The Wye and Usk Foundation

The long awaited report from the sustainability committee has been published and may be found at:

http://www.assemblywales.org

Although 65 pages long, pages 35 -65 comprise annexes and a list of those who submitted oral and written evidence, the latter taking some 25 pages to list! It is recommended reading and we commend the Committee for engaging with such a weight of evidence and coming to a conclusion when such a diverse range of extreme views exist.

There are 13 recommendations for the Minister, Jane Davidson, to consider. Essentially, the document proposes that voluntary agreements are the access method of choice and that these should be set up where possible. A number of other proposals are included to support this principal.
Mention is made in several sections of the agreements set up by the Wye and Usk Foundation (which currently operate above Hay and Crickhowell) and there is cause to believe that, as the only successful arrangements in force in Wales, they played a significant part in the resultant recommendation for voluntary agreements.

There are, however, two recommendations that need particular consideration in respect of the lower Usk where no agreement is in force:

• Recommendation 6. The legislation referred to in recommendation 5 should also place power on a lead authority to designate such bodies of water as ones to which access rights would attach compulsorily if no voluntary agreement could be reached.
• Recommendation 8. We recognise that neither the Welsh Ministers nor the Assembly currently have legislative competence to implement recommendations 5-7 and recommend that such legislative competence is sought as soon as possible.

The next step will be an announcement from the Minister in respect of any changes the recommendations might bring to the existing access strategy.

We will update this page accordingly.

An appeal to all Wye, Usk and Severn owners, fishers and supporters to help to fund the buy off of the remaining putchers.

Want to help us determine the distribution of March browns on the Usk?

The attached file gives results of WUF and partners projects where long term datasets are available. You should allow plenty of time to download. Please let us have your views on what these data show.

A talk at WUF's 2009 annual meeting on Friday 23rd October.

WUF Press Release - Wye rod catches exceed 1,000 for first time in 12 years.

Please click on this link to see details for Riverfly courses to be held at Pembridge on 12th and 13th September 2008

This week Simon Evans the deputy director of the Foundation featured on Radio 4's "Farming Today" as this week they were focusing on the role of angling. Standing next to the Edw with Farmer Jeff Davies they discussed the work of the foundation and the merits of the passport scheme in providing a revenue for farmers whilst supporting habitat improvment.
You can listen to it Here

Many of you to our delight over the years have sent us some great photos of rivers, fish and wildife but as yet we haven't had a suitable place to put them. Now to solve part of that problem the WUF has got a "Flickr profile", Flickr is a website that enables you to upload, view & share your pictures over the Internet.

We can upload pictures you send to us to our profile but even better and easier is that you create your own profile and join our flickr group - this is a great way to browse other peoples' pictures and to get to know the various rivers and the fishing beats.

It should develop into a great place - have a look and get involved Here

Or join our group Here


The attached file has full intructions on how to get set up.

It with considerable sadness that we report here the loss of the fishing hut at Luggs Mouth, which was burnt by mindless vandals over the Easter weekend. Numerous fishy tales had been swapped within it and many a fishermen had used as as shelter from the often inclement spring weather.

The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation has granted funds to the Foundation for an Invasive Weeds Eradication project in both Wye and Usk catchments. The project will tackle Giant Hogweed on the Wye and eradicate Japanese Knotweed before it takes over upper Wye and Usk tributaries. (Please see projects page) The project is called “Giving up the Weed”!

Find out how John Wilson and Martin Bowler got on fishing the Wye.

Find out how you could win a free Saving Wye Salmon sweatshirt, as well as 100 worth of flies from Fishtec/Tightlines