PET(3)-AIW-WWE-012

Y Pwyllgor Deisebau

Ymchwiliad i mewn i fynediad ar hyd dŵr mewndirol

Ymateb oddi wrth Ffederasiwn Cynefinoedd a Physgota Afonydd Cymru (dyddiedig 13 Ionawr 2009)

Welsh River Habitat & Angling Federation

Dear Minister / Assembly Member

We the TTA: (Teifi trout Association) would, in the light of the recent petition presented by WCA (Welsh Canoe Association) inform you that, A group representing:

Angling clubs in Wales and their members: WRH&AF.

Fishery owners

Riparian owners

Request a meeting with the WAG to present the case for refusal of the Petition being promoted by WCA.

The granting of the freedom to use all Welsh rivers, lakes, still waters etc, by Canoe’s, rafts and other craft, swimmers and ramblers, other than when they have consent from the land / Riparian owners or associations, clubs, other parties or licences that permit them to do so would be a massive injustice.

The people and organisations that purchase, own, lease, rent, look after and protect these habitats spend a great deal of money and devote a great deal of time to keep these resources as an asset for Wales.

Fishing tourism in Wales is worth over £100 Million to the Welsh economy. There are 71228 fishing licences issued by the EA per year in the Principality. Revenue to the E.A £1.27 million

A total 1.268 Million licences for the UK (including Wales) (many licences issued in England are used to fish Welsh rivers) revenue to E.A. £202.6 Million

The Angling club’s and fishery owner’s have spent millions of pounds purchasing the land and or fishing rights, they spend many thousands of pounds each year maintaining the fisheries / rivers, providing access for the their members, the disabled, and visiting anglers. Canoeing, rafting etc contribute very little to the welsh economy.

Many landowners / farmers receive rent for fishing rights that they own which form’s part of their income. The people that participate in the sport are members of fishing clubs / associations that have membership fees. They also have to purchase a licence from the E.A, and pay for permits (if they are not members of clubs or associations) to access the rivers number millions. These people are of all ages; disabled, the retired, male and female those eligible to vote will punish any candidate or political party that permits this kind of bill. Fishing is the largest participation in sport in Wales and the UK. In Wales the E.A is promoting a `Fishing Wales` program to encourage fishing tourism, the angling clubs will support the plan in order to support their local communities and the Welsh tourism industry. All of this effort would be destroyed if open access for the kind of water sport activities proposed by WCA, at what cost to Wales????

The clubs, associations and fishery owner’s that we represent do not wish to stop totally the use by others of the river’s, lakes and other water ways in Wales they simply want legislation to licence other users and to prohibit the use of said waters without the consent of the owner/leaseholders, in the same way that angler’s netsmen and others have by law to be licensed, pay, and have permission to use land to pursue their sport / hobby in line with other activities.

To allow the proposal by WCA, who have no control over the irresponsible element in their membership, without some kind of licensing or identification, would mean that their members cannot be held responsible for their actions, and will to a large extent destroy fishing and the revenue from angling tourism in Wales (worth over £100 Million) and as a consequence the livelihoods of many businesses in the areas concerned.

We would like an appointment at the soonest convenience to meet with the Minister’s involved.

Yours Sincerely

D Griffiths

Conservation Officer

Teifi Trout Association