Untitled Document

South West Rivers Association in 2006

by Roger Furniss

SWRA is the voice of riparian owners and game angling in the South West. It is the umbrella of the individual river associations in the South West and a powerful lobbying body regularly consulted by the Environment Agency and Government. Its Council of representatives from every river is supported by a Secretary, Roger Furniss, a former Fisheries Officer and Environmental Protection Manager whose whole career has been in the South West.

As with many aspects of modern life angling and our freedom to enjoy it are affected by an ever-growing bureaucracy. By enabling individual rivers to work together to speak with one voice SWRA continues to influence the political and environmental agenda in a number of key areas. Just some of the issues we are engaged in are:-

• Ireland - the Irish West Coast drift net fishery is estimated to take around 10% of the run of salmon to South West rivers, as much as the rod and net fisheries in those rivers. SWRA is working with other organisations to bring about the end of this fishery.
• Salmon Stock Assessment – to manage salmon stocks effectively it is essential to know more about their status, ie adult runs, juvenile production, vulnerable life stages. SWRA is working hard to influence the Environment Agency to adopt the best possible methods to ensure the long term improvement of our sport.

• Salmon Stocking Policy – there are some situations where stocks are so threatened that artificial stocking is necessary to kick start recovery or overcome specific local problems. SWRA actively supports voluntary efforts by individual rivers to carry out scientifically based stocking and to ensure that Agency policies are not too restrictive.

• Canoeing – there is growing political pressure to allow increased access to our rivers with the inevitable damage to our sport. One MP has tabled an Early Day Motion asking for a change in the law to allow unlimited access for unpowered craft. SWRA has successfully lobbied South West MP’s to support an amendment overturning this proposal.

• The Threat of Abstraction - SWRA continues to be very active in protecting our rivers and their fish stocks due to the risk of over abstraction from rivers. This watchdog role is vital against a background of ever growing demand for water and changing flow patterns as a result of climate change.

• Overhead Power Lines – the electricity distribution companies have produced a policy to prevent accidents involving angling. SWRA is working with Western Power to ensure that anglers’ and fishing owners’ rights are not infringed unnecessarily.

• European Water Framework Directive – this directive, which requires all rivers to achieve ‘Good Ecological Status’ by 2015, presents a major opportunity for fisheries interests to make an input into water abstraction, habitat protection and pollution prevention policy. We are heavily involved in the technical aspects and in lobbying for proper fisheries representation on stakeholder consultation groups.

If you would like to know more about the work of South West Rivers Association by joining the mailing list for its Newsletter, or wish to become an individual member, please contact the Secretary, Roger Furniss at:
Tel: 01392 841235
email@furniss2733.fsnet.co.uk