The Salmon and Trout Association: Game anglers influencing national decision makers over the management and protection of salmon, trout and sea trout, the conservation of water and the diverse environments upon which all aquatic life depends.

NEWSLETTER: May 2010

New Government:

At last we have a new Government and, for all the negotiations which went on around it, we have a Defra Fisheries Minister for England and Wales - Richard Benyon, to whom congratulations on his appointment - who shadowed that post in Opposition, and so there is commendable continuity in this important ministerial position.  We spoke with him a couple of times before the Election, and gave him the list of issues we would like to see addressed in the months ahead, which we reported in the last E-Newsletter.  Richard Benyon is an angler and knows a good deal about the fisheries’ world, having an interest in the River Kennet in Berkshire and the Findhorn in Scotland.  We look forward very much to working with him, and will be seeking a ministerial meeting with him in the near future.

Final Call for Aquaculture Petition pages:

Many of you have pages on which you have collected signatures for our Aquaculture Petition.  Could we please ask you to send them in to HQ as quickly as possible, so that we can collate the final number before submission to the Scottish Government?  If you have not already signed the Petition, you can still do so electronically, click here, but please do so by June 10th.

NASCO and Aquaculture

The annual North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) meeting is to be held in Quebec, Canada, in the first week of June, where the main issue will be Aquaculture!  Suffice to say that the whole NGO contingent will be bringing some intense pressure on the delegations over their management of the global salmon farming industry, because none of them do it at all well – and Scotland is worse than most!

Web Site Podcast on Aquaculture:

Listen to a short Podcast on our web site with well known actor and fisherman, Geoffrey Palmer, talking to S&TA Chief Executive, Paul Knight, about the problems associated with, and possible solutions for, Aquaculture.

Scottish Mixed Stock Fisheries Report Published:

The long awaited MSF report was published recently.  Although S&TA was represented on the working group by the Chief Executive, we were not able to sign up to the final report because, in seeking to find consensus between netsmen and wild fish organisations, it failed to produce sufficiently strong recommendations for the future management of Scotland’s coastal MSFs.  Overall, the report is long on the need for more research but critically short of immediate action, as it deems that the present scientific data is insufficient – an attitude that epitomises the lack of urgency shown by the Government and its advisors.  In contrast, S&TA and our colleagues in the Association of Salmon Fishery Boards repeatedly called for the precautionary approach to be adopted, a principle signed up to by Scotland as a member of the EU delegation at NASCO.  Meanwhile, we will be highlighting Scotland’s continuing reluctance to manage its coastal MSFs at the annual NASCO meeting in June, and with Marine Science Scotland thereafter.

Blueprint for Water Re-write:

Many of you will have seen the Blueprint for Water, the ten-point ask of Government produced by the Blueprint team in 2007 (now incorporated under the Wildlife and Countryside Link banner) for the future management of water and the aquatic environment in England and Wales.  It has been decided to update the document for the new Government, and S&TA is taking the lead on rewriting two of the Asks – 1) Stop Pollutants Contaminating our Water, and 2) Restore Rivers from Source to Sea.  The new document will have the support of Link’s 8 million members, which should add something of a bite to the fisheries’ voice.  The new version should be ready for presentation to the Government in early summer.

Blueprint for Wales?

Although the original Blueprint was very successful in England, one of the accusations levelled at us was that it did not cover Wales.  Link operates at UK level, but has a sister organisation in Wales which addresses purely Welsh issues.  S&TA believes that a version of the Blueprint for Wales would be extremely valuable, and we intend to try and coordinate a similar document this year, involving especially the Welsh Rivers Trusts, WSTAA and Link Wales, all of whom we will contact shortly.  More details to follow.    

Hydropower

Still a serious problem for fisheries’ interests.  S&TA represented fisheries’ NGOs at a recent Environment Agency workshop looking into the streamlining of the permitting and planning process for hydropower applications.  We were well received, and were able to put across our point that hydropower MUST sit within integrated catchment management plans, coordinating all the issues relevant to river management, rather than being treated on a piecemeal basis as at present.  This received good agreement around the table, but the problem keeps coming back to a lack of baseline information at catchment level, and no spare resources to go out and obtain it.  Meanwhile, EA planning officers are being forced to make decisions without having this basic data available.  So, hydropower remains a deep frustration, and an issue we will be addressing with the new Defra team at the earliest opportunity.

Game Fair

If you would like to help the S&TA this year at the CLA Game Fair (Ragley Hall, Alcester, Warwickshire - July 23rd, 24th & 25th), where we are responsible for organising casting competitions, championships and clinics, please contact Philip Wellesley-Davies on 0118 972 2921 (home), 07970 848 534 (mobile) or philipwd@hotmail.com (Subject: ‘Game Fair 2010 Help’) – a free entrance ticket and food voucher will be given to each volunteer, in return for 2x2 hour stints on the day.

Membership
Do you have a friend – or friends! – who isn’t/aren’t a member(s) of the S&TA but who you think really should be?   Point them to our thought-provoking questionnaire on the website, linked from the box on the Home page headed “Answer These Ten Questions and Find Out When Your Fishing Days will End” Click here.

We rely on our membership income and donations to enable us to continue working on these and many other issues on your behalf so please encourage your friends and acquaintances to do their bit by joining the Salmon & Trout Association – why not forward this E-Newsletter to your contacts list?  Also, if you haven’t already signed up to Gift Aid your subscription or donation, please do so – click here.

Any angler aged 12 years or over, fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish or eels in England (except the River Tweed), Wales or the Border Esk and its tributaries in Scotland must have an Environment Agency rod licence.

Rod licences are available from Post Office outlets throughout England and Wales, online, by direct debit and over the telephone on 0844 800 5386. The phone line is open from 8.30am to 8.00pm daily from March to September and 8.30am to 6.00pm from October to February.

How much does it cost?

Prices for 2010/11 rod licences — valid from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011

Category	Non-migratory trout, char, freshwater fish (coarse fish) and eels	Salmon and migratory trout (sea trout), non-migratory trout, char, freshwater fish (coarse fish) and eels
Full season (expires 31st March 2011)	£27.00	£72.00
Junior Concession	£5.00	£5.00
Senior Concession	£18.00	£48.00
8 Day	£10.00	£23.00
1 Day	£3.75	£8.00

A salmon and sea trout licence covers you to fish for non-migratory trout and coarse fish as well. Failure to have a licence is an offence.

Remember: If you are fishing with 3 or 4 rods then you will need to purchase a second licence.

Concessionary licences

• junior concession is available to anglers aged 12 and under
• senior concession is available to anglers aged 65 and over
• you have a Blue Badge parking concession, or are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance. You will need to provide your Blue Badge Number or National Insurance Number when buying your licence

Important information

• Anglers under the age of 12 do not need a rod licence to go fishing
• Full and concessionary rod licences expire on the 31st March each year
• 1-day rod licence is valid for 24 consecutive hours
• 8-day rod licence is valid for 192 consecutive hours from the start time and date

Be warned!

If you fish without a rod licence you are cheating other anglers, it is an offence to fish for freshwater fish and eels without a valid rod licence and if you are caught you may be fined up to £2,500.

The money raised through rod licence sales is invested directly in fisheries work that benefits all anglers.

** Buy a rod licence online now >>

WIN a pair of limted edition fish prints. Approximately 6.5 inches x 6.5 inches, they would best fit into a mount (not supplied) of approximately 12.25 inches by 12.25 inches. Each print is limited to 350 copies worldwide and signed by the artist. Each print has been beautifully reproduced from a hand painted original in light-fast inks on ACID-FREE Huntsman velvet board by one of the UK's leading fine art printers.

How to Enter:

One lucky UK Fisherman reader will win a pair of hand printed fish prints. To enter, all you have to do is send us a fishing related picture that we can add to our gallery. Please also send us a brief description about the picture. The best picture received will win ... simple!

Pictures must be either .jpg, .gif or .png format and must not exceed 5mb in size.

Please complete the competition entry form below.

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• The closing date for this competition is 31st July 2013
• This competition is being run jointly with our friends at Fish South East
• The winner be drawn at random once the competiton has closed and the winner will be notified within 2 weeks of the closing date.
• The judges decision is final and no debate will be entered into.
• The competition is open to UK residents only and only one entry per person is allowed.
• Please refer to our privacy policy for details of how UK Fisherman manages data that may identify you.

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Chatton Ladies have entered 2 ladies teams in the Macmillan's Fishing Day at Derwent 11th October. The ladies have grown in strength and enthusiasm over the season and are looking forward to entering again, for some of the ladies it will be there first competition.

Ali has the assistance from a fishing instructor on the day, to help with coaching and fishing advice.

Ali commented:
“I’m thrilled we have 2 ladies teams entering this year for such a good cause. All the money raised will be used to fund vital cancer services, from specialist nurses and doctors to help and advice for people who have financial problems because of their cancer.”

Any ladies interested in entering this event please contact Ali at Chatton. No experience necessary, just a smile and the opportunity to help a good cause. If you wish to donate to such a good cause please contact Ali at Chatton or visit our Just giving page called Chatton ladies.

We have our last training session 4th october 2009 at chatton fishery.

From some of the highest points on the planet to some of the lowest, from the coldest to the hottest, real life action hero Bear Grylls has seen and conquered it all. The first groundbreaking series Born Survivor: Bear Grylls will be released for the first time on DVD in three parts; Mountains; Deserts & Swamps and Scotland, courtesy of Demand DVD in February and March 2009.

Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Scotland

Bear shows how to survive in Scotland’s Cairngorm National Park. Half a million people visit every year, walking the glens or climbing in the mountains, but few realise how inhospitable a place it truly is; being classed as an Arctic landscape.

Bear shows how to navigate using ice formations and moss growth, create shelter, find water and trap food. Also featured as a bonus program is Iceland, where Bear demonstrates how to make a snow cave, find water in deep tunnels, avoid frostbite and survive amidst the freezing glaciers, steaming geothermal vents and huge black sand deserts.

Title: Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Scotland
Release date: 23 March 2009
RRP: £14.99

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Further Information:

For further information or any press materials please contact: Miles Weaver at Aim Publicity on 0208 245 7903 or email miles@aimpublicity.com

Other Bear Grylls adventures on DVD:

• Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Mountains >>
• Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Deserts and Swamps >>
• Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Survivor >>
• Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Patagonia and Panama >>

From some of the highest points on the planet to some of the lowest, from the coldest to the hottest, real life action hero Bear Grylls has seen and conquered it all. The first groundbreaking series Born Survivor: Bear Grylls will be released for the first time on DVD in three parts; Mountains; Deserts & Swamps and Scotland, courtesy of Demand DVD in February and March 2009.

Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Deserts & Swamps

Dropping into the harshest deserts, most barren plains and deadliest swamps on the planet, Bear faces the challenges of surviving alone on the African Savannah in Kenya, the Everglades in Florida and the bush of Kimberley, Australia.

Confronted by some of the deadliest animals on earth, Bear demonstrates how to prevent sunstroke, live off the carcasses of dead animals, survive confrontations with elephants, rhinos and lions and shows how drinking your own urine can save your life.

Title: Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Deserts & Swamps
Release date: 23 March 2009
RRP: £19.99

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Further Information:

For further information or any press materials please contact: Miles Weaver at Aim Publicity on 0208 245 7903 or email miles@aimpublicity.com

Other Bear Grylls adventures on DVD:

• Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Mountains >>
• Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Scotland >>
• Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Survivor >>
• Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Patagonia and Panama >>

From some of the highest points on the planet to some of the lowest, from the coldest to the hottest, real life action hero Bear Grylls has seen and conquered it all. The first groundbreaking series Born Survivor: Bear Grylls will be released for the first time on DVD in three parts; Mountains; Deserts & Swamps and Scotland, courtesy of Demand DVD in February and March 2009.

Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Mountains

Bear travels the world’s most extreme mountain ranges, from the icy peaks of the Chugach Mountains in Alaska to the Andes in Ecuador, from the Alps to the Rockies to the Sierras, he demonstrates how to survive in some of the most inhospitable places on earth.

Faced with piranha, giant weevil grubs, alpine storms, raging rapids, blizzards and raging winds of deathly cold, Bear is forced to ride the rapids of the Amazon on a single tree trunk, build snow shelters and endure a plunge into a freezing lake, all with a pocket knife and the clothes on his back.

Title: Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Series Mountains
Release date: 23 February 2009
RRP: £19.99

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Further Information:

For further information or any press materials please contact: Miles Weaver at Aim Publicity on 0208 245 7903 or email miles@aimpublicity.com

Other Bear Grylls adventures on DVD:

• Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Deserts and Swamps >>
• Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Scotland >>
• Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Survivor
• Born Survivor: Bear Grylls Patagonia and Panama

"Pads Army" is now associated with and sponsored by MONK LAKES FISHERY in
Kent

The Lakes now have 80 swims for Disabled Anglers.

Pads Army and Monk Lakes' owners are hoping to have nearly all swims done by April 2009. Monk Lakes Fishery is still the best fishery in Kent and its going to get better.

Our Charity Fishing Match details for 2009 will be avilable soon so please watch this space. We are Planing a young Anglers session for those who have not fished before ... the details are being sorted out.

Paddy of PADS ARMY
Paddys Angling Disabled Support Group. Charity No 1118422.

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