River Yar Brading
photo by John Millington
Parts of the Yar have once again come under the control of the Isle of Wight Freshwater Angling Association.
An agreement was reached between the RSPB (the new owners of the Yar from Brading to St Helens) and the Association that allowed us to fish parts of the river.
extract from county press Friday December 14th 2007
When the fisherman's lease with the previous owners lapsed the RSPB did not renew it due to fears their presence on the bank might conflict with planned extensions of its reserve for endangered bird species.
However, following the talks initiated by Martin Salter MP, the government spokesman for fishing and shooting, plans are being drawn up for the angling club to work alongside the RSPB staff to help clear litter, maintain fences and prevent illegal fishing and shooting on the stretch of the river.
It was agreed match anglers and pleasure angling by club members could resume with immediate effect on the section of river upstream of the Yar bridge, where there was a public footpath along the river bank and throughout the fishing season.
The club will also be allowed on a section downstream of the Yar bridge but only between July 15th and October 30th to protect nesting birds and over wintering birds from disturbance.
John Millington the Match Secretary for the Association was the elected representative of the club with all aspects of negotiations and Mark Lloyd of the Anglers Conservation Association who facilitated the talks.
Mark said: "Any suggestions the RSPB is anti-angling is quite wrong and there are many benefits that could be gained from us working even more closely together."
A detailed one year lease agreement is being drawn up, which will be renewable subject to various conditions. These will include a requirement for the club to ensure the stretch was monitored by bailiffs, all litter was taken away, fishing was conducted in daylight hours only, only agreed access points were used and ground bait was used sparingly to protect water quality.