The Countryside and Rights of Way Act is being used to protect wintering wildfowl on the Norfolk Broads.

From November to February access by boat is barred on Horsey Mere. And since that is the only way to access the fishing then effectively piking is banned at the hight of the traditional pike season.

So will the Act be used to protect wintering wildfowl elsewhere? If it is then it will be a case of effectively banning angling where the conservation lobby sees fit, and it could be a fishery very near you! This is a case of alarm bells that should now be ringing, and ringing very loudly indeed.

The Mersey Sea Anglers have lost unrestricted access to a popular harbour area. Norfolk anglers have now lost Horsey Mere. I don't suggest breaking the law as the Mersey boys have, but it is time to sit up and be worried.

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I think the thing to do here is "wait and see", I know that that will be difficult, but if you reason it out it will be better in the end. If they start using this act elswhere it will give us more ammo to hit the government with! If they don't then we can hit them for being 'selective'!!

I follow your logic kleinboet but for how long do the pike anglers 'wait and see'?

If we meekly 'allow' this act which was probably not even aimed at anglers, to remove our fishing rights indirectly, then it could as Peter says herald a threat to angling countrywide.

Surely a dialogue could be set up with the local authorities to discuss the impact on angling, then if we meet with a stonewall, take it to government level straight away before this sort of thing becomes the norm.

Snotty - I realise your concern but we have ONE incident to talk from and, rather than have egg all over our faces, we wait until it happens again and THEN act. Or, if nothing happens in the next three weeks we hammer them for victimisation. As I see it 'everything comes to those who wait'.

Don't worry Peter, they will never ban angling.

If I wasn't such a nice bloke, I would laugh out loud.

Nibble, Nibble, Nibble!

Don't say you weren't told!

Now you know how country people feel!

http://www.gone-fishing.info/

[ 18. November 2004, 01:05 PM: Message edited by: Jim Roper ]

Two predictable replies atleast!!

Interestingly the yachting fraternity has come to us Broads anglers and asked for our help! So yes, anglers can work with other bodies.

Interestingly Bob James has resigned from the CA's Gone Fishing set up.

I don't think that the Countryside and Rights of Way Act was ever set up with this in mind. We have now had two navigations 'controlled' within Broadland. In both cases laws relating to other matters were used to achieve 'control'. It is smart arsed lawyers who are exploiting a loophole, maybe.

But very obviously, so a legal beagle tells me, this could happen elsewhere. Remember that the Broads is part of the National Park set-up. If this law is ging to be used to 'protect' wintering birds on the Broads then you can bet it will be used elsewhere. I don't think that it is anti angling, just pro bird. English Nature is flexing its muscles, watch it!

I for one won't be suggesting that we ask the CA for help!!

[ 18. November 2004, 01:58 PM: Message edited by: Peter Waller ]

Peter Waller,

Bob James resigned from the CA over 2 years ago.

Don't care, I don't fish in Norfolk



Mark

Or have a boat




If it's only boat access it's not really a threat to angling is it?

Mark