Powell Insurance, an independent insurance broker with a proven track record in providing insurance cover for livestock, has launched what is thought to be the first comprehensive insurance cover for specimen carp fisheries – Carp Elite.
The Carp Elite policy (www.pibl.co.uk/products/carp-elite) offers protection against the loss of fish from events such as disease, algae blooms, pollution, malicious acts and, crucially, KHV and SVC. Uniquely, cover can be extended to include legal liabilities as well as buildings, contents, plant and machinery. The policy has been designed in conjunction with Crowe Livestock Underwriting, a leading livestock underwriter.
Cover can be provided for specimen carp fisheries including private syndicates, commercial fisheries and day ticket venues in the UK and Europe.
The policy has been developed by Powell’s client director, Andy Dutton, a keen carp angler and syndicate member who recognised the exposure facing the majority of carp fisheries. Andy comments:
“Carp fisheries take a serious investment in terms of time, money and effort to become successful and attractive to anglers, yet in the majority of cases, fisheries are left exposed to potential ruin should disaster strike and they lose their fish stock.
“In recent years, this exposure has been compounded by the rising value of carp stock and the disease risks resulting from the increase of fish stock movement into and around the UK. Decades of work can be undone in an instant if disease is introduced to lake and as a syndicate member, I am only too aware of the consequences such a loss would have on our fishery. It’s this concern that led to the development of Carp Elite . It is only right that professional fisheries should be able to protect their only tangible asset, their fish, against catastrophic loss.”
Leading fisheries management consultant and founder of the Fisheries Accreditation Scheme, Dr Bruno Broughton, has worked with Powells to develop the policy. Bruno comments:
“Carp Elite should be of interest to any fishery or syndicate owners who take their business seriously and where the level of fish care is a high priority. The majority of carp lakes in the UK are responsibly managed, but there are risks beyond their control which threaten their future, in particular those resulting from the spread of KHV and SVC. Insurance is not a patch for sub-standard management practice, rather an indicator of a professional, responsible outfit, and indeed, fisheries will have to pass an assessment in order to qualify for cover.”
Powells and Bruno are in discussions to provide fisheries recognised by the Fisheries Accreditation Scheme with discounted premiums: a well run, accredited fishery represents a lower risk to insurers and should therefore attract a lower premium.
For further information, visit www.pibl.co.uk/products/carp-elite or contact Andy Dutton at Powells Insurance: 0151 708 8090 / andy.dutton@pibl.co.uk.
