Resume of The Anglian Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Committee. (RFERAC)  Meeting held November 11th 2009

Kingfisher House Peterborough. 

ITEMS RELEVANT TO THE KLAA AREA. 

1 Outcome of the byelaw consultations  Much discussion on this issue as the committee is not happy with the new proposals.These are documented elsewhere on the KLAA site. . Correspondence continues with Adrian Taylor the EA Fisheries Policy Manager. 

2 Extra Rod Licence Incomes Reinvested To date 221,000 Rod Licences sold in the Anglian Region. (1.3m countrywide)The Region has received £665K + a further £250K from DEFRA to be spent on Fishery projects in the region. (Has your club submitted a project to enhance your fishery?) 

3 Water framework Actions Anglian secured £872K funding a proportion of this is being spent on Fisheries work. 

4 Coaching By the end of September the EA had coached 4056 new anglers across the region. In addition to arranging, and subsidising training for new Coaches. 

5 Tail Sluice Feasibility Study With the construction of the Relief Channel lock at Denver in 2001, navigation onto the RC was made possible. Waterways have secured £16K to carry out a feasibility study to explore opportunities for opening the RC to navigation at the Tail Sluice.This could lead to the building of a new marina offering visiting and economic benefits.Similar to a new marina being built on disused industrial land at Beckets Park in Northampton. 

6 Visit Anglian websites

• www.visitgreatouse.co.uk
• www.visitnene.co.uk
• www.visitstour.co.uk
• www.visitwelland-glen.co.uk 
• www.visitancholme.co.uk 

7 Tidal River Strategy for the future and the Tidal River Siltation Issues. The improved use of the tidal river to discharge water into the Wash, will allow the Relief Channel to revert to its original status as a Relief channel. Improvements have been noticed with the opening and use earlier this year of the “little eyes”. However the boating fraternity consider that the silt dredging and activation of the salt water Ouse to reduce its base level is the best way forward. This would certainly be of benefit to fishing in the Relief Channel. This idea is being pursued by the Regional Navigation Group. Options are under consideration on how best to provide continued flood defence to the area.           

Other topics included

• Responding to Climate Change
• Enjoying Water. Strategies to maximise economic, environment and social benefits of water related recreation in the East of England.           
• Eel Management plan needed to prevent the species becoming extinct.