RSA: A Survey of the District. A Strategy for 2013-14

[Stores]

Had my individual reply from Mike Hardy yesterday. I think it's only right that it's contents aren't made public but I've got to say chaps that we've really made an impact on the NIFCA board and we are now, I believe, seen as stakeholders in future policy making. Thank you all very much. This is now on the NIFCA website and it's a chance for us to reinforce our views:

"STOP PRESS
The Authority will hold an Extraordinary General Meeting at County Hall in Morpeth on 15th November next at 11 o’clock for final consideration by members of the byelaws referred to above. This meeting also provides the latest opportunity for stakeholders to attend and discuss the position with us as we move towards in the fulfilment of this important task. No invitation is necessary BUT COULD YOU PLEASE INFORM THE AUTHORITY OFFICE IF YOU DO INTEND TO ATTEND.
Please also see the Authority website including our previous newsletter and Information Sheets 1 to 4 for further information or telephone the Authority Office".

I feel slightly embarrased asking anglers to attend a meeting I can't make myself and I know it's in the day and on a work day but it would be good if some of us could go. I'll leave it at that.

This also showed itself:

"AMBER and GREEN risks
The Authority has commenced its work in relation to the above which has to be completed by 2016. This is a major task with many risks and sites to be assessed. We will issue further information regarding this to Stakeholders in the next month".

This may be where the real battles are fought. Once again, thanks for your support.

[Topfly]

Good news David, wish i could attend, but will be away.

[Northumberland IFCA]

NIFCA News Issue 4. October/November 2013.

Please follow the link below to view our latest newsletter, recently mentioned by Stores.

EMS Fisheries Revised Approach - NIFCA

[Stores]

Some Xmas reading

You know when the wife says "get off the fishing board and take me to TK Max, M&S etc etc and you say "ah but look at the size of that whiting someone's caught, at great expense, from SS pier.....well follow these links and you can say you're a political activist, acting on behalf of a long line of NE anglers, treading in their thigh boots and forwarding their cause.

Or if you like here's an update of important things and, most importantly, your chance to stand up, say your piece and be counted.

The Aln Estuary is the first MCZ (Marine Conservation Zone) in our area. Here's the link to the map:

MCZ designation in Northumberland - NIFCA

I asked Mike Hardy to clarify what this means to us boys on the ground. This is his (and NIFCA's reply):

“There is no commercial fishing activity within the Aln Estuary and other fishing activity, particularly angling, is low and therefore at this time we believe little management of these activities will be required. It is only activities which have a detrimental impact on the features for which the site is designated which require management, which could include other non-commercial activities. Any management put in place will be reviewed over time to ensure the site is achieving its conservation objectives.”

My take on this is that if we look after the Aln estuary, in terms of litter, discarded dangerous equipment (hooks, line etc) and we take a positive approach in promoting this amongst other anglers (especially in the summer) then we'll maintain access to it. Pretty positive, I hope.

There is a meeting next month which is fairly unique in so far as it brings together all the parties involved in shaping the future of angling for us in the north east:

"Come to an open meeting from 19.00 – 21.00 at The Waterford Lodge Hotel, Castle Square, Morpeth, NE61 1YD on Tuesday January 28th 2014 to hear more about the project from the team that carried it out. This is the chance for sea anglers in Northumberland to find out more about the results of the biggest over survey of sea angling to have been carried out in England."

As a result of what we achieved with regard to the Seagrass issue we now have the opportunity to have DEFRA, CEFAS, IFCA and the Angling Trust all together in one place and have question thrown at them about the future, bait digging, access to piers, inshore netting, in fact all the moans and groans that habitually haunt NESA.

Please take this opportunity to have your say. The seagrass issue won't affect many anglers but bait digging and access issues certainly will.

Sorry this thread is so long but I hope you realise that we might be on the tipping point here and we shouldn't shirk the task ahead.

For those who would like to attend but can't (me being one) I'll speak to NIFCA and ask if questions can be tabled by proxy.

[Stores]

Just a reminder of the meeting tomorrow (see my post above). All support will be beneficial to the potential threats we might be up against in the future.

[Red5]

How did the meeting go guys...Sorry I couldn't make it but Tuesdays are training nights