The Angling Trust has once again demonstrated its commitment to fisheries vulnerable to predation through the latest round of Angling Improvement Funding; of which, I’m pleased to report, Rum Bridge Fisheries is a beneficiary.
The case for predation control is abundantly clear to anglers and fishery-owners, if not, it seems, to central government. As the Predation Action Group reports, “Cormorant predation [has resulted in] a chronic shortage of river fish … forcing otters to seek their prey in stillwaters, carp waters, fish farms, and even garden ponds.”
But with fencing costs running to £10,000s – and angler-numbers (and thus revenues) generally in decline – the necessary investment is beyond the reach of all but the best-funded fisheries.
Which is why, in its latest round of AIF funding, the Trust has once again allocated £100,000 to provide grants for “Fish protection and predation management”.
Launched in January 2015 in partnership with the Environment Agency, the AIF- which is financed exclusively through rod licence sales – was established to help “create newer, safer facilities, better habitats and more accessible facilities to enable angling organisations to flourish and attract anglers”.
To date, the Trust has granted more than 250 AIF awards, with a combined value somewhere north of £1m.
This year alone, in addition to the £100,000 allocated so far to predation management, £250,000 has been used to finance essential fishery maintenance and improvements, such as the creation of platforms and paths, parking areas and landscaping, as well as toilets and washing facilities (which it is hoped will help attract more women and children).
Around ten grants of up to £5,000 were also provided to charities and providers of health and recreational services seeking to combat isolation and improve wellbeing in older people. And around 40 bursaries worth £2,500 were provided to clubs, fisheries, local authorities and schools to help fund the cost of coach-training, and essential equipment for use during angling ‘taster’ events.
In the latest round, for which applications are now invited, £300k has been set aside to provide grants in four categories, including river access (aimed at improving paths, handrails, steps, ladders, car parking areas and so on), and infrastructure projects to increase take-up of angling, in particular amongst younger people and those with disabilities.
All of which means, whether you’re striving to safeguard your stillwater – or exploring initiatives to introduce newcomers to the sport – it really could pay you to visit http://bit.ly/AnglingImprovement.
For our part, the funding we’ve received has defrayed the cost of fencing and other materials, enabling us to refocus vital cash on the area that matters most to anglers: fish!
