Griff Rhys Jones has been promoting his new television series by sticking an unwelcome oar into the issue of access to rivers by canoes and other craft. He has suggested that “we should disturb as many fishermen as possible” because “... the river isn’t there for a few, but for the many”. The Angling Trust is alarmed that the actor is advocating trespass or other illegal action and that he is not aware of the damage that unregulated access will have on the ecology of river systems.
The established law of the land, tested in the courts, is quite clear – there is no public right of navigation on non-tidal rivers. Canals and some rivers do have public rights of navigations such as the Thames, Severn and Wye. In common with fishing, swimming, and all other activities requiring access, the right to canoe is a property right, whether it be in a river running through a private garden or the open countryside.
Fishermen are not ‘the few’ – estimates of the number of anglers are as high as 4 million. Angling clubs and riparian owners pay very substantial rents and capital sums for the pleasure and right to fish. Freshwater anglers also pay for an Environment Agency licence to use a rod and line which contributes about £25 million each year for fisheries conservation, as well as £3.5 billion to the UK economy. Angling is not allowed on rivers at certain times of the year in order to protect spawning fish. Anglers also invest huge sums in maintenance and improvement of rivers, and are responsible for monitoring and reporting pollution and other damage. Anglers have campaigned tirelessly to improve water quality in all watercourses.
Angling clubs and riparian owners are actively offering Voluntary Access Agreements to canoeists. These agreements are designed to maximise access while protecting both conservation and angling interests. The Angling Trust has tried on many occasions to set up national meetings with the British Canoe Union, but has received no response. The BCU has been campaigning for nothing short of unregulated, 365 day access, without paying a penny for the upkeep of rivers.
The Government and Environment Agency have repeatedly stated that the national policy for access is via voluntary access agreements. In this way there would remain some measure of control over those navigators who act less than responsibly.
Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust said: “We are calling on Griff Rhys Jones to retract his calls for canoeists to cause disturbance to anglers and to trespass. Anglers have a legal right to go fishing in peace and we are working with canoe clubs to develop sensible agreements to increase access to rivers. The actor’s comments are uninformed and will undermine these agreements bringing discord to our peaceful rivers.”
The Angling Trust recently released a policy statement on inland navigation which can be downloaded by clicking this link
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