Salmon and Trout Association: Access

Access to Rivers and Streams

This debate is often seen by the media as anglers versus canoeists, albeit that anglers are not anti-canoe and fully support the principle of voluntary negotiated agreements. This is in line with Government Policy.

No one sport has an automatic right of access to rivers or lakes. For instance, before anglers are able to access a water body to fish, an individual must be in possession of:-

• an Environment Agency Licence (age 12 and over), and
• have the permission of the riparian owner, which invariably requires payment – direct or through a tenant, angling club or syndicate
• in almost every case, the individual would also have appropriate third party liability insurance cover.

Having secured the above, the individual is bound by rules and regulations (both statutory and those of the fishery). Failure to comply can result in the individual being identified / banned from the fishery and, in some cases, prosecuted.

Recent evidence shows that the majority of funds generated by angling is invested back into the fishery, targeting management, sustainable biodiversity, environmental and conservation issues.

S&TA supports Joint Access Agreements, provided they address the following:

• The regulation of all water sports and the adoption of an enforceable code of conduct
• A unique marking system on canoes and other water craft to allow for identification
• Equitable payment for use of the resource
• An acceptable national form of registration and third party insurance cover
• Provisions to protect fragile environments and habitats – particularly in SSSI’s and cSACs - including fish spawning and juvenile areas and bird nesting sites.
• Acknowledgement that canoes and other water craft should not be permitted in small streams and on non-navigable rivers.
• Consideration given to controlling the increasing use of rafts, which is already seen as a Health & Safety issue in Scotland
• Acknowledgement that the unique situation in Scotland, where open access is permitted, has little relevance to England and Wales, where population density is far greater and rivers tend to be smaller than in Scotland.
• Acknowledgement that waterborne diseases and parasites can be transferred between river catchments by canoes (the same as on angling equipment), and that this issue cannot be addressed in the context of an unregulated activity.

Voluntary Access Agreements

The way forward is through locally negotiated voluntary access agreements. This will require greater trust and cooperation from all water users, and must take into account the following criteria:

• All water users must be licensed and regulated (as above)
• All water users should contribute to the management and conservation budgets of the relevant river/lake (Through national licensing and access payments to riparian owners and/or their representative organisations)
• No sport should be allowed to impact adversely on the environment or its dependent species
• No incoming sport should be allowed to impact on the enjoyment of an established activity without the agreement of all interested parties
• Joint access agreements should be negotiated and enforced locally – and S&TA can provide examples of where these already work well

S&TA will work in a spirit of cooperation, partnership and enhanced awareness to promote to the public, and within our affiliated organisations, the following aims:

• to produce, promote and review voluntary codes of conduct for water users, working with the bodies representing these interests;
• talk and listen to the relevant bodies to develop mutual understanding;
• respect, and encourage others to respect, the needs of:
  • Local communities and residents;
  • Farming, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture and other countryside based commercial activities;
  • Other individuals and groups enjoying their leisure;
• develop consistent, evidence-based, approaches to evaluating issues;
• Share information and good practice, showing how sustainable recreation need not compromise anyone’s enjoyment of water sports, or our natural heritage.

This argument is, we believe, a compelling one from the fisheries viewpoint, and does not alienate non-anglers by attempting to put angling ahead of any other sport. This is extremely important when influencing politicians and their departments, who must be seen to be unbiased in their decision making processes.

For further information see;

EA. (2006). Canoe Access News Release
EA. (2006). Pilot voluntary canoe access agreements summary report
EA. (2006). Canoe Access Briefing note and QAs
EA RFERAC. (2004). Paper Access to Water for Canoeing Paper - Annex 3.