ROB HUGHES on fighting for our waters
“Those on the ground know that we can all co-exist”
FOR A while I’ve had a bee in my bonnet about angling venues being lost to various things, a lot of them supposedly wildlife related. Often it’s Wildlife Trusts taking over, but it can be apathy by local authorities too. Just before Christmas we ran a story through On The Bank about a park lake that had closed to fishing as it was being taken over by a Wildlife Trust. Following that show I was contacted by people stating a similar thing had happened at venues close to them in Liverpool, The Midlands, Hampshire and Sussex. Now it seems this is the intention in Kent too and I’m sure there’s more!
A common problem is often funding but sometimes it can be more sinister. Councils often simply haven’t got the manpower or resources to run fisheries. I’ve also seen a lack of will on the part of some local authorities, but more worryingly there is often an ambition by some Wildlife Trusts to restrict angling.
There’s an ever-increasing number of worrying stories around, and Kent Wildlife Trust’s ambitions seem to be exactly that. The crazy situation here is that birdwatching, beaver and even otter support groups have come out to support angling. Those on the ground know that we can all co-exist.
At the moment the banks are very busy with the resurgence of angling and every facility is important. We need more venues opening not closing. Angling is keeping people safe and sane at the same time and that surely must be encouraged and applauded by everyone.