Detail

Action

Minutes of previous meeting

No minutes were produced. Chairman accepted responsibility for this.

The meeting voted to accept take the minutes as read.

Chairman’s introduction

GC reported that it had been a busy year for the SFCA.

The National team had done the country proud at the Celtic Cup and 6 Nations Champs. Thanks expressed to the team manager and those involved.

On the coaching front, Mike Weed had stepped down and was replaced by Rab Lee. Matters were looking positive.

Davie McAuley had resigned as match secretary. Thanks expressed to him for his efforts in the post.

Most of the exec committee’s work was in the political field. RW, AMcP and RL had spent a lot of time on the recent SEERAD consultation. AMcP and RW had been involved with various fisheries trusts.

There are big changes ahead for angling in Scotland. It is critical that the exec committee should understand what members’ views are.

Help is needed from club members. The existing exec committee is stretched already.

National team manager’s report

CP reported that 2005 was possibly the most successful ever. The team had won the Celtic Cup and also had secured a major sponsorship deal with BCUK. The result at the 6 Nations was disappointing as the team had set out to win. The large amounts of joker used by other teams had totally changed the venue. Carp tactics did not fare as well as expected.

There has been a major improvement in the last 3 years, and the team can now be regarded as on a par with Ireland and Wales.

The team decided not to travel to Russia for the 2005 World Champs, following Foreign Office advice.

The introduction of Jamie Masson and Brian Clark had made a significant impact on the team.

In 2006, the team would take part in the Celtic Cup, 6 Nations and the inaugural World Fishing Games. The aim was to fix a relatively small squad, with competition for team places, and to announce the squad shortly.

Aims for 2006 are:

Ø      Top 10 World Fishing Games

Ø      Win Celtic Cup

Ø      Top 3 6 Nations

Thanks expressed to Ronnie MacLeod, Rab Crossan, and the anglers who had taken part.

Policy Officer’s Report

RW thanked the exec committee members for their assistance, and also Steve Clerkin.

Income and publicity had been generated by writing promotional materials.

The SFCA had invested in the franchise for the FishCoarse website. This required to be subsidised in part by funding, but requires sponsorship and additional support.

Contact is maintained with fisheries trusts, The Loch Lomond National Park Authority, British Waterways and also the Cairngorms National Park.

There had been consultation on the Aquaculture and Fisheries Bill. There is some positive change proposed by the bill, but the exec committee does not welcome the proposed ban on the use of live fish as bait.

The profile of coarse angling in Scotland has never been higher, but it is fragile:

Ø      Funding hard to come by

Ø      Need additional people to assist

The SFCA may lose credibility if it does not maintain momentum.

There are substantial threats to coarse angling. Most of the Endrick is now lost. There are proposals to ban coarse angling techniques on loch Lubnaig. Pike fishing from boats is not allowed on Loch Venachar. However, more engagement may result in better access to coarse anglers in general.

The SFCA had effectively reached the end of the line with LCAPS, due to lack of participation.

There was plea for people to represent the SFCA at angling shows, such as the one at Scone this summer.

Match Secretary’s Report

BL reported that the 2005 SFCA match attendance was the highest for many years. The match scene was possibly healthier than it has been in the last 20 years.

In 2006, every SFCA match will be on a commercial fishery, for the 1^st time.

No one has expressed interest in the vacant match secretary’s position. In the interim, it was agreed that Mike Weed will continue to help with results and clubs will take turns to run the matches.

Election of Officers

National Team Manager

Chris Paton was proposed by Magiscroft and seconded by Postal. There were no other nominations.

Coaching and development officer 

Rab Lee was proposed by Magiscroft and seconded by Postal. There were no other nominations

Match secretary

There were no nominations. This vacancy was to be reviewed at the 2007 AGM as to whether the post should be removed permanently.

Vice chairman

There were no nominations.

GC requested clubs to poll their members.

All clubs

Coaching and development

RL reported that coarse angling is on the up. There are currently 7 anglers training to be professional coaches. The course was funded by the Waterways trust, and additional money may be available for those who are interested.

The SFCA is currently engaged on the SNAP initiative in the East of Scotland, and is working with Dreamstore towards becoming an accredited training provider.

Magiscroft suggested that this information should be placed on the SFCA website in order that all members can be informed.

Treasurer’s Report

Written report produced. Accounts had been audited.

There had been an overspend caused by the hosting of both the Celtic Cup and 6 Nations.

The additional expenditure reduces the funds to £776.97. However this includes the £1500 grant from the Fishmongers Association. Without that, there is a deficit.

Fish Recorder’s Report

3 records had been claimed. 2 of these were for the same Golden Orfe. There was also a new Carp record. All of these are already on the SFCA website.

Constitutional amendments

No proposals were submitted.

A written consultation was circulated, with a view to securing the views of clubs. The matter will go to a vote at the 2007 AGM.

AOCB

1. AGM timing

Magiscroft requested better communication with regard to the timing of the AGM, and expressed that it could have had a substantially greater turnout of members had there been more information as to when the meeting was on, and what it involved.

GC confirmed that the mood of the meeting seemed to be that a May AGM was the preference. It was proposed that the 2007 AGM be the 2^nd Thursday in May 2007.

2. SFCA communication

JM reported that the current chain of communication appeared to be ineffective. There was discussion as to whether the SFCA should have:

Ø    A discussion board, properly moderated

Ø    A newsletter

Ø    Return of the “Scottish Coarse Angler” magazine.

RW mentioned the SFSA yearbook which was a good example of what the SFCA could do.

There was general consensus that the SFCA should make better use of the website for sharing of information, and that a properly moderated discussion forum would be useful for member interaction. In addition a newsletter or yearbook would be useful.

It was agreed to remit this matter to the exec committee.

3. Ralston Macpherson

GC reported that the SFCA had recognised the contribution of its former chairman by the award of honorary life membership.

4. Demonstration events

Events at Loch Lomond and the Falkirk Wheel were discussed. Certain members volunteered to take part in angling demonstrations.

Date of 2007 AGM: 10^th May 2007

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chair.