Highplains

[dai]

It`s mad what is going on these days, does any of these body's understand what should be done

Dai

[Hoppy]

This needs to be verified - perhaps i'll contact the ACA.

If it is right i would like to know the following -

1. Why do groups continue to work in partnerships with the EA, when the EA management are obviously hell bent on bending to performance indicators, saving money, rather that saving fish and fishing. - This is a short term strategy - they haven't thought of the future. Whilst i understand that perhaps the cuts are govt directed - surely someone should be fighting for angling - especially when its the biggest participation sport in the Country.

2. Surely at some point consideration must be given to the fact that the EA are not fit for purpose when it comes to fishing and water quality. (PLEASE NOTE THAT ENFORCEMENT STAFF HAVE MY FULL SUPPORT).

I would ask those that dont really realise the extent of this to look for the pollution press releases on the EA news page - just to see how bad this is - and Welsh Water appears to be the worst offender.

Self policing will no doubt lead to 'it wasn't me' syndrome! i.e Who let 10,000 gallons of brand 'x' pollutant into the river - a brand 'x' spokesperson repsonsible for investigating the incident states 'it wasn't us'

Hoppy

Ps Buzz - If we didn't pay EA licence - it would be like Scotland

[highplains]

The following items are taken direct from a paper to be presented to FERAC.



3.0 Enforcement Activity Report

3.1 Enforcement Review Update

We have received confirmation from WAG that we can proceed with some of the low cost/quick win recommendations made in the Enforcement Report to WAG. We are progressing actions relating to the following :

• Improved incident response
• Greater awareness of 0800 number.
• Training for club bailiffs
• Greater inter-Area co-operation
• Joint working with other organisations
• Tackling fish theft.

We are considering the Ministers response in respect of other recommendations.

3.2 Rivercall/0800 Launch

The expanded Rivercall service in Wales was launched by WAG Minister, Jane Davidson, at the Royal Welsh Show. The service now includes 34 rivers in Wales and will generate some additional income for the function that will be reinvested in fisheries projects. The promotional card also doubles as an Aide Memoire for reporting suspected illegal fishing incidents through the 0800 80 70 60 hotline.

It is interesting to note that the EAW are obviously well aware that the 0800 80 70 60 number is not used in the way it should be and is in fact looked upon with derision. I therefore welcome the initiative to increase awareness of the number. It is a shame there is no initiative to increase response times to meaningful levels. I do hope that when the report is given and reference is made to the 66 calls they say were made nationally on the 0800 80 70 60 line that they will make clear to those to whom the report is addressed that the fishery related numbers of around 30 are far from representative of the situation because of the fact that the 0800 80 70 60 number is perceived to be a waste of time by those who should be using it.

It is no good raising awareness of the number when they can do little to respond to calls. They should be adding a genuine incentive to the angling community by saying something like - "use the number to show us there is a problem and we will provide a meaningful response". They must realise that their platitudes are no replacement or alternative to actions. It seems to me the whole system is currently set up to prove what they have been saying for years; that there is little poaching, not establishing the true facts.

The season is now over and we can turn our efforts to applying pressure to the EAW and to the Assembly to provide more funding. However the Assembly are less likely to listen to us if their advisers (EAW) are singing from a different hymn sheet.

Come on EAW start to work with us. We share a common interest or at least we should???

[fario2]

Not heard of this new initiative on the Wye though I understand the Usk is included. The bailiff force here is disgraceful in respect of numbers, working practices, hand bound by health and safety isssue etc. etc. The o800 number as you suggested is a joke and if using a mobile you could be speaking to someone almost anywhere in the country depending on where you call is directed on the national system they now use. The person you might speak to often has no idea of what you are talking about and certainly has no idea as to the location you might be in. As you say no one bothers because its a waste of time. Ive had several occasions to ask for help, one involving travellers and was told by the head bailliff that he would not help as he "was not prepared to risk my men in those circumstances" I suspect the same might be true if half a dozen or more immigrants were poaching and there was any likelihood of violence. They would rather target the commercial pools and pick of a few licence dodgers than really get involved, Its not the baillifs themselves who are at fault but the soft attitude of the chiefs who want nothing to rock their boat.
As for the report that |EA will no longer take responsibility for monitoring polluction discharges its the biggest, most discraceful and downright dangerous thing they have ever done and could decimate many of our rivers.
I don't believe the EA are really serious about many aspects of game fisheries in particular.Her on the Wye many of their repsonsibilities have been handed over to the Wye and Usk Foundation but dogged as we are by genetic dogma and total opposition to any form of restocking by the EA we are paddling furiously to stand still or even perhaps going backwards. Much money, millions ,have been spent so far to no effect so beware of greeks bearing gifts especially if they are dressed in fishery scientists clothes- especially EA or Foundation ones.
We look like being dogged by even more byelaws in 2009 including probably 100 perc cent catch and release throughout the season and there was talk of the river being closed things are so bad. No much point in making more byelaws anyway if you can't enforce them so yes we need a proper baillif force for all sorts of reasons. If cash is a problem boot out the scientists who have had their snouts in the trough for too long no with absolutely nothing to show.

[highplains]

Greetings Fario2,

Nice to see a new member posting on this link - welcome.

I think the more we learn from our fellow anglers, the more it becomes apparent that the EA are failing to satisfy the not unreasonable demands of the angling community. They themselves seem to be acknowledging in the FERAC report that the 0800 80 70 60 number is not working as it should. They seem to think a quick and cheap fix to this problem is to publicise the number more. This astounds me when we hear from so many independent sources that one of the reasons the number is deemed to be a farce by anglers is because the seem to be very limited responses and virtually no action. Cheap fixes will not get results. Having said that I think we should all keep using the 0800 80 70 60 number if only to build up statistics. I wounder if the call which the EA did not turn out on because of the risk to bailiff staff was ever recorded? I really do very much doubt it.

I think the inclusion of the report of the number of times the 0800 80 70 60 number has been used, when included in a FERAC meeting should be as an indication of how well, or not, the EAW have managed to encourage users to call the number. In that case their performance indicator would be a massive failure in this regard.

We have to keep up the pressure whilst maintaining a logical and balanced approach. Not easy when dealing with the EA.

[highplains]

[highplains]

Fellow members please note that if the EAW are to provide poaching figures the chances are they will use the 0800 80 70 60 calls as the basis.

We will have words to say about that wont we?

When the review is published we will really need your support and that of as many of our fellow anglers as we can.

Keep on keeping on!!

Regards.

Highplains

[highplains]

I have just recieved the following email from Mark Isherwood AM with reference to our camapign.

Starts

Please accept my apologies for taking so long to report back to you on my 22nd October meeting with Keith Ashcroft, Area Manager Environment Agency Wales.

Things have been a bit hectic in work and traumatic at home (health issues).

I raised the points detailed in your 20th September e-mail, with the following response:

The Welsh Assembly Government asked the Environment Agency to review its approach to fisheries enforcement (as we already knew).
Discussion sessions were held with fishing groups.
Recommendations were then made to the new Minister, Jane Davidson - with low, medium & high cost solutions identified.
Jane Davidson responded by telling them to "go for no cost/low cost".
This meant "working with fisheries groups, because the reality is that we only have 7 people in consequence of how we are funded".
Jane Davidson has also asked them to quantify the scale of the poaching. They are talking to Universities and Fisheries at the moment to establish the best approach for this.
If justified by the scale of poaching identified, they will ask the Assembly Government for greater resources for enforcement.
They receive £800,000 p.a. for their 'sustainable fisheries project'. To date this has all been spent on conservation (habitat improvement, etc.).
However, they have been newly allowed to spend some of this on enforcement and hope to obtain an extra member of enforcement staff in North Wales.

(I also passed your contact details on to Keith Ashcroft).

When I subsequently asked the Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, Brynle Williams, if he or the relevant Assembly Committee had been made aware of any of this, he stated that they had not.

I therefore raised this in the Chamber and requested a statement from the Minister, but to little effect.

My Office should have sent you details of this - have you received them?

I have therefore now written to the Minister.

You will be copied on her response.

Best wishes

Mark

[Gwyniadun]

Highplains, well done, and well done to Mark Isherwood, it may be prudent at this stage to re-iterate what the FERAC report said about enforcement in their report, some years ago....I believe that you will have a copy of it somewhere, a matter the 'Powers that be' totally ignored in the past and would appear to be doing the same again.

You will recall that the 'Review' set up as a result of the campaign was flawed as they could only cover ground already covered and reported on by FERAC....the persons responsible from the EA would have made better use of their time in 'Enforcement Issues' on the rivers of Wales and not at 'blydi' meetings and should have been directed to do so by the Welsh Assembly, seems to be a bit of the same old adge pissing in the same pot jobbie.

[highplains]

Thank you Gwyniadun,

This marks the start of the beginning of the Campaign proper.

We will need as much support as the angling community can muster when we get started.

I look forward to putting our case with the strength of real numbers of supporters to give authenticity.

All the best

Highplains

[highplains]

The long awaited review is now published. It is reproduced on the following pages without comment at this stage. I would ask forum members and guests to read it and consider the implications for the future.


Adolygiad o weithgareddau gorfodi mewn Pysgodfeydd yng Nghymru


Crynodeb Gweithredol

Cefndir

Yn dilyn cyfarwyddyd gan Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru, rydym wedi bod yn cynnal adolygiad o’n strwythurau trefniadaethol a’n gweithgareddau gorfodi mewn pysgodfeydd ar hyn o bryd ac rydym wedi cyflwyno adroddiad amdanynt. Yn ogystal, rydym wedi bod yn gofyn am farn ein cwsmeriaid ynghylch sut y byddent yn hoffi i ni wella ein gweithgareddau gorfodi cyfredol mewn pysgodfeydd.

Gweithgareddau gorfodi mewn pysgodfeydd sy’n cael y gyfran fwyaf o’n cyllid ar gyfer pysgodfeydd, a chaiff 45% (£1.33 miliwn) o’n cyllideb weithredol ei chlustnodi ar gyfer cyflawni gweithgareddau gorfodi effeithiol ynddynt a gwirio trwyddedau pysgota â gwiail a rhwydi.

Mae’r Adolygiad hwn wedi bod yn gyfle i rannu arfer da ar draws Cymru, datblygu syniadau newydd, a nodi meysydd ar gyfer gwella yn y gweithgareddau gorfodi a gyflawnir gennym ar hyn o bryd. Mae hefyd wedi bod yn gyfle i gywiro rhai camsyniadau ynghylch ein gwaith, er enghraifft, y camsyniad ein bod yn wasanaeth brys sy’n medru ymateb i alwadau bob awr o’r dydd a’r nos bob diwrnod o’r flwyddyn, neu’r camsyniad bod yr Adran Bysgodfeydd yn cyllido gwaith gorfodi sy’n ymwneud â gwastraff.

Canfyddiadau Allweddol

Ar ôl cael bron i 1000 o sylwadau gan fudd-ddeiliaid allanol a’n staff ni ein hunain, rydym wedi medru nodi dros 80 o gamau gweithredu y gellid eu cymryd i wella. Ni fydd angen adnoddau ychwanegol i roi llawer o’r camau gweithredu hyn ar waith, ond bydd angen eu cyflwyno’n raddol. Mae sawl un o’r camau gweithredu wedi’u rhoi ar waith eisoes, gan gynnwys y rhai canlynol: newid polisi’r Asiantaeth mewn perthynas â dwyn pysgod; adolygu’r Canolfannau Rheoli Rhanbarthol, a fydd yn arwain at gadw canolfan benodedig ar gyfer Cymru; a darparu Swyddog Pysgodfeydd Wrth Law yng Ngogledd Cymru. Mae’r modd yr ydym yn cyfathrebu â’n cwsmeriaid wedi gwella hefyd trwy gyfrwng Llythyrau Newyddion ar gyfer Ardaloedd – ond mae mwy i’w wneud o hyd yn y maes pwysig hwn.

Ar sail y cyllid a ddarperir ar hyn o bryd gan y Cynulliad, rydym wedi nodi a phrisio camau gweithredu posibl ar gyfer gwella ein gwasanaeth gorfodi. Mae’r camau gweithredu hynny’n cynnwys darparu Cronfa Gudd-ymchwil, darparu systemau gwell ar gyfer cyfathrebu trwy radio, darparu cynlluniau hyfforddi ar gyfer rhwydwaith newydd o ‘Oruchwylwyr Afonydd’ gwirfoddol, a darparu mwy o staff (llawn a rhan amser). Pe bai pob un o’r camau gweithredu’n cael eu rhoi ar waith, byddai cyfanswm y gost yn cyfateb i £944,000, a byddai angen o leiaf £490,000 bob blwyddyn wedyn i dalu cyflogau a chostau eraill.

Cyn gwneud buddsoddiad ychwanegol sylweddol fodd bynnag, rydym o’r farn bod angen cyflawni mwy o waith ymchwil er mwyn mesur faint o bysgota anghyfreithlon sy’n digwydd. Am y tro cyntaf erioed, rydym yn amcangyfrif bod 2.29 tunnell o eogiaid a 2.76 tunnell o sewiniaid yn cael eu dal yn anghyfreithlon yng Nghymru. Mae angen cynnal profion pellach ar y tybiaethau a ddefnyddiwyd i gyfrifo’r ffigurau hyn, a hwyrach y bydd angen gwella’u cywirdeb. Fodd bynnag, maent yn rhoi targed newydd i’n timau gorfodi, a gellid mesur eu heffeithiolrwydd yn y dyfodol yn erbyn y targed hwn.

Mae’r tabl canlynol yn crynhoi’r meysydd posibl a nodwyd ar gyfer gwella ynghyd ag amcangyfrif o gost gwneud hynny.



Crynodeb o’r argymhellion, y camau gweithredu a’r costau arfaethedig

Maes ar gyfer gwella Enghreifftiau o’r math o weithgaredd Cyfanswm yr amcangyfrif o gost eu gweithredu

Cynorthwyo a defnyddio gwirfoddolwyr yn fwy effeithiol Cynlluniau hyfforddi.
Rhwydwaith cysylltiadau. £18,000
Mynd i’r afael â’r sawl sy’n dwyn pysgod a lleihau’r broblem Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd i adolygu ei pholisi erlyn.
Treialu cynlluniau tagio. £6,000
Adolygu lefelau staffio’r Asiantaeth Adleoli staff pysgodfeydd i Dimau Troseddau.
Cymorth ar draws Ardaloedd ar gyfer ymgyrchoedd penodol.
Defnyddio mwy o staff dros dro. £377,000
Gwella’r modd yr ydym yn monitro ac yn asesu gweithgareddau anghyfreithlon Archwilio technegau newydd ar gyfer monitro ac atal gweithgareddau anghyfreithlon.
Rhoi cyhoeddusrwydd ar raddfa eang i’r Cynllun Blynyddol. £40,000
Cydweithio’n fwy effeithlon â sefydliadau eraill Cynlluniau ‘Crimewatch’ wedi’u hehangu.
Rhannu sgiliau ac adnoddau ag eraill. £16,500
Defnyddio a chasglu cudd-ymchwil yn well Caffael ‘Cronfa Gudd-ymchwil’ a datblygu sgiliau dadansoddi cudd-ymchwil ymysg y staff.
Cysylltiadau rhwng Swyddogion Cudd-ymchwil. £205,000
Ymateb yn well i adroddiadau am ddigwyddiadau Swyddog Wrth Law ym mhob Ardal.
Newid y modd y caiff galwadau ffôn eu cyfeirio at Ganolfannau Rheoli Rhanbarthol.
Rhoi gwell adborth i’r sawl sy’n ffonio. £30,000
Defnyddio offer a thechnoleg i fynd i’r afael â physgota anghyfreithlon Defnyddio dulliau gweithredu fforensig i’w gwneud hi’n haws dod o hyd i achosion.
System radio newydd ar gyfer y staff.
Adolygu’r cychod a ddefnyddir i gyflawni gweithgareddau gorfodi ar hyd yr arfordir. £169,000
Gwella prosesau mewnol Gwneud mwy o waith trawsffiniol. £16,500
Gwella cysondeb yn ein gwaith yng Nghymru Gwella cysylltiadau rhwng Ardaloedd.
Sicrhau swyddog arweiniol yn y Rhanbarth ar gyfer gwaith gorfodi. £41,000
Cyfathrebu’n fwy effeithiol â’n cwsmeriaid Gwireddu’r Cynllun Cysylltiadau Gorfodi.
Sicrhau mwy o gysylltiad â chlybiau yn lleol. £25,000
£944,000

Y Camau Nesaf

Argymhellwn, felly, y dylid cymryd y camau canlynol at gyflawni’r gwaith:

(i) Cyflawni rhai gweithredoedd cymharol rad o fewn ein cyllidebau presennol,
a fydd yn gwarchod rhagor ar ein pysgodfeydd ac yn gwella ein gwasanaeth i’n
cwsmeriaid.

(ii) Cynhyrchu Strategaeth Orfodi Pysgodfeydd Cymru ddechreuol gyda
chefnogaeth cwsmeriaid a chyrff partneriaethol. Bydd yn ystyried:

• Faint o droseddu sydd ar hyn o bryd?
• Sut orau mae ymladd y bygythiad hwn?
• Tactegau asiantaethau gorfodi eraill, a’r gwersi a ddysgwyd ganddynt.
• A all graddfeydd troseddu newid yn y dyfodol? Sut allwn achub y blaen ar newidiadau o’r fath?
• Faint o adnoddau sydd eu hangen? Sut mae eu defnyddio orau?

(iii) Cynhyrchu Strategaeth Gyfathrebu Pysgodfeydd er mwyn gwella ein cyfathrebu
â’r cyhoedd ac â chyrff partneriaethol.

(iv) Cytuno ar dechnegau mesur gweithgareddau troseddol, ymchwilio i’r technegau
hynny a’u datblygu er mwyn cael amcan cywir o raddfa pysgota troseddol.

(v) Yng ngoleuni canlyniadau (iv) uchod, ailasesu ein Strategaethau Gorfodi
a Chyfathrebu.

(vi) Ceisio’r arian angenrheidiol, a chynnig am nawdd ychwanegol gan LlCC ar yr
adeg addas. Ar gyfer hynny, bydd angen dadl ehangach ynghylch faint o
adnoddau y mae eu hangen ar gyfer gwaith gorfodi, mewn perthynas â meysydd
eraill gwaith pysgodfeydd.

[highplains]

Review of Welsh Fisheries Enforcement Activities

Executive Summary

Background

Following instruction from the Welsh Assembly Government, we have reviewed and reported on our existing fisheries enforcement activities and organisational structures. We have also sought the views of our customers on how they would like us to improve our current fisheries enforcement provision.

Fisheries enforcement receives the greatest proportion of our fisheries funding with 45% (£1.33m) of our operational budget allocated to High Impact Fisheries Enforcement and rod and net licence checking.

This Review has provided the opportunity to share good practice across Wales, develop new ideas and identify areas for improvement in our existing enforcement work. It has also provided an opportunity to rectify some perceptions regarding our work, for example, that we are a ‘blue-light’ service able to respond 24 hours-a-day, 365 days a year or that the Fisheries Function is financing waste enforcement work – both of which are inaccurate.

Key Findings

Following the receipt of nearly 1000 comments from external stakeholders and our own staff, we have been able to identify over 80 possible improvement actions. Many of these actions will not require additional resource in order to implement, although phased introduction will be necessary. Several actions have already been implemented, including: a change in the Agency policy in relation to fish theft; a review of the Regional Control Centres which will result in the retention of a dedicated centre for Wales; provision of a Fisheries Standby Officer in N.Wales. Our communication with customers has also improved through Area Newsletters – although there is still more to be done in this important area of work.

Based upon current levels of funding provided by the Assembly we have identified and costed actions to deliver improvements to our enforcement service. These actions include the provision of an Intelligence Database, improved radio communication systems, training schemes for a new network of volunteer ‘ River Watchers’ and increased staff numbers (both full and part-time). The total cost if all actions are implemented would be £944k with a minimum of £490k required annually thereafter to cover salary and other costs.

However, before significant additional investment is made, we believe that further research is required in order to quantify the level of illegal fishing. We estimate, for the first time, the illegal capture of salmon and sea trout in Wales to be 2.29 and 2.76 tonnes respectively. The assumptions used to calculate these figures require further testing and their accuracy may need to be improved but they do provide our enforcement teams with a new target against which their future effectiveness could be measured.

The following table provides a brief summary of the possible areas for improvement identified and estimated costs of implementation.





Summary of Proposed Recommendation, Actions and Costs

Area for Improvement Examples of Type of Activity Total Estimated Delivery Cost

Assisting and Using Volunteers More Effectively Training schemes
Communications network £18k
Dealing with and Reducing Fish Theft EAW to review prosecution policy.
Tagging schemes trialed. £6k
Reviewing Agency Staffing Levels Redeployment of fisheries staff into Crime Teams.
Cross Area support for specific campaigns.
Use of more Temporary staff. £377k
Improving our Monitoring and Assessment of Illegal Activity Explore new techniques to monitor illegal activity and deterrent effect.
Annual Plan widely publicised. £40k
Working More Efficiently with Other Organisations ‘Crimewatch’ schemes expanded.
Share skills and resources with others. £16.5k
Using and Gathering Intelligence Better Procure ‘Intelligence Database’ and develop intelligence analytical skills amongst staff.
Communications between Intelligence Officers £205k
Responding Better to Incident Reports Standby Officer in each Area.
Change to Regional Control Centre call routing.
Better feedback to callers. £30k
Using Equipment and Technology to Combat Illegal Fishing Use of forensics to assist detection of cases.
New radio system for staff.
Review coastal enforcement vessels. £169k
Improving internal processes Increased cross-boundary working. £16.5k
Being More Consistent in Our Work In Wales Greater inter-Area communications.
Lead officer in Region for Enforcement. £41k
Communicating More Effectively with Customers Delivery of Enforcement Communications Plan.
Greater local liaison with clubs. £25k
£944k



Future Actions

We therefore recommend that the next steps to delivery should be :


(i) Deliver some low cost actions, within our existing budgets that will bring about increased protection for our fisheries and an improved service to our customers.

(ii) Produce an initial Fisheries Enforcement Strategy for Wales supported by customers and partner organisations. This will consider :

• Current level of illegal activity ?
• How best to combat this threat ?
• The approach taken by other enforcement agencies and their lessons learnt.
• How future levels of activity may change and proposals to pre-empt such changes ?
• How much resource is required and how this is best deployed ?

(iii) Produce a Fisheries Communications Strategy to improve our communications with the public and partner organisations.

(iv) Research and develop agreed techniques for quantifying illegal activity to give a true indication of the level of illegal fishing activity.

(v) In light of the results from (iv) above re-evaluate our Enforcement and Communications Strategies.

(vi) Seek necessary funding and bid for additional funds from WAG at the appropriate time. This will require wider debate about the level of resource allocation for enforcement work in relation to other areas of fisheries work.

[highplains]

YMATEB LLYWODRAETH CYNULLIAD CYMRU I ADOLYGIAD GWEITHGAREDDAU GORFODI PYSGODFEYDD CYMRU

Fel rhan o lythyr gorchwyl 2006/7, bu ofyn i Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd Cymru ddarparu ar gyfer Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru adolygiad o drefn a gweithgareddau Gorfodi Pysgodfeydd Cymru, a manylion beth y bwriadai ei wneud ynghylch pryderon cydnabyddedig rhanddeiliaid.

Derbyniwyd ac ystyriwyd yr Adolygiad, ac y mae’r Gweinidog dros Faterion Cefn Gwlad ac Etifeddiaeth wedi cyfarwyddo Asiantaeth yr Amgylchedd Cymru i:

1. Gwblhau asesiad canfod graddfa gweithgareddau troseddol croes i ddeddfwriaeth pysgodfeydd.
2. Gan ystyried canlyniadau’r asesiad, datblygu Strategaeth Orfodi, gan gynnwys dangos sut y gellir talu unrhyw gostau canlyniadol.
3. Bwrw ymlaen a nifer o weithredoedd rhad er mwyn mynd i’r afael â phryderon rhanddeiliaid, gan gynnwys:

• Dwyn pysgod

• Cynnwys Swyddogion Gorfodi Effeithfawr o Hafren Uchaf mewn gweithgareddau ledled Cymru, wedi eu cyd-drefnu gan grŵp cefnogol rhanbarth Cymru.

• Pob Ardal yng Nghymru i ystyried sut y gellir symud y swyddogion gorfodi sydd mewn Timau Rheoli’r Amgylchedd ar hyn o bryd i Dimau Troseddu Amgylcheddol.

• Y Grŵp Gorfodi i gyfarfod yn rheolaidd.

• Hybu ymwybyddiaeth o’r rhif 0800, gan nodi cyrff eraill a allent ymuno ac ymateb yn gadarnhaol i geisiadau clybiau genweirio am gymorth, a chan ganolbwyntio ar fannau hysbys lle bu gweithredu troseddol yn y gorffennol. Ystyried darparu swyddog pysgodfeydd ar-alwad ym mhob Tîm Troseddu Amgylcheddol, er mwyn sicrhau dosbarthu a thrin yn gywir pob galwad ynghylch pysgodfeydd.

• Ehangu’r cynllun Cadw Golwg presennol i gynnwys dalgylch Clwyd.

• Darparu ar gyfer gwirfoddolwyr wybodaeth ynghylch ymwybyddiaeth gwrth-botsio a hysbysu, gan ganfod sut y gallai cyrff eraill sy’n treulio amser mewn dŵr neu yn ei gyffiniau gynorthwyo canfod gweithgareddau troseddol a rhoi gwybod amdanynt.

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RESPONSE OF THE WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT TO THE REVIEW OF WELSH FISHERIES ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES

As part of the 2006/7 remit letter, Environment Agency Wales was required to provide the Welsh Assembly Government with a review of current Welsh Fishery Enforcement organisation and activities and proposals to address perceived stakeholder concerns.

The Review has been received and considered and the Minister for Rural Affairs and Heritage has instructed Environment Agency Wales to:

1. Complete an assessment to identify the scale of illegal activities contrary to fisheries legislation.
2. Taking into account the outcomes arising from the assessment, develop an Enforcement Strategy, including identification of how any costs that arise can be met.
3. To proceed with a number of low cost actions to address stakeholder concerns, including:

• Theft of fish

• Inclusion of High Impact Enforcement Staff from the Upper Severn to participate in activities across Wales, co-ordinated by a Welsh region support group.

• Each Welsh area to consider how enforcement staff currently assigned to Environmental Management Teams can be migrated to the Environmental Crime Teams

• Enforcement Group to meet on a regular basis.

• Promote awareness of the 0800 number, identifying other organisations who could participate and respond positively to requests for assistance from angling clubs, targeting known areas in which illegal activity has occurred in the past. Consider provision of standby fisheries officer in each Environmental Crime Team to ensure that all fishery calls are correctly classified and dealt with.

• Expand the existing Crimewatch scheme to Clwyd catchment.

• Provide information on anti-poaching awareness and reporting to volunteers, exploring how other organisations who spend time in or around water could assist in identifying and reporting illegal activities.

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The following is the link to the full report on the EAW web site

www.environment-agency.gov.uk/regions/wales/450320/1909162/

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Previous link dinot work, corrected by EAW

www.environment-agency.gov.uk/regions/wales/450320/1909162/