In early March 2012 SNH planning to launch an online questionnaire. This will be designed to tell Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) what members of the public and those who deal with the organisation think of the way that wildlife is managed in Scotland. It is also designed to tell SNH what people who deal with the organisation think of the level of service provided. SNH hope to gather the views of a large number of people across a range of different organisations.  Links to the survey will appear here in due course.  In the meantime, here is the link to the SNH Wildlife Management Survey Feasibility Study. 

We have just received this from a company called Community Links in relation to our involvement with the Clyde Users Group:

We have recently been commissioned by the Clyde Gateway and the Forestry Commission to conduct a series of focus groups regarding the development of a piece of greenbelt land at “Cuningar Loop” which is surrounded by the River Clyde
                                                                                                         
Focus groups are available to you or an alternative member of your organisation on the following days.  There will be a £10 participation fee for local residents & community members:

·         Tuesday 22nd November @ 7pm in the Wee Mill Pub (Farmeloan Cross, Rutherglen)

·         Monday 28th November @ 11am in the Dalmarnock Community Centre (Lily Street, Dalmarnock)

 Cuningar Loop is situated in the Rutherglen area and as a legacy to the Commonwealth games, the site will be developed as a Healthy Lifestyle Park/open space aimed at promoting active communities.  We are looking for participants to take part in focus groups to discuss opportunities and ideas that will be passed to the architect for thought during the planning process.  We recognise that due to the dominance of the river clyde in this area opinions from members of the Clyde Users Groups would be highly valued.

Please feel free to forward this as you see fit.......

SANA Non-Migratory Fish Committee

The remit of the Non Migratory Fish Committee (NMFC) is to maintain an overview of of issues and legislation that may affect non-migratory salmonids and members of SANA who fish for them; to consider problems and possible solutions and take appropriate action. 

 Issues are wide ranging and can take up considerable time and effort. Members are welcome to make enquiries about issues or contribute views via the NMFC secretary or the SANA office.

NMFC officials are all volunteers and their names are published in the SANA handbook which is normally published in February. Most are active in various angling spheres and all are keen anglers. We would welcome anyone who is interested in the committee's work and wants to help at the sharp end, particularly if he or she has pertinent knowledge or skills. Contact the secretary on 01324 623920 or at alan.ayre345@btinternet.com if you are interested in joining the committee.

Meetings are held bi-monthly at Howietoun fishery near Stirling on Saturday mornings.

Overkill! Let's dump the dumping 

SANA is aware of, and deplores the practice of some anglers killing fish they don't need. Such fish are often not taken home, but dumped in bins, flung behind walls, into ditches etc. It seems to occur often after competitions when fish are required to be weighed in for prize or/and place allocation. However, the bag limit culture is partly to blame too, with some everyday anglers keen to show off their "prowess" to others. 

Not only is the practice reprehensible from the point of view of wasting good food, but it shows a lack of respect for the fish, and presents ammunition for the anti-fishing brigade. 

What to do about it? SANA believes it is up to fishery managers to control the practice through their rules at individual fisheries, and for most competitions to be judged perhaps by the numbers or/and length of fish caught. Some fisheries are already mooting C&R in competitions, and this may grow for normal fishing as the recession bites and fish become more expensive to stock. That said, total C&R is not supported by SANA (unless it is for conservation purposes) as the need to kill fish for the table is a prime requisite of angling. 

To end dumping the principal requirements are for the traditional practice of 'chapping' every fish caught to change, for anglers to show more respect for their quarry, and to only take home what you really need.

Government response to letters.....

Cormorants & Sawbills 

SANA sent letters to Scottish Government ministers in March 2009, April 2011 and July 2011 about the damage cormorants and sawbills are doing to freshwater fish stocks. We want the Government to take heed of and follow the lead of the English Fisheries Minister who views with some concern the worsening position south of the Border and is considering relaxing the rules on shooting. 

As earlier intimated on the SANA website, the Angling Trust in England has initiated a scheme which covers the whole of the UK. Scottish anglers are asked to record on a website ( www.cormorantwatch.org ) any cormorants or sawbills they see on freshwaters with a view to providing evidence of growing numbers of these birds living foraging inland. 

SNH recently assumed licensing responsibility from the Scottish Government for the shooting of cormorants and other piscivorous birds, and it is understood that they will be reviewing their licensing policy over the next 12 months. There will be a formal consultation for the submission of views, so SANA is keen to hear from members who have evidence of damage the birds are doing to stocks, and/or evidence of increasing numbers of birds on waters with which they are familiar. 

Such evidence, plus views on licensing should be sent to SANA Secretary as soon as possible, by post or email - admin@sana.org.uk