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Low Wood Hotel, Ambleside, Cumbria
12th - 19th June 2002

The Twenty-second Session of the European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC) was held in Ambleside from 12th to 19th June 2002 under the Chairmanship of Mr. Rudolph Muller (Switzerland). The Session was attended by 34 representative from 20 Members of the Commission, by observers from one non-Member Nation of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and also by observers from two International non-Governmental Organizations.

GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO ANGLING
The Session was opened by The Honourable Elliott Morley, M.P., the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the United Kingdom, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The Minister expressed his delight at being asked to open the Twenty-second Session and explained it's purpose was to review the recent achievements of EIFAC and to recommend best practice for inland fisheries management. He went on to highlight that we have recently completed our own review of Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Policies and Legislation in England and Wales. Amongst many other issues, the Review report highlighted the need for continued and improved communication and collaboration in fisheries management. Conferences like this one, help to address that need by building on the networks and contacts they form. The UK Government is fully committed to ensuring that fisheries policies contribute towards sustainable management, while providing social and economic benefit to all users. Funding is always an important issue - no Government has infinite resources and with so many competing demands hard decisions are often needed. It is imperative that available funds are spent wisely and effectively on those issues that matter the most. The Minister concluded that he believed that EIFAC has a unique opportunity to lead on a wide range of inland fisheries management issues and in his view, it should be a dynamic body seeking to influence all aspects of inland fisheries management. Finally, the day provided him with an ideal opportunity to reaffirm the UK Government’s support for freshwater fisheries management and conservation.

After the Official Opening, in an interview with Patrick Arnold (Angling Correspondent for the Westmorland Gazette), the Minister confirmed the Government's commitment to angling and that there were no proposals to ban angling irrespective of the outcome of the hunting debate. The Government has pledged to put angling on the same footing as other sports and will push for better funding for it's development. Grant-in-Aid has been increased in 2002 / 2003 by £3m to £6.2 m in England. Patrick put it to the Minister that this was merely a re-instatement and has there not been a decline in funding in real terms? The Minister referred the question to his office and a spokesman stated that in overall terms Environment Agency expenditure on fisheries has stayed relatively stable in recent years. Inflation has been offset by efficiency. In conclusion the Minister reaffirmed that he would do everything he could to help angling as he had done during the Foot and Mouth Disease Crisis when he attended meetings to listen to anglers' points of view.

Sir John Harman, Chairman of the Environment Agency in his address said the E.A. is Europe’s biggest environmental regulator and with regard to fisheries management have a statutory duty to “maintain, improve and develop” fisheries using their regulatory powers. In January last year, they produced their document “An Environmental Vision - the Agency’s contribution to sustainable development".

The two fundamental themes “quality of life for all" and “enhancing wildlife” recognizes both people and fisheries - anglers needs, the wider public's environment and the provision of sound advice to improve fisheries. Establishing partnerships with fisheries organisations is needed to achieve targets set :
Habitat improvement, research - to reduce unreported and illegal Salmon catches and to reduce illegal fish movements and the risk of alien species introduction and the spread of fish disease.

The Agency’s association with EIFAC is important as it gives an awareness of the European perspective when considering the strategic management of fisheries in particular the ecological, social and economic benefits. In England and Wales fishing contributes a total of £2.4 billion in annual expenditure - more than £1,000 is spent per angler per year and 12,000 jobs are dependent on the tackle trade. The Agency looks forward to using the outputs from the Twenty-second Session to inform our management of inland fisheries.

The Secretary of EIFAC, Mr. Heiner Naeve in his address referred to the increasing interest in the scientific work of EIFAC which serves as a forum for exchange of information and for ensuring a common approach to inland fisheries throughout Europe. He stressed that EIFAC should continue its work as an intergovernmental body dealing with inland fisheries and aquaculture in Europe. To remain effective and to attract the interest of all its Members, EIFAC will have to concentrate on a realistic work programme, focusing on issues of high importance for inland fisheries management and the development of sustainable aquaculture.

The Chairman of EIFAC, Mr. Rudolph Muller referred to a number of other important issues including the problem of bird predation, particularly by Cormorants ; the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) which requires that the ecological status of the water bodies be assessed using biological quality criteria. Among such biological criteria, the status of the fish and fauna will have to be assessed according to specific criteria. Another major issue in European inland fisheries is the fate and future of the European eel.

One of the new items coming up is the problem of animal welfare in fisheries and aquaculture. A proposal has been made to the Session to establish a new Working Party on Handling of Fish in Fisheries and Aquaculture who's main task will be to develop a Code of Practice on proper handling techniques.
EIFAC has through 40 years of existence managed to demonstrate a remarkable degree of adaptability and should continue to do so.

WHAT IS EIFAC ?
The European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC) plays a very important role. From time to time even the experts need advice. Agencies and organisations that play a role in managing Inland Fisheries periodically need to seek guidance from specialists, both National and International, particularly during formulation of major strategic plans or technical guidelines. Sometimes they simply need to exchange views with their colleagues. EIFAC is the only International Forum for collaboration and information exchange on Inland Fisheries among all European Countries. EIFAC can call on the expertise of specialized scientists, managers, from 33 Countries. They are scientists with only an advisory role with no executive or regulatory powers. They have a small administrative secretariat staffed by fishery experts in Rome. They organise bi - annual Sessions, have a number of working parties between Sessions and publish their main scientific findings. EIFAC welcomes individuals interested in providing expertise and participating in it's work. Membership is open to European Member Countries of FAO. The United Kingdom is a Member.

REPORT ON THE SYMPOSIUM ON INLAND FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT - IT'S RELEVANCE TO THE LAKE DISTRICT
The Symposium on Inland Fisheries Management and the Aquatic Environment was organised in conjunction with this Twenty-second Session. The most important issue for the Lake District is the threat posed to rare fish species. The following is a summary of an article by Rachel Kitchen of the Westmorland Gazette published on the Farming and Countryside Section of the Westmorland Gazette on Friday 21st June 2002.
"Pike anglers could be banned from using freshwater fish as bait because of threats posed to rare fish species surviving in the Lake District.

Fisheries experts from around the world heard that rare populations of Arctic Charr, Vendace and Whitefish were under threat from fish that had been released into the Lakes without consent, such as Roach.

'Proposals to ban anglers from using freshwater fish and eels as dead or live bait have been drawn up to tackle the 'potentially very grave problem,' said Windermere scientist, Dr. Ian Winfield of the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, at Ferry House, who has explored the problem with Cameron Durie, of the Environment Agency. He presented their findings to delegates from as are a field as China, Nigeria, Canada and Russia. He said the Lake District's fish fauna included the United Kingdom's only populations of Vendace and England's only populations of Whitefish and Arctic Charr. Potentially grave problems had arisen because fish had been introduced to the lakes without consent and they could act as predators or competitors to these rare species.

Scientists have been researching the problem for about ten years and have been keeping a particularly close eye on Bassenthwaite Lake, Derwentwater and Windermere. Although Roach were probably introduced to Windermere's waters in late Victorian times, numbers have only 'exploded' in recent years, causing fundamental changes to the fish community. The Roach has been introduced to Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwentwater, where it poses a threat because it eats large number of Vendace eggs.

'Live bait escaping or being discarded by Pike anglers was the main way that fish were introduced to the waters', said Dr. Winfield.

At present National Legislation restricts the movement of fish between lakes. In the Lake District, live-baiting is also banned on waters controlled by the Lake District National Park Authority, National Trust, United Utilities and the Windermere, Ambleside and District Angling Association. However, the controls can be difficult to enforce said Dr. Winfield - especially as live bait could quickly become 'dead bait' at the approach of an inspecting agent.
The Environment Agency has caught and prosecuted people for live-baiting - for example, on Windermere, with Brown Trout, Minnow, Perch, Rainbow Trout and Roach - but the fines imposed do not match the seriousness of the environmental problem, said Dr. Winfield.

New Legislation proposed by the Environment Agency for 14 major stretches of water in the Lake District would ban the use of freshwater fish and eels as dead or alive bait. Possession with intent to use as bait would also be banned.

Dr. Winfield said the proposal was 'hard on responsible Pike anglers' but he told the Gazette they would still be able to use artificial bait that mimicked fish and sea fish. He stressed to delegates that it was not too late to start tackling the problem and the situation would get worse if action was not taken."

REPORT ON THE TWENTY-SECOND SESSION - IT'S RELEVANCE TO THE LAKE DISTRICT
This report is lengthy but included reference to a number of issues relevant to the Lake District, including the meetings of the EU-project REDCAFE (Reducing the Conflict between Cormorants and Fisheries on a pan-European scale). The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) has consequences for the management of surface and groundwater in all EU States and identifies the fish fauna as a major component in ecological water quality assessment. Fish-based monitoring and fish-based quality assessment methods have to be developed and implemented. EIFAC has decided to establish an ad hoc working party on handling of fish in Fisheries and Aquaculture, possibly leading to a Code of Practice. Work is also being undertaken for an International Code of Practice for Recreational Fisheries. The Symposium considered biological, environmental, social and economic impacts of fisheries management of lakes and rivers. Fisheries management has produced clear benefits to the eco system over and above benefits to the fishery itself. Such, however, activities as stocking and introduction can sometimes produce negative impacts.

The Commission agreed on a number of recommendations to Members : the development of improved communication and education programmes ; increased use in consultative processes ; when contemplating restoration works or enhancement activities the catchment basin be fully evaluated to see what other factors may effect the project and what problems may still persist ; that opportunities for artificial fisheries as well as restoration and enhancement of existing fisheries be identified and finally mechanisms be developed for the conservation of endangered fish species.
This is best summarized in an interview by Patrick Arnold (Angling Correspondent for the Westmorland Gazette), with Robin Welcome, a previous Secretary of EIFAC in which he said the scientific work undertaken by EIFAC is frequently used by those drawing up Legislation.

Anglers are urged to become more involved at the consultative stage thereby gaining a better understanding of the rationale behind any proposed Legislation and to make their points of view known. Anglers must take into account public concerns and by doing so can improve the public's perception of their sport. There is much to be done and anglers must accept their responsibilities and work together for the common good. When undertaking projects for the rehabilitation of rivers the primary objective must be to restore, in so far as is possible, the river system to the conditions under which fish were actually thriving. The amount of work in any river rehabilitation programme should not be underestimated and there are no easy or quick solutions.