More than 60 of our members travelled from all over the country to attend the historic first AGMs of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal at Stoneleigh Park last weekend. Presentations by the Chairmen of each organisation and by the joint Chief Executive were well received and there was a unanimous vote for the nomination of the existing Board of Directors of AT and the Committee of Fish Legal, along with the nomination of John Amery, David Kent, and Robert Dyer as new Directors of AT. Of more than 950 proxy votes received before the meeting, about 85% were in favour of the candidates. A full report of the meeting will be posted on the noticeboard on the web site in the next fortnight.
The meeting went very well, and the Directors and staff were very grateful to the many members who came to make their views heard and give useful advice to make the Angling Trust even more successful. There were many constructive suggestions, including greater transparency, better communication of the extensive work of both organisations and more benefits for junior members. We will take all these and the others on board.
Fred French MBE, probably the longest-standing supporter of angling unity in the country and our first life member, was sadly unable to attend for health reasons. Everyone at the meeting sent Fred their best wishes.
The new Fisheries Minister Richard Benyon MP also sent his apologies, but has offered to meet the Board as soon as possible to discuss marine and freshwater issues. This meeting is being arranged.
Win £1,000 Cash!
The Angling Trust, in conjunction with The CLA Game Fair, is honouring Fred J Taylor’s memory with an annual award for environmental stewardship of water habitats in England. The award includes £1,000 to help continue the work and a certificate and trophy. We want to use this award to promote all the valuable things that anglers do to look after both the marine and freshwater environment. Details of how to apply can be found HERE and applications close on Friday 25 June.
Environmental campaigns update
Mark Owen has completed the first phase of removal of the weirs on the Sussex Ouse and has succeeded in securing tighter environmental protection standards on the River Tame which will reduce the chance of last year's fish kills being repeated. David Mitchell is investigating three candidate marine environmental campaigns; please e-mail him if there are problems which we might be able to help solve. Angling Trust and Fish Legal continue to work closely together on our judicial review of Defra regarding the inadequate River Basin Management Plans.
Legal advice matters
Fish Legal has been inundated with requests for legal advice recently. It is our busiest time of year, with the start of the new river coarse fishing season just around the corner and pollution and fish health problems made worse by summer weather. It would help us help you in the most efficient way if you could submit requests for advice in writing, with full details of the problem you face.
Report fish crime
Angling Trust is working with CEFAS Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) and other partners to sponsor a new initiative with crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers that targets the theft and illegal importation of fish and the theft of expensive angling equipment. Please phone 0800 555 111 or visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org to pass on information about crime anonymously.
We need lots of lots
Angling Trust and Fish Legal are holding an auction in the autumn newsletter and we are looking for donations of fishing, books, tackle, experiences, hotel stays and anything else of any value to help us raise money for the work that we do. There are more details about what we need to know in the paper newsletter we sent recently or from Will Smith in our membership department.
In the meantime, we encourage people to bid generously to support Breast Cancer Care, a registered charity, for a day’s fishing with Martin Bowler for two anglers either summer fishing for tench on an Oxford estate lake or for a day on the Wye fishing for barbel this Autumn. Bids close on June 16th.
More information is available HERE
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