RFA News February 2024

 

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE POACHING OR OTHER SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY WHEN OUT ON THE RIVER OR CANAL BANK

Background – over time we have found that more and more people who have no right to be fishing on RFA waters are doing so. It is very easy these days to find out about waters. It is ONLY RFA members who should be fishing on RFA waters and so, we are making more and more effort to stop the problem of poaching and fish theft, and we have bailiffs who patrol our waters regularly to monitor the situation and the efforts we are jointly making are increasing over time. There is a very good chance now that if someone is doing what they should not, they will be found and reported, but of course YOU CAN HELP TO PROTECT YOUR WATERS AS WELL!

If you see any poaching or other suspected illegal angling activity, call the EA on 0800 80 70 60 and they will log the event. Things such as licencing issues, too many rods in use, poaching, anti-social or other suspicious activity MUST be reported to the EA and for theft (taking fish for example), criminal damage, anti-social behaviour, also can be reported to the police.

It is very important that a NIRS number (EA reference number) is obtained or a crime/incident number from the police.

Registration numbers / photos of the people (if safe to do so) are also helpful.

As regards reporting where the event is taking place, on the RFA website for each venue there is an OS reference, postcode, and what3words location that can be passed on to the EA / police. This location information is also reproduced below.

The website is:  https://www.rotherfisheryassociation.org/

Please also inform Dave Wilkins, the Angling Trust’s SE Region Enforcement Support Manager on 07495 433623 and / or David.Wilkins@Anglingtrust.net

It would also be a good idea to let the RFA know and an e-mail to RFAincidents@outlook.com will be a great help, as will sending a text to the bailiffs on 07436 572374 and / or 07393 130446.

You may also wish to write a short note or letter with whatever information you have to hand, posted to the RFA at Rother Fishery Association, PO Box 323, St Leonards On Sea, TH38 1LU, and this will also be most helpful.

Accurate and timely information is used to build a picture of ‘hotspots’ to which the EA allocate resources, so the more that people report things, the better it is for us all.

I am thinking in particular about the south bank of the Royal Military Canal where poaching is now rife. There is no permitted access to the south bank for anyone other than farm / EA staff, so if RFA members see anyone doing anything along the south bank they should not be there, and if they are fishing they are acting illegally.

If any fish are taken, that amounts to theft and the police should be told as well.

People should NOT approach those carrying out the activity, for your own safety.

‘Real time’ reporting is the best solution and the questions that will be asked by the EA are:

What is happening?
Where is it happening? (Ideally, give a ‘what3words’ or postcode location)
Is it happening now – ie, is it a live incident?
Are any byelaws being broken?
Describe the people.
Describe any vehicle seen.
What fish are being fished for / taken?
How big are the fish?
Is this a regular issue?

Reporting Incidents – RFA Venue Locations

How to use the what3words app when you are out fishing on RFA waters, using your ‘smart phone’ if you have one.

Enter a place name or street address into the search bar and choose the correct result.

The list below may help. Switch to satellite mode and zoom in until you see the grid. Tap on a square to see its what3words address. You can then quote this to the EA and / or Police so that they can identify exactly where the possible offence is taking place in ‘real-time.’

Venue                                    What3Words                                               Postcode

Robertsbridge                         economies.splinters.royal                   TN32 5NY

Salehurst                                 outdoor.piper.sedative                        TN32 5PJ

Udiam                                     beam.officer.sized                                TN32 5XB

Bodiam                                    computers.starts.louder                     TN32 5UA

Newenden                              sped.collides.baked                             TN18 5PY

Blackwall / Ham Green           templates.readjust.chainsaw               TN30 7EG

Potman’s Heath                       bravery.populate.cheering                  TN30 7PU

Iden lock                                 wisdom.dimension.narrate                 TN31 7QE

Appledore Bridge                   songbird.exhales.fixated                      TN26 2DJ

Kenardington                          widest.mildest.seabirds                       TN26 2NH

Warehorne                             melon.sisters.desktops                        TN26 2LS