2017 REDFA Annual Report
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Large Brook Duns, Eamont, May 2017 Matt Eastham 2017 REDFA Annual Report Removal in 2017 of another concrete ford blocking fish passage at Low Gardens - the downstream corner of Lowther show ground – Project managed by ERT Before and After REDFA visit to UU`s Swindale Beck Abstraction and fish pass GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE Paul Davidson Chairman CAA Chairman Adrian Brown D.Chair Eden Owners & Church Commssioners Mike Ashwin Secretary & Treasurer NWATFCC Chairman Nigel Austin CAA Secretary Jamie Birley PAA Chairman Bob Bradney YFFC Council Bill Candeland BAA Secretary Irene Downing KSDAA Chair Colin Edney KSDAA Secretary John Harper BAA Chairman Bob Milne YFFC Colin Pilmer CAA John Rawlinson PAAS & RFCA chair Adrian Sharpe YFFC CONTENTS 1 Chairman’s Report 2 Secretary & Treasurer`s Report 3 Year End accounts 4 Angling Reports Carlisle Angling Association Kirkby Stephen & District Angling Association Penrith Angling Association Prince Albert angling Society Yorkshire Fly Fishers Club Borderlines 5 * Skitwath Beck prosecution – future reporting of pollution incidents * Salmon fisheries data - Eden rod Fisheries catch, C&R and earlier years * Avian Predation and Eden Area licence * National C & R Guidelines and Net Limitation Order & Byelaw proposals - “why REDFA is opposing the 100% Mandatory C&R measures, Eden & Nationally” * Dalston Hydro application outcome 6 EFP progress update 7 2018 Events and Meeting dates & Volunteer activities and contacts 8 Eden Rivers Trust report 9 List of REDFA Members 10 REDFA Membership Form 1. Chairman`s report I can honestly say 2017 has certainly been the busiest year so far since becoming Chairman of REDFA. The many challenges we have been faced with include the Solway NLO, Skitwath Beck pollution incident, Corby Weir and Buckabank Hydro scheme planning application to name a few. The work that goes into these issues is immense and I can’t thank those involved enough for the hard work and commitment they have given yet again over the last 12 months. Although our recommendations that were put forward to the EA during the steering group meetings for the Solway NLO and byelaw Review seem to have fallen on deaf ears we will continue to try and get a resolution that hopefully will suit all following the recent responses to the consultation. Work on the Eden Fishery Plan has continued throughout the year and I would like to thank our strategic partners, the Environment Agency, Natural England and Eden Rivers Trust. A great number of the projects have been achieved but there still remains many challenges, even more so with the lack of resources we are all faced with. The 2016 River Eden Monitoring Report has recently been released and again I would like to thank all those involved and who provided input. The year ahead looks like it is going to be another busy year and without the support of our membership it would be an even harder task. Hopefully we will see some good catches of salmon again this spring and last year certainly produced good numbers from late February into June, sadly the summer and back end continued to show the decline we have experienced over the last few years. With good conditions the trout fishing should hopefully show why the Eden is one of the premier wild brown trout rivers in the country. Tight lines to all. Paul Davidson 2. Secretary & Treasurer`s report Another stretching year for REDFA and those Clubs, Riparian interests and rod fisheries that keep alive our fishing interest. At times it has felt as though we have literally been fighting for survival in what are increasingly demanding circumstances. The river and its catchment, the river species that flourish or dwindle are all changing quite noticeably and with it the fortunes of our rod fisheries and riparian interests which appear to be more in flux than at any other time. REDFA has had big demands placed on it this year and worked well and closely with its member interests to secure important decisions to protect our fisheries. We have again received excellent support from Fish legal and the Angling Trust over two landmark cases in the catchment - the EA Skitwath Beck slurry pollution and Dalston Hydro application on the Caldew. None of these cases are won without individuals being prepared to intervene and stand up and present their case. The River Eden is fortunate to have people within its Clubs and Association of this calibre who are prepared to challenge accepted thinking at a time when environmental and manmade pressures threaten our sport. A number of persons have and continue to make important contributions to their own fisheries and the wider Eden management of our waters. As Secretary I very much value the support and commitment they have made. REDFA has maintained and grown its strong member base by focusing on concerns that resonate. Noticeably, as other partner organisations re-evaluate their role in protecting and improving our game fisheries they distance themselves from REDFA`s core agenda and the Association is increasingly thrown onto its own resources. The greater part of our work is achieved on a voluntary footing and for the future we and other grass roots rod Fisheries organisations have to secure permanent funding to cover the essential monitoring and fish protection activities that other environmental and regulatory bodies do not now see as a priority. Of greater concern to all migratory fisheries has been the passage of the local Solway and National Consultations, with REDFA and its regional Fisheries Consultative NWATFCC well represented and leading the discussions at a national level to introduce new reforms and simplification of salmon stock reporting systems. With this we hope to a see new modelling of river stocks and applied conservation measures that properly reflect a more accurate assessment of river stocks. As a natural follow on from the well attended REDFA event in 2016 when S&TCUK presented their Riverfly Census studies, key members of the Environment Agencies water quality and monitoring team from Penrith - Andrew Seward and Dan Atkinson provided an informative evenings presentation to REDFA on the scope of their work and how this meets European WFD requirements. And so into a new year, with new challenges and the added uncertainty of pending Consultations. None of us know what these will bring, perhaps that`s the beauty of fishing ! All the very best in the season ahead Mike Ashwin REDFA Year End Accounts as at 31st October 2017 with earlier year comparisons Income 2016 - 2017 2015 - 2016 2014 - 2015 2013 – 2014 2012 - 2013 Riparian Owners £2936.00 £2,015.00 £899.00 £389.00 £439.00 Clubs £4750.00 £5,035.00 £4,750.00 £388.00 £388.00 Members £506.00 £450.50 £422.50 £412.50 £402.00 Donations £450.00 £280.00 £5,040.00 £592.00 £5,170.00 Raffle (at A.G.M.) £50.00 £20.00 £75.00 Lowther Show £176.00 £118.00 £141.00 Contributions to Junior Day £670.00 Member (Corby weir contr) £150.00 £300.00 Admin transfer £100.00 . Total Income £ 8,968.00 £ 8,298.50 £ 11,972.50 £ 1,801.50 £ 6,474.00 Expenditure Honorarium (Secretary) £100.00 £300.00 £350.00 Honorarium (Treasurer) £300.00 £300.00 £300.00 Stationary/Postage £81.84 £166.59 Angling Trust £55.00 £55.00 £55.00 £55.00 £55.00 A.G.M (Food/room hire) £250.00 £250.00 £101.27 £58.95 £112.00 (Printing – Annual reports) £65,00 £85.00 Webpage Management £200.00 £200.00 £200.00 £200.00 £200.00 Corby Weir consultancy £300.00 NWATFCC £100.00 £100.00 £100.00 Cup engraving £8.00 £14.95 Workshops & Venue Hire £125.00 £75.00 £258.00 £90.54 £213.27 Retirement gifts £50.00 £100.00 Lowther Show Costs £65.50 £78.00 £81.09 £72.69 £38.09 Lowther prizes £100.00 REDFA leaflets £40.00 £40.00 £40.00 Junior Day Tuition Fees £629.20 £300.00 Other (Direct debit) £25.00 £120.00 Avian Predation £450.00 Administration - Costs £7,100.00 £9,000.00 £9,000.00 - Mileage £444.50 £317.50 £497.75 - Stationary/post £110.40 £155.64 £232.59 Total Expenditure £ 9,114.39 £ 10,789.14 £ 11,694.90 £ 1,409.02 £ 2,035.90 Surplus ( £146.39) ( £,490.64) £ 277.60 £ 392.48 £ 4,438.10 Angling Trust Grant received - £1893.00 (not included as income and £1574.24 spent on Avian predation equip) ( £318.76 grant balance held in HSBC account) ((9 Account Balances as at 31.10.17 31.10.16 31.10.15 31.10.14 H.S.B.C. £ 355.56 £501.95 £2.992.59 £1, 646.23 Cumberland B.S. £20,021.19 £19,847.47 £19,674.67 £19,417.62 Total balances £20,376.75 £20,349.42 £22,667.26 £21,063.85 ContributionsReport highlights to Junior Day received from: Current expenditure in this last financial year has been managed and reduced, to balance income revenues that approached Donations gratefully received from :- £9,000 for the year. Considerable demands were placed on James Norris and PAA & CC for REDFA in 2017 to respond to threats to our rod fisheries and consultancy work on Corby weir these were met through the concerted voluntary efforts and improvements contributions of GPC Officers & Club Member representatives Carlisle Angling Association 2017 REDFA report. In 2017 Carlisle Angling Association had a significantly busier year than normal. A proposed hydro-scheme at Dalston, in the Caldew system had to be addressed and with the aid of REDFA colleagues, The Wild Trout Trust, Fish Legal and others the scheme now finally seems to have faltered as the EA have refused an Abstraction Licence due to the site being part of an SAC.