Firstly, in answer to the query raised by Terry, I can say with absolute conviction, that the view that the Severn Rivers Trust is only interested in game fishing is not fair at all.
I have known Tony Bostock for many years, and followed the progress of SRT, and he has been instrumental in developing an organisation which is recognised as a fantastic success story in the whole rivers trust movement. He deserves our support.
The SRT is sincere and serious, and very successful so far, in trying to improve the state of rivers in the catchment, and has committed significant funding to coarse fish-related projects, for example in installing roach spawning boards, and more recently in helping to fund the Teme Barbel Phd in partnership with the EA, The Barbel Society, and Bournemouth University.
Recent work involves scale analysis, research into barbel spawning areas, and barbel tagging which has already monitored barbel movements between Teme and Severn.
The SRT and BS have committed several thousand pounds between them to this work, which can only be of benefit to the barbel populations of the Teme and Severn.
Rivers Trust trustees are unpaid, but as they grow, the various Trusts are able to employ workers to undertake vital research and habitat work. As a trustee of a local rivers trust myself, I do know what is going on, and would urge those who read this to find out more about what their local trust is doing, especially as part of what current Catchment based approach partnerships are doing; many coarse angling clubs and their representatives are involved.
Removing man-made barriers to migration on our rivers is accepted as best practice in river restoration, for what should be obvious reasons. Anything which benefits shad, or salmon, for example, will also benefit eels, barbel and indeed all fish species, and the effect on river levels is likely to be very localised and short term.
Designated species such as shad or salmon will tick a box when it comes to attracting funding, but ALL species benefit in the end from a more natural river, functioning as it ought to without concrete structures to restrict migration in either direction.
So, being as polite as I can, and that is taking some doing when I see the ill-informed and negative and rather spiteful comments above, please take the time to find out some facts, approach the SRT, EA and other rivers trust in your area, and form an opinion based on the truth, which can get in the way of a good story, as they say.
I do not have a fat salary or a company car, but I have devoted a huge amount of time and effort into trying to educate and inform and encourage anglers to contribute to restoring and protecting our rivers, and Tony Bostock has done far, far more than me.
He deserves a medal, not ignorant abuse.
Pete