25.01.06
ENVIRONMENT AGENCY CLEAN-UP AFTER OIL SPILL
A clean-up operation is underway at Highbridge following an oil spillage that has left a stretch of the River Brue polluted. Environment Agency officers are using large anti-pollution booms to recover the oil that leaked from premises in Bason Bridge.........................................................[Read More]

23.01.06
SEIZURE OF ILLEGAL FISHING NET BY EA
Sharp-eyed Environment Officers seized an illegal fishing net while on an enforcement patrol off the Devon coast. The Environment Agency team from the Nemesis patrol boat spotted and pulled a surface net from the sea off Sandy Bay, Exmouth, last Wednesday...................................[Read More]

21.01.06
GO FISHING SHOW 2006
Go Fishing Show 2006, the UK's biggest fishing show covering Coarse, Carp, Sea and Game, is being held this year between March 3-5 at the NEC in Birmingham and promises more than ever before. This year’s show is set to be a fisherman’s paradise..........................................................[Read More]

18.01.06
ANGLER'S APPEAL LANDS HIM MORE COSTS
A Wiltshire angler’s failed attempt to overturn a £50 rod licence fine proved costly after he was ordered to pay a total of £800 including a contribution to costs of £750 on 13 January. Mr X failed to appear at the appeal hearing. He was originally convicted in April 2005..............[Read More]

16.01.06
PLANT FINED AFTER EFFLUENT LEAKS INTO DEVON STREAM
A meat rendering plant that spilt around 20 tonnes of black effluent into a Devon stream killing dozens of fish was today ordered to pay £6,748 in fines and costs in a case brought by the EA.................................[Read More]

10.01.06
DO YOU HAVE EXPERTISE IN COARSE FISHERIES?
The Environment Agency is looking for a new member to join its Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Committee in the South West. A vacancy has arisen for a member with an interest in coarse fishing. The Committee gives advice on maintaining, improving and developing fisheries, advising on conservation, ecology, recreation and navigation issues......................................................................................[Read More]

25.01.06 - ENVIRONMENT AGENCY CLEAN-UP AFTER OIL SPILL

A clean-up operation is underway at Highbridge following an oil spillage that has left a stretch of the River Brue polluted. Environment Agency officers are using large anti-pollution booms to recover the oil that leaked from premises in Bason Bridge.

The alarm was raised by a member of the public at 11.30am yesterday [Tuesday, 24 January, 2006] after he spotted the oil on the surface of the water between Bason Bridge and Highbridge – a distance of three kilometres. Environment Agency staff managed to isolate the spillage and will continue to monitor the river to assess the impact of the spill. The river level had to be raised to float both booms and aid controlling the pollution at Bason Bridge. It is possible to continue these water levels without any flood risk.

As soon as there is any risk of possible flooding due to increased rainfall, Environment Officers will respond promptly to restore winter levels by opening the sluice gates. Early reports indicate that an estimated 100 gallons of waste oil escaped from a storage tank and although a great deal remained contained within the site, some leaked into nearby drains and out to the river.

"Once notified, we were able to respond rapidly to this incident and have deployed two large booms across the river. Waste oil is still being discharged from drains today and we are taking steps to contain it at Bason Bridge. At this stage we do not believe it has had a significant impact on the river and wildlife. This type of surface pollution often looks worse than it is, "said Brian Payne for the Environment Agency.

To report pollution incidents members of the public can call the Environment Agency’s free 24 hour hotline 0800 80 70 60

Source: The Environment Agency - January 2006.
Contact: Contact: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

23.01.06 - SEIZURE OF ILLEGAL FISHING NET BY ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

Sharp-eyed Environment Officers seized an illegal fishing net while on an enforcement patrol off the Devon coast. The Environment Agency team from the Nemesis patrol boat spotted and pulled a surface net from the sea off Sandy Bay, Exmouth, last Wednesday. It was near to Straight Point, an area where surface nets are banned.

The net had been marked with a small yellow outer buoy and a discarded plastic milk container in order to avoid detection. An Environment Agency spokesman said the net had no identification and had been set with little surface marking to disguise its presence.

"When removed from the water the net was found to be clean, suggesting it had only been set for a relatively short period. We found that two fish had already been enmeshed in the net, a bass and a dogfish, and these were released alive," said an Environment Agency spokesman.

Netting is restricted in this area to protect migratory salmon and sea trout returning to the River Exe. Nets are also known to entrap and drown seabirds when set illegally. This latest find follows similar seizures of illegal nets in Cornwall during December, when illegal nets and other fishing equipment were destroyed.

Source: The Environment Agency - January 2006.
Contact: Contact: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

21.01.06 - GO FISHING SHOW 2006

Go Fishing Show 2006, the UK's biggest fishing show covering Coarse, Carp, Sea and Game, is being held this year between March 3-5 at the NEC in Birmingham and promises more than ever before. This year’s show is set to be a fisherman’s paradise - packed with live demonstrations, interactive forums and as many top manufacturers and retailers as you could possibly imagine under one roof.

The Go Fishing Show is the place to see all the new gear from the UK’s biggest brands before they hit the shops. The show has over 250 exhibitors, 150 live demonstrations and is the only place you will find the UK’s best fishing experts including the likes of Matt Hayes, Bob Nudd and Terry Hearn under one roof. All this in one day…

Try and buy the latest products from the UK’s best brands.
Kit yourself out for the fishing season.
See the UK’s best anglers demonstrating live.
Learn top tips and tactics from the experts in the Q & A clinic.

Coarse fishing at Go Fishing 2006

The feature areas will be massive and the Angling Times Live Arena will have a mammoth 1,200 square metres of space to its name. Bob Nudd, Steve Ringer and Mark Sawyer will all be demonstrating the latest tactics in this area, which has been designed to emulate a modern commercial water with real fish inside.

See how fish react to bait and tactics underwater on the Angling Times Advanced Tip Academy in the huge capacity tank and meet the sports biggest names. Already confirmed are Jamie Masson and Grant Albutt.

If that’s not enough to whet your appetite we have the Improve Your Coarse Fishing Superteam Theatre, where some of the biggest names in coarse angling will be on hand to answer any question big or small. Martin Bowler, Matt Hayes, John Wilson and Steve Ringer have already confirmed their attendance at the show and this area will be better than ever before.

All of the biggest manufacturers will be showing off their newest and best tackle and bait. Here’s just a few that have confirmed: Shimano, Maver, Daiwa, Browning, Leeda, Masterline, TFG, Garbolino, Faps, Tek-Neek Trabucco, Sharpes (Faps), Colmic, Milo, BCUK and Dynamite Baits.

For more information on Go Fishing 2006, visit their website at: www.gofishingshow.com

18.01.06 - ANGLER'S APPEAL LANDS HIM MORE COSTS

A Wiltshire angler’s failed attempt to overturn a £50 rod licence fine proved costly after he was ordered to pay a total of £800 including a contribution to costs of £750 on 13 January. Mr X failed to appear at the appeal hearing. He was originally convicted in April 2005 and again in October 2005 after he had applied to have the case re-opened by Gloucester Magistrates. He failed to appear on both occasions. Mr X had been charged with fishing without a rod licence at Ashton Keynes Large Lake, in Somerfield Keynes on 31 July 2004.

An Environment Agency fisheries enforcement officer approached Mr X on 31 July 2004 and asked him to produce a valid rod licence. He was unable to do so saying that he had left it at home. He was issued with a fisheries offence report form requiring him to produce a valid rod licence to the Environment Agency within a week, but he still failed to produce one. During the appeal Mr Palmer QC sitting as a Recorder at Gloucester Crown Court, found the case proved in Mr X's absence again and refused him permission to appeal. The original fine of £50 stood and Mr X was ordered to pay the Environment Agency £750 in costs.

The Court acknowledged that Mr X's conduct from the Magistrates’ Court to the Crown Court had been deliberate in its efforts to abuse the system as much as possible, having failed to appear any of the court hearings, including this appeal. Fisheries enforcement officer Mick Cox said:
“Mr X could have easily saved himself a lot of trouble if he had bought a rod licence before he went fishing. Those who fish illegally not only risk being brought before the courts, but anglers also deprive others of valuable revenue as the £23.50 cost of each licence is ploughed back into the sport to help protect and improve resources. Mr X has only himself to blame and his plan to waste as much of our time and resources as he could has only landed him more costs.”

Fishing without a licence is an offence under Section 27 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 and anyone caught fishing illegally can expect to face tough penalties, including a fine of up to £2,500 and a ban from fishing.

Anyone aged 12 years or over who fishes for salmon, trout, freshwater fish or eels in England and Wales must have an Environment Agency Rod Fishing Licence. These are readily available and can be purchased from Post Offices, over the telephone, [0870 1662662] or online www.environment-agency.gov.uk/rodlicence

Source: The Environment Agency - January 2006.
Contact: Contact: enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

16.01.06 - PLANT FINED AFTER EFFLUENT LEAKS INTO DEVON STREAM

A meat rendering plant that spilt around 20 tonnes of black effluent into a Devon stream killing dozens of fish was today ordered to pay £6,748 in fines and costs in a case brought by the Environment Agency.

On August 16, 2005, the Environment Agency’s 24-hour control room received a call from a member of the public reporting that the Common Lake Stream at Torrington was discoloured. The stream flows from Darracott Reservoir through farmland before passing to the North of Torrington, through more farmland and into the River Torridge. Officers went to the site and saw the stream was polluted with a black coloured liquid. Upstream of Peninsula Proteins Ltd the water was clear.

Samples taken showed the water had very low oxygen levels. Officers counted 129 dead eels, 55 trout and 29 stickleback. Actual numbers were likely to be much higher as many will have been hidden from view or taken by predators. It is highly likely all the fish in a two kilometre stretch were killed. Environment Agency officers went to Peninsula Proteins where they were shown the area from which the spill had occurred. A pump had failed resulting in an effluent tank overflowing. There was an alarm system to warn this was happening, but at the time of the incident it had been manually adjusted after frequent false alarms. The company estimated it had lost between 18 to 20 tonnes of effluent.

A survey was carried out on October 21, 2005 and only one small brown trout was found in a 75 metre stretch downstream from the point of the spill. The company immediately offered to help deal with the pollution and provided a tanker filled with 11,000 litres of clean water which was put into the stream to flush out the pollutant which was gathering in pools. A temporary pump was installed to prevent another immediate leak. Peninsular Proteins Limited, of 66 Wigmore Street, London, was today fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,748 costs by Barnstaple magistrates after pleading guilty to one charge under the Water Resources Act 1991, that on or about August 15, 2005, it caused trade effluent to be discharged into the Common Lake Stream at Torrington.

"Major changes have since been made in the effluent management system at the site and the tank from where the spill occurred has been decommissioned. Nevertheless it was neglect of basic site management that resulted in environmental impact of this magnitude,"said Richard Cloke for the Environment Agency

"The management at Peninsula Proteins was aware of the spill as it was seen by a member of staff. The Environment Agency was not contacted as staff didn’t think it was serious. Any company dealing with this type of foul effluent needs to have equipment and systems in flawless operation"

The Environment Agency’s free 24 hour hotline for reporting environmental incidents is 0800 80 70 60.

Source: The Environment Agency - January 2006.
Contact: Contact: bridget.norris@environment-agency.gov.uk

10.01.06 - DO YOU HAVE EXPERTISE IN COARSE FISHERIES?

The Environment Agency is looking for a new member to join its Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Committee in the South West. A vacancy has arisen for a member with an interest in coarse fishing.

The Committee gives advice on maintaining, improving and developing fisheries, advising on conservation, ecology, recreation and navigation issues. Individuals and organisations of all backgrounds are encouraged to become members to ensure the committee accurately reflects the environment it serves. The Committee, which meets four times a year, is statutory and provides advice and direction, linking the Environment Agency with the people affected by its work. Members are not paid, but reimbursed for travelling expenses and in appropriate cases are entitled to financial loss allowance.

The Agency invites nominations from organisations and applications from individuals. Candidates should live in the Environment Agency’s South West region, which covers Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and most of Wiltshire.

"Membership of our Regional Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Committee offers an invaluable opportunity to play a part in shaping the work we do" said Richard Cresswell, Regional Director for the Environment Agency.

For further details contact Sarah Harding, Corporate Affairs, Environment Agency, Manley House, Kestrel Way, Exeter EX2 7LQ. Telephone 01392 442184. Applications should be made by February 7, 2006.

Source: The Environment Agency - January 2006.
Contact: Contact: bridget.norris@environment-agency.gov.uk