Sorry there has been nothing for the last few days , seriously thinking of stopping the blog during the winter months as no doubt the only news to report will be bad news and Iv'e had enough of it.

Having fished the river for 60 years plus its depressing to see it in such a state and some of the issues in the links below illustrate that point.   I am personally totally disgusted at the organisations responsible for our river such as the NRW  EA and WAG who seemingly refuse to act in the face of overwhelming evidence.  As for WUF they have no credibility left whatsoever and no longer engage with anglers in any real degree.     Only missed one Annual meeting since its inception in 1997 and certainly won't be going to the one in Ross on Wye.  I see they have an online auction to raise money for their charity.  Fact is the £15000 ponds they aim for probably wont pay the Directors wages for more that a few months!!  

As for the Wye Owners, with certain notable exceptions,they too seem to have negated all responsibility to WUF whilst the value of their fishing crashes around them.  Trustees -irrelevant. Wye Conservators Who ????   Not to mention Angling Trust, Affonyd Cymry and the rivers Trust for Wales, not forgetting Welsh Water too. Its all a total shambles.  Caught enough salmon personally not to need to catch another but today's anglers, faced with all the restrictions placed on the sport face an increasingly difficult task and I feel sorry for them.

The situation needs someone with real clout and perhaps some money to challenge  and galvanise all those now aware of the rivers problems through the courts or any other way they can.

Had a couple of Game fishing catalogues through the post the other day, as thick as a telephone directory.   Thought it was somewhat laughable to see all the tackle seemingly essential to catch a fish these days, not to mention the cost   Well its not particularly difficult to catch a salmon even with the tackle of yesteryear as long as you have something to catch in front of you. Therein lies the problem.

Many thanks to all those who sent me information over the past years.  Perhaps we can do the same next.   Apologies for the rant but I feel better for it!!!!

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As an aside if you want to escape the winter for a while and all this country no longer has to offer check out the below site.   Be sure to read the reviews of this place such as this one;

Very very lucky to be the first guests in Nyande! The best experience and stay we ever had so far!!
You can see the owner maintain this place with full heart and love. They considerate everything so well, super clean and of course very eco environment.
Here you can snorkeling, star gazing, have nice sunrise and sunset, can see flying fish and also can enjoy the plankton at night lighting around the jetty. It’s like a dreammmm!!! ♥️♥️♥️
Also everyone here is soooooo nice. Esny, Andrew and Mel, we really enjoyed our stay here.
Amazing host, amazing food, amazing tour service, including snorkling (super lucky we had the opportunity to swim closely with ocean manta, lion fish and many many others, no kidding, it will blow your mind!!), visit some remarkable view points and, did islands hopping and visit their villages.
If there is 1000 score as the highest, I definitely give 1000+another 100!
Would love to come back again and meet these lovely people.
Stay here and you won’t regret it!!

Nyande Raja Ampat West Papua

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https://www.nyande-rajaampat.com

https://inews.co.uk/news/rivers-antibiotic-resistant-superbugs-livestock-waste-1985648?ito=twitter_share_article-top

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hereford-worcester-63720685

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/worst-places-raw-sewage-being-25595765

View this email in your browser Yesterday we started court action to force withdrawal and redrafting of the Government's Sewage Overflows Plan.   In 2021, raw sewage was spilled into our rivers by water companies for over 3 million hours. We are campaigning for urgent action.  In August, the Government finally announced its Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan (The Plan). It is supposed to show how they will deal with sewage pollution, but: It is confusing and contradictory. It fails to deal with the overflows that are causing the problem. It sets targets which would allow water companies to continue dumping unacceptable amounts of raw sewage over a prolonged period, in some cases up to 2050.  The laws to deal with the problem have been in place for many years. The underlying cause of the current problems is the continued failure of the water companies to comply with the duties imposed on them, and the government, to properly enforce them. The Plan does not deal with this. WildFish argues that the Plan is unlawful on the grounds that: it approves continuing unlawful conduct, fails to take into account the existing law, breaches the Habitats Regulations, and is irrational. WildFish has instructed leading environmental law barrister James Maurici KC and Charles Bishop of Landmark Chambers, and Fieldfisher LLP, to bring the challenge. You can support the action we are taking If you support what we are doing, please consider making a donation - see details here. Our work, including this campaign, is funded entirely by your donations.  A failing system  Years of underinvestment and absent regulators have got us where we are today with widespread illegal sewage discharges. If The Plan is intended to deal with illegal discharges, it is unlawfully encouraging law breaking for years to come. If it is not intended to deal with these illegal discharges, it is irrelevant.   We have no problem with The Plan being used to arrive at an initial rough estimate of the costs required to provide upgrades to storm overflows. However, its failure to deal with the vast majority of relevant outfalls and the production of sub-targets and headline targets, which have no basis in the application of the existing regulations, is unacceptable. Investment in our sewage network is urgently needed now - not over the next 28 years.  Thank you for your support.  Nick Measham,  CEO, WildFish    DONATE TODAY

You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive newsletters from WildFish. You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list at any time. WildFish is a registered charity: England & Wales number 1123285, Scotland number SC041584. WildFish is a company registered in England and Wales. No. 5051506. VAT Number: 564 4723 28 Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Latest News

 

Interesting but probably not coming your way soon/

 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63640066

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 Read on and be amazed.

https://jacothenorth.net/blog/the-alliance-against-livestock-farming/

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More salmon farm mayhem!!!!! 

https://jacothenorth.net/blog/the-alliance-against-livestock-farming/

  

Salmon & sea trout catch returns are due by 1st January 2023

Dear Angler,

Your 2022 salmon & sea trout catch and fishing effort information for England and Wales is very important to help manage and protect their stocks.

Even if you didn’t fish, or didn’t catch anything you must submit a salmon & sea trout catch return for the calendar year. Your catch return is due by 1 January 2023. If you have already submitted your return, you do not need to send another.

To submit your catch return, you can do it quickly and easily online using our catch return service at: https://www.gov.uk/catch-return

You will need the last 6 digits of your rod licence number and the postcode you used when you purchased your licence. Details of your licence are below:

LICENCE: 1WS3SGF-FJ5M14
POSTCODE: HR3 5RX

Important- You only need to submit one catch return that includes all your fishing in 2022.

Why use the online system?

River dropped nicely for the coarse fisherman and some good pike were taken this weekend a big one at Ross though weight unknown at the moment.   Below is the photograph I was sent.  Any ideas anyone?

See below some shocking results obtained by Trevor Hyde from the Ross Angling Club.    Problem is it seems that despite readings like this and discourse from a variety of sources around the country regarding the state of the Wye - IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE LISTENING

Shocking phosphate testing results. - Ross On Wye Angling Club (rossanglingclub.co.uk)

 Plenty of water around still.   No reports of fish seen to far upriver.

Coming to a river near you soon, if not already!!!

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/shrewsbury/2022/11/07/damning-reports-says-anglers-are-catching-more-sanitary-products-than-fish/

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Read through this if you can.  Then wonder what might happen if they put as much effort into environmental protection as they did in producing this.?

https://environment.data.gov.uk/catchment-planning/ManagementCatchment/3117

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View in browser | Immediate Release   Media Release November 7th, 2022   Labour’s shadow environment minister visits the River Wye to witness its problems for himself Alex Sobel MP, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Nature, Water and Flooding, joined the Angling Trust and the Ross on Wye Angling Club on a visit to the River Wye to see how the ongoing pollution problems are killing the river. Alex’s visit (28th October) coincided with a period of heavy rain, causing yet more problems for the river.  Only three days prior to the visit the Ross Angling Club had recorded phosphate levels 13.8 times above the legal limit. The visit from Alex Sobel coincided with the announcement from Thérèse Coffey, Defra Secretary of State, that the government would miss its legal duty under the Environment Act to publish water quality targets for England. Alex Sobel commented: “Seeing first hand the serious water quality issues in the Wye, and hearing from anglers that salmon are now almost extinct was heart-breaking. I want to thank the thousands of volunteers who dedicate their precious time to carry out testing work with the Trust.   “The next Labour Government will demand mandatory monitoring of all sewage outlets, introduce automatic fines for discharges, and a standing charge penalty for companies failing to meet monitoring requirements. We will hold water bosses personally accountable for pollution and strike off persistent offenders.   “There is no time to waste - we need to clean up our rivers as quickly as possible, and only a Labour government has the political will to make it happen.” While visiting the River Wye, Alex took part in the Angling Trust’s Water Quality Monitoring Network by testing the river for himself for both phosphate and nitrate levels.  While the level of phosphate pollution had fallen since the alarming levels of three days previous, it was still above the legal limit for the river. Stuart Singleton-White, Head of Campaigns at the Angling Trust, said: “It was hugely important to be able to bring Alex, as the Shadow Environment Minster, to the river and to be able to show him the problems this iconic rivers is suffering.  The Wye is on its knees, and it is not just the fish and wildlife that is suffering.  The whole economy of the area, whose tourism relies on this beautiful river that was once teeming with life for its livelihood, could be wiped out if urgent action isn’t taken. “By showing Alex the problems, we are looking for Labour to ensure its policies and priorities address the pollution crisis all our rivers are facing.” While in Ross-on-Wye Alex was briefed by both the angling club and Fish Legal on the issues the river is facing and the actions they are taking to protect their fisheries by restoring the river to good health. Robert Leather, Chairman of Ross on Wye Angling Club, who joined Alex on the river, said: "We have been witness to a rapid decline in the ecosystems in the Wye caused primarily by some poor unregulated farming practices. Ross Angling Club were able to explain to Mr Sobel the change from what was a crystal-clear river, to one filled with sludge covering the once ecologically rich river beds.  "Our two and a half year phosphate monitoring programme demonstrates clearly the link between phosphate rich run-off and the high levels of algae now in the river. Mr Sobel will take these findings to his Labour colleagues and hopes to attract support for his political party through prioritising restoration of our river-based ecosystems through encouragement, enforcement and a ‘net zero’ cost to the tax payer by funnelling fines back into the environment." Penny Gane, from Fish Legal, which is representing the Ross on Wye Angling Club in an ongoing legal action against Natural Resources Wales, said: “It is now over two years since we notified Natural Resources Wales that environmental damage is being caused to the River Wye by intensive poultry units in Wales.  Having initially concluded that there was no evidence of environmental damage and therefore no duty on them to act, we are awaiting Natural Resources Wales response to our questions about their reliance on out-of-date data to reach that conclusion." The River Wye has become the totem for all that is wrong with our rivers and the system of agricultural land management, which allows alarming amounts of run off from a range of sources including the expansion of industrial-sized poultry units throughout Herefordshire and in the upper Wye catchment in Powys as well as poor sewage management, to flow unchallenged into rivers.  The Wye is the pinnacle of the government's, its agencies, and water companies’ failure.  All English and Welsh rivers fail chemical standards set by the government, and only 14% meet ecological standards in England.   Notes: The Water Quality Monitoring Network project is part of the Angling Trust's Anglers Against Pollution campaign and involves over 200 volunteers from 87 angling clubs testing water quality on rivers around the country.  For more information visit the Angling Trust website. More information: Stuart Singleton-White - 07487 526913 Image: Alex Sobel MP (left) testing water samples taken fron the Wye with Kris Kent, Water Quality Monitoring Network project manager   The Angling Trust We are a not for profit organisation, representing anglers, fighting for fish, fishing and the environment. We are recognised by the Government as the National Governing Body for angling in England and partner with Visit Wales and Natural Resources Wales to promote Fishing in Wales. We are a member-based organisation made up of anglers of all disciplines providing a united front to represent, grow and protect our sport. By becoming a member of the Angling Trust you are helping to protect the waterways you fish in and the fish which live within them, ensuring their health and protection for future generations. Click here for more information about membership Angling Trust Limited is a company limited by guarantee, company number 05320350 Angling Trust & Fish Legal, Eastwood House, Rainbow Street, Leominster, HR6 8DQ Telephone: 01568 620447     View in browser | Unsubscribe

 I note that Bigswier have updated their total for the season to 127.   From the figures it looks like neither them or Wyesham actually stopped fishing with fish recorded in every month!!

Some really interesting stuff here.   Seems beavers might be part of the answer!!!!

https://www.regenben.com/the-farm/the-river-wye/

 Still plenty of water about that's for sure.     Also no final total of salmon recorded by WUF/   Still doing some creative accounting I suspect.

See below;

Head of the EA Sir James Bevan is at it again trying to downplay the extent of the pollution of British rivers.   Read and be astonished.   He needs to stand down.!!   Wouldn't trust him with a barge pole.

 .

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/03/environment-agency-change-rule-river-pollution-england

 Plenty of water now alright and more to come it seems.

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The below was sent to me by a friend.  Its a facebook post by one Lawrence Breakspear. If accurarate , and I have no reason to believe it's not then its a damning indictment on the Angling Trust and all it purports to stand for;

Well, well, top marks to the Angling Times for their exposure today of  the Angling Trusts new Chairman Sir Charles Walker MP.

Despite the Angling Trusts (Via Martin Salter) weasel like words to wriggle out of this mess and for me gives conformation that the Angling Trust is not fit for purpose, its just a cash rich  jobs for the boys politically motivated organisation.

The basis of this debacle is that in 2021 Charles Walker and other MP's voted to allow privately owned  Water Companies to be basically derestricted via the new Environmental Bill  and to be able to release untreated raw sewage into our rivers, when this went to the House of Lords for ratification it was rejected and sent back to the commons  for amendments, basically their lordships wanted the water companies to be more accountable and limited to how much they can poison our rivers, but Sir Charles Walker and his cohorts voted against these amendments, this happened whilst he was an Angling Trust ambassador and a few months later he would become the new Angling Trust chairman.

For Martin Salter to describe this as political and its all ok, where a poor old MP and Angling Trust ambassador  being the victim of the party line whip voting system, is utter rubbish, Charles Walker could have abstained on numerous occasions.

So we have a chairman of the Angling Trust happy to poison our rivers so that Water Companies, their shareholders and their CEO's just to get richer and richer.

Its disgraceful that the Angling Trust defends this as just one of those things, a sort of occupational hazard.

It would be good if all those Angling Trust ambassadors and directors stood up to be counted and resigned from the Angling Trust in protest.

Can you believe that by default the Angling Trust supports the pollution of our rivers on what its chairman supported.

But, just like Fergal Sharkey, Des Taylor, Ray Walton and others if you expose this failure of the EA, The Angling Trust and the various River Trusts they will cancel you out, you are toast.

Its  a dreadful state of affairs, but am I surprised, no I am not, the Angling Trust is a quango for a political agenda, we can only speculate on, changes are needed now.

 

Well done Angling Times...