The British Canoe Union (B.C.U) have been up to their old tricks and have managed again to persuade a few of my fellow MPs to table a House of Commons Early Day Motion on river access for non-powered craft. The motion is almost identical to the one tabled in 2005, and calls for the right to paddle along every river and stream in England and Wales - a move which would frankly destroy angling on our smaller rivers, streams and brooks and disturb wildlife, nesting birds and spawning grounds.

The government has repeatedly rejected such a policy, calling instead for canoeists to sit down with anglers to produce Voluntary Access Agreements such as the one at Dobb’s Weir on the River Lea in Hertfordshire. Last year the then DEFRA Minister Barry Gardiner confirmed this stating:

“Our view is that increased access to water, for activities such as canoeing, can most effectively be achieved via the voluntary approach, which involves landowners and water users coming to a formal, written agreement about access to a particular stretch of water which takes into account the needs of all interested parties.”

Over 30% of the major rivers and canals already provide access for canoeing and the Environment Agency plans to open more water to canoeists following the publication of its “Voluntary Canoe Access Agreements” Report in 2006.

The B.C.U seeks to make comparisons with the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000) which are misplaced. Anglers have no automatic right to fish in any river or lake and in the vast majority of cases they require the permission of the riparian landowner. Anglers are not seeking the right to wade along stream and brook, past people’s back-gardens, through private property in pursuit of their sport and neither are walkers. In any case the right to roam legislation was accompanied by a huge mapping exercise and extensive consultation to agree with landowners and others those areas to which access could be extended.

The law in Scotland is often quoted by canoeists but the situation is quite different in England and Wales. The Scottish Canoe Union and local landowners have worked together to resolve problems of canoe access - there are guidelines to make canoeists aware of anglers, so that when they come into a pool where an angler is wading, for instance, most will stop and ask which side the angler would like the canoe to pass. However, there have been some high profile conflicts but most Scottish canoeists have been highly responsible.  Of course, there is a lot more water for them to use up there, and not so many anglers to disturb.

Angling is heavily regulated with a statutory close season on rivers to protect fish spawning and to allow bankside vegetation to flourish in the spring. Canoeing at such times on smaller rivers and streams in particular, would reduce the benefits to the environment of a fishing close season.

Whilst there is scope for canoeists and anglers to share many of our suitable rivers it is only right and proper that a balance is struck both to protect the environment and prevent one group who pay nothing from spoiling the sport of those who have invested a huge amount of time and money in helping to create excellent fisheries and thriving wildlife habitats.

I am working with the Fisheries Angling Conservation Trust (FACT) in countering the canoeists’ claim for unrestricted access and I urge all angling clubs to contact their local MPs and press them to sign my pro-angling amendment to EDM 1331.