NFA NEWS BRIEFS FOR NFA INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.

Clubs urged to apply for licence

THE NFA Cormorant committee met this week. Fishery owner and top angler, Roy Marlow, who is a member of the committee, urged all NFA member clubs with a cormorant problem, to apply for a licence to shoot the birds. “I applied, a nice man from DEFRA came to see me, and I no longer have a cormorant problem,” said Marlow. More details from June Price, NFA, 01283 734735.

Greet Project

THE River Greet in Nottinghamshire, was once one of the most famous trout streams in the country. The picturesque river, which flows into the River Trent at Fiskerton, has been polluted and abused over the years, but the EA has started a habitat programme that should secure the future of the vole population and see the natural gravel beds return, which will help the trout and roach re-establish.

Four nominations

VICE President, David Kent and Nex member Terry Fell have nominated for the position of President which becomes vacant in April. Terry has also nominated for vice-president, along with John Mitchell and Noel Walsh.

Permanent Pegs

RIVER Trent EA project manager, Keith Easton, met officers from Lincoln & District AA on Thursday (December 18) to discuss building permanent stone pegs on their stretch of the tidal river at Clifton.

Surprise Surprise

NEWARK Federation received a surprise visit from NFA vice-president, David Kent, last week. Halfway through the Federation’s monthly meeting, David entered the room to present long-serving secretary, John Garland, with the NFA Medal for Meritorious Service to Angling. John, who has been the Federations secretary for 37-years, responded; “I am so grateful and I hope by receiving this medal I will not upset other people who have given a lifetime of service to the sport.” When reflecting over the years John commented: “The NFA has always been short of money. I remember once a proposal to increase the annual subscriptions being defeated by the bigger associations, like Sheffield (x2), London and Birmingham. All of these associations left the NFA soon afterwards!”

The committee members received another surprise when David Kent presented them with an illuminated certificate for reaching 100-years of continuous existence.

Sixth sense found in fish

SCIENTISTS believe they have solved the mystery of how fish and birds navigate over vast distances. The scientists found an organ in the nose of a rainbow trout that detects changes in the earth’s geomagnetic field. Using the latest laser scanning microscopy, the scientists found a nerve cell in the fish’s nose that activates in the presence of a magnetic field.

EU says: ‘Polluter’ pays

THE European Union environment ministers have agreed a package of measures to make the polluter pay. The EU Environment Liability Directive aims to make companies legally and financially responsible for restoring the environment after incidents such as chemical leaks and mine spills, according to the RSPB.

Brace of sparkling chub

NEWARK Federation member, Chris Mendelsohn, landed a whopping chub scaling 6-1-0 from the River Trent at Winthorpe. A few days later the specimen angler tricked another 6lb chub from the same swim, once again on three worms on a size 6 hook tied to 6lb bs line.

Threat

THE native or white-clawed crayfish has been part of our river wildlife for thousands of years, but it faces a real threat of disappearing from the scene. The plight of the native species is down to a foreign invader – the American Signal crayfish – which was introduced into Britain around 30-years ago to be farmed for food. But the crayfish carry a fungal disease to which they are resistant but that spells disaster for the smaller native crayfish.

Buffer Strips

FRENCH researchers have shown the importance of nitrate retention in wetlands. During transfers of surface water in zones at the bottom of valleys, nitrates from agricultural land are eliminated in the buffer strips of wetlands at the slope interface.

Failing

NEARLY two-thirds of European countries surveyed are failing to manage water resources effectively, according to a new report by WWF. The report, Water and Wetlands, highlights critical issues in water policy across Europe, assessed the water policies in 23 countries.

More Fish

NFA member clubs are being asked what percentage of their membership would prefer to fish:            a) rivers.  b) commercial fisheries.

Fish stocks

IT is four years since the NFA produced its survey of British rivers. The 1999 study showed that fish stocks on the majority of rivers had diminished substantially. There has been a marked improvement in sport on some rivers but the NFA is planning another campaign to find out what fish stocks are like in our rivers 2004.

Rodney Coldron