Thursday 8th September
Dear Member,
I am pleased to announce that with water levels rising and a long range weather forecast that includes rain, we will be able to resume angling on the Main Canal from sunrise this Saturday morning (10-09-22). Restrictions on the use of keepnets/ carpsacks and ground bait will also be lifted on all our day ticket waters at this time.
Please be aware that due to the banks collapsing between Falcon Bridge and peg 25 (Crescent Car Park Side), a temporary launching area will be created tomorrow (Friday 9th) between pegs 25 and 26, so please refrain from using these pegs.
I am aware of the criticism regarding the water management on the canal but can report that working with the Environment Agency (EA) and Cornwall Council a monitoring and action group to protect the immediate environment and wildlife was quickly established. Whilst the water became worryingly low from a visible perspective, the dissolved oxygen and temperature levels remained within safe parameters throughout the incident. Other than limited and acceptable predation from Herons and Egrets, the only reported losses were one perch and a small carp (fewer than normal for this time of year).
I am pleased to report that the EA and Cornwall Council are to revisit the emergency planning for this incident presenting an opportunity for the Association to gain a greater understanding of the current water abstraction policy and hopefully influence a procedure of earlier intervention for ‘drought’ incidents. It would also be beneficial to ensure any emergency kit/resources required are readily available. I am really thinking of aeration systems that would have been necessary if the rain had not arrived as whilst we possess the equipment and skills needed to remove fish, this will always be a last resort. Whilst fish removal kit could be described as our Thunderbird 1, perhaps we need to consider a portable aeration system as our Thunderbird 2.
To sum up, once the seriousness of the incident was recognised the key agencies worked quickly together to mitigate risks to the environment and wildlife, keeping the Association informed and seeking our views regularly. We will learn from this and improve the management of the fishery as if the predictions are correct we will not be waiting 46 years for a repeat.
Thank you for your patience.
Paul Braund
Chairman BCAA