Lots going on in terms of the needs of the environment and the checks and balances needed to ensure we can all enjoy the benefits it brings.
In terms of the Hoveton saga, after much discussion with both AT, Fish legal and the IFM, it seems that we wouldn’t have a case to place before a court, despite the injustice it could have on the Broads Fishery. It’s really a case of what species have protection under UK legislation and does that don’t.
We have to move on and put our efforts into the governance, monitoring and measures of the impact these barriers will have on the wider catchment fish stocks. Then ensure a process exists to remove them, if harm is proven.
That said there remains the planning condition to overcome from the 2014 environment assessment.
You can see our response to the permit “minded to” consultation here.
We will be holding our first face to face members meeting on the 5th Oct, Duncan has decided to take a break from his business ventures and will be taken a full time role with BASG. This 3 year plan is to address the sustainability of the Broads Fishery, more to follow on this next month.
What a busy summer it’s been across the Broads, clearly some education is needed with the visitors trying their hand at angling for the first time. We need to learn to respect the wildlife and not let them get tangled in lines and hooks, as far too many do. There continues much discussion on whether pike fishing in the broads should be allowed in the summer months and how this could be managed. I personally can’t see how the agency with their limited resources could manage any form of local byelaw, let alone any desire to create one. This really comes back to the freedoms within the broads as a tidal watercourse without riparian ownership. It may be the case that these freedoms will have to be overcome if we want to give broads pike any protection in warm weather conditions.
One wonders what next is coming around the corner, when man places such pressures on the environment and we seemingly leave things to the market to manage. Our environment deserves better and one can hope that a little may come from the Environment Bill currently going through parliament. Not that it will help on Hoveton or broads pike.
The long-term future looks even more of a challenge, after my attendance of several Water Resource seminars. Growth across East Anglian combined with climate change means the landscape will be different. You may of noticed the fields of Sunflowers blooming on the way to Potter Heigham, you could be in the south of France. Another indicator of things to come. Let alone planning for desalination plants on the Norfolk coast, to secure our future water supply. Whilst the sea level rise impacts further on our beloved Broads.
In support of all of this the Angling Trust with S&TC have produced the following report, which just shows the scale of the issues.
Time to Fix the Broken Water Sector
That’s all for now.
Kelvin
Chairman BASG
