LOWLAND CANALS  - DRAFT FISHERY ACTION PLAN

The Lowland canals - the Forth & Clyde, the Union and the Monkland – are the heart of Scottish coarse angling. Generations of anglers first wet a line in their local stretch of ‘nolly, and many of us have fished there all our lives. The canals are close at hand for most people in Scotland, and have given good sport to beginners and experts alike over many years. Lately, however, the fishing has been poorer. It can get a lot better, but only if the canals are actively managed as a fishery.

About a year ago, British Waterways Scotland and the Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling set up a joint initiative called the Lowland Canal Angling Partnership Scotland (LCAPS) to try to reverse the decline. We believe a lot can be done, but we need support from anglers, angling clubs and others who have an interest in the canals. It won’t happen overnight – some things may take most of the next ten years - but work needs to start now. This plan is a key stage in getting that under way.

People will only support LCAPS if they see we’re taking things in the right direction. That’s why the plan is still only a draft. In particular, it’s why we haven’t yet written down exactly what will be done and who will do it. We want you to see what we believe can be achieved; but the most important thing is to find out what you think should be done, and what you are prepared to do to help make it happen.

Therefore, over the next few weeks we’re asking everyone with a stake in the success of the canals to tell us what they want to happen. We are sending this draft plan to anglers and clubs who have an interest in the canals; we are publishing it on various websites; and we are making copies available through BW offices and fishing tackle shops across Scotland. Most important, we will be hosting an open meeting on Saturday 8^th May at 10.00 am at Kirkintilloch Miners’ Club, Townhead, Kirkintilloch to let you tell us in person what you want.

These are the key questions we’ll be looking at in the meeting:-

1. If we all know where we want to go, it’s going to be a lot easier to get there. So it’s important to start with a picture of what we are aiming for. LCAPS have suggested what we believe the fishery could and should be like in future. This is described in Appendix 1.

Does Appendix 1 say what you want things to look like in future? If not, what should be different?

2. If we are going to achieve anything, we need to know what advantages we start with, and where we can find opportunities to help us succeed. And of course it’s just as important to understand our current weaknesses and what threats we will need to overcome on the way. We have tried to map these things out in Appendix 2.

Does Appendix 2 give a full picture of the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats that we face? If not, what should be different?

3. When the plan is complete, it will contain a list of shared priorities, describe what we intend to do to tackle them; and say who is prepared to contribute what in order to make it happen.

Please help us make this plan reflect what people really want. Come along to the open meeting if you can. If not, please write down your thoughts – however short - on these questions and e-mail them to or, if you don’t have e-mail, post your reply to Ron Woods, LCAPS, c/o British Waterways Scotland, Lowland Canals Office, Rosebank House, Camelon, Falkirk, FK1 4DS.

Appendix 1 – The Lowland Canals in ten years time?

The Fishery

The canals will support a large, healthy, and largely self-sustaining stock of all the coarse fish species already present. There will be careful scientific monitoring of the size, health and growth rates of fish populations and of the aspects of the environment that affect them; such as water quality, food sources and predatory birds or mammals. Fish populations will be managed to provide the best possible angling resource without harming the wider ecology of the canals’ environment.

Vegetation on the bankside and in the waterway will be managed to give ready access for anglers as well as free passage for boats. Essential weed control and maintenance of the boat channel will be carried out with the minimum of disturbance to spawning fish, and wherever possible will still leave sufficient cover to provide refuge from predators and good breeding areas throughout the canals. Engineering works will be planned and carried out with due regard for the impact on fish populations, and fish rescues and relocations will take place where appropriate.

The surroundings will be landscaped and maintained to provide a pleasant environment in which to fish. Secure parking will be provided at convenient sites along the length of the canals, especially in areas where public transport is less readily available. Fishing platforms and access facilities in a range of locations will ensure that anglers with disabilities are able to enjoy safe and comfortable use of the fishery.

Angling

The canals will once again be Scotland’s premier mixed coarse fishery; and will attract specialists, pleasure fishers, and match anglers alike. There will be an active competitive scene at both club and national level. The Forth & Clyde canal will be recognised and respected across the UK as a quality venue for major events including international matches.

Angling activities will be bailiffed and managed for the benefit of anglers under the umbrella of LCAPS. Individual angling clubs will take responsibility for running each specific stretch of the fishery. The management and development of the fishery will be financially self-sustaining through the sale of memberships / permits and exploiting other available sources of funds.

Angling will contribute significantly to the wider attraction of the canals as leisure amenities for visitors and local people alike.

Communities along the canals will actively develop and manage angling in their own areas by forming and running clubs that look after local lengths and cater particularly for the needs of local anglers.

LCAPS will foster the participation and education of young people generally, and will work itself and in partnership with others to provide and support coaching facilities for junior anglers.

There will be timely and effective discussions between British Waterways and angling bodies over all matters of mutual interest. Anglers will contribute actively to relevant projects such as water quality monitoring, collecting data on fish populations, and towpath clean-ups.

Anglers will be fully consulted in the planning process for major projects on the canals. The needs of anglers will be taken fully into account in any new leisure developments, and wherever possible improved provisions for angling will be integrated with other facilities.

LCAPS will provide an accessible and responsive channel for two-way communications between all interested parties; including individual anglers, angling clubs, British Waterways, local communities and other canal users. LCAPS will work to promote a good understanding of angling needs by others and vice versa.

• Massive resource - hundreds of acres of water, every part of it accessible to anglers

• Mixed stock of species - caters for different needs

• Good populations of some species in some areas

• Stocks are bouncing back after Millennium Link engineering work

• Boat traffic will help make the fishery more productive

• "EC-designated cyprinid habitat" - legal requirement to monitor and maintain water quality

• Geography - close to population centres

• Varied surroundings - city / town / country

• Some attractive areas

• Generally good towpath

• Stable environment - someplace is always fishable

• People already use and recognise the canals as a fishery

• No competitive pressure for alternative angling use (eg as a salmon or trout fishery)

• Support for LCAPS from some clubs

• Core of committed individuals in LCAPS

• Co-operation of tackle shops

• Single owner of the fishing rights

• BW has supported recent restocking initiatives

• Being able to draw on wider knowledge & experience within BW

• Scottish interest in key positions in BW and IWAC

• Lack of reliable information on fish stocks

• Fish stock densities generally perceived as low

• Fish can move - no opportunity to confine stock to specific areas

• Low level of match fishing activity

• Some areas are unsafe localities or dangerous environments

• Poor access / parking in some areas (especially for disabled anglers)

• Low public knowledge of management initiatives

• Lack of signage

• Insufficient bailiffing resource

• Little involvement from anglers / angling clubs

• Lack of qualified angling coaches

• Little or no financial resources

• Traditionally "free" fishery – people resist paying for permits

• Scottish angling legislation does not adequately support charging for permits

• Limited commitment from BW (finance and/or people)

• Lack of a communication strategy

• Define the fish population base and key species

• Build up and maintain scientific data on fish population and fishery environment

• Work with SNH or others concerning nationally endangered eel populations?

• Work with SNH in relation to SSSI status of some areas (eg Dullatur bog)

• Work with SEPA on Water Framework Directive issues

• Large audience (eg, councils) who all want to benefit

• Build good relationships with police and local authorities

• Build youth development programmes and community partnerships

• Coaching initiatives - potential for funding?

• Educational opportunities tied in with angling?

• Link in with other leisure and community developments on the canals?

• General development of canal corridor

• Tourism

• In tune with the direction BW is going - can help to meet corporate vision

• Predation (cormorants / mink etc)

• Introduced species / diseases

• Risk of reduction in water quality from pollution or other causes

• Damage to fish populations from engineering works

• Damage to habitat, spawning fish and/or juvenile populations from weedcutting operations

• Future legislation / policies could unreasonably restrict fish movements and stocking

• Competition from other fisheries

• Fragile reputation / fickle attitudes

• Permit revenue may not be forthcoming

• Volunteer effort (at individual and club level) may not be not forthcoming

• Nothing is seen to be happening quickly

• Failure to capitalise on potential sources of funding

• Lack of involvement / communications from BW

• Unfair allocation of access - anglers getting "boated out"

• Risk of conflict with other users

• Lack of communication with other interested parties

END