British Waterways stuck in the middle

BRITISH Waterways is stuck in the middle of a big angling row, wrong if it does and wrong if it doesn't.

It all started when the angling clubs fishing the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal wanted the carp removing as the fish were spoiling the match fishing for the members, Alan Tilbury reveals

Unfair advantage

Anglers relate that carp are okay when young, but when grown they only live at certain pegs, thus giving an unfair advantage.

But the 'big guns' of the angling world, such as commercial fishing winner Steve Ringer is the latest to have signed an online petition that was the result of British Waterways netting almost all the big carp from the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, and  reversing its decision to stock carp in its canals.

Angling Times reported that anglers nationwide had reacted angrily to BW removing the carp at the request of the local clubs.

Enjoyed by all

Tackle retailer Richard Foster remarked:

"Canals should be enjoyed by all anglers and I can't believe that BW, which has many successful carp waters in its portfolio, would remove them from an already balanced ecosystem."

But England international angler Darren Cox disagrees:

"I grew up on the Leeds & Liverpool Canal, fishing for roach and gudgeon. It was then stocked with small carp, which were great for three or four years before they became big fish and only lived in certain pegs. I have no problem with existing carp in canals, the stocking balances itself out, but I don't agree with stocking a canal like you would a commercial. You'll upset the natural balance."

Local anglers on the canal however see it as a local decision, affecting just them, as none of those complaining are likely to ever fish the water.