Bideford Angling Club benefits from Environment Agency grant

The Environment Agency has announced a significant investment of £37,117 into ten local fishing projects across Devon and Cornwall through the Fisheries Improvement Programme (FIP) for 2023-2024. 

These projects aim to enhance fisheries habitats, improve angling club facilities, and manage fisheries in response to a changing climate.

One of those projects included is the Tarka Swims aeration initiative at Bideford Angling Club. 

The club faced recurring issues with dissolved oxygen levels in their lakes during warm summer months. 

To address this, the Environment Agency supported the introduction of a solar-powered aeration system with a grant of £2,160. 

Steve Bailey, the coarse section secretary who also manages the Tarka Swims site, expressed his gratitude for the support. 

He said: “Low dissolved oxygen levels at our lakes has been an issue for some time. Historically we were managing this with the use of petrol fuelled water pumps, which were used to both circulate and introduce oxygen into the lakes. This was an effective short term solution, however proved very labour intensive, had a negative impact on our environment and was costly. 

“The club started looking into a more sustainable and efficient way to achieve a steady dissolved oxygen level without all the negative aspects we currently had. The search led us to a solar powered air pump system which appeared to tick all our required boxes. 

We knew about the Environment Agency grant scheme which was run alongside the Angling Trust. 

“We applied for the grant using the online forms, luckily we were successful with our application. We did need to match fund the project but this was as expected with the application. 

“It is a fantastic opportunity for clubs around our area to get this support from the Environment Agency. They have been key to our club's success. We now have a system which allows a good Environment for our stock, which allows us to offer local coarse angling for all our members.”

In the 2023-2024 period, the Fisheries Improvement Programme achieved significant improvements, including enhancing 53 hectares of habitat, improving 392 hectares of still water for angling, upgrading 160 recreational facilities, and hosting 104 community events for over 101,690 rod licence holders across England.

The ten projects in Devon and Cornwall supported by the Environment Agency’s Fisheries Improvement Programme are:

• Tarka Swims Aeration: £2,166
• Fowey Draynes FIP: £4,825
• Sanctuary Lakes - Angling improvement to the Tench lake: £2,132
• Dulverton Angling Association - Stoats Tail beat: £6,750
• Wheal Rashleigh Swim Renovation and Rebuild Project 2023: £4,575
• Exeter DAA - Harpers Lakes: £1,500
• Aeration resilience for DCIS still waters: £2,108
• Club Brunel - Fishery facilities improvement project: £5,561
• Bude Canal Angling Association - Platforms - FIP: £3,000
• Kernow Fisheries: £4,500

These investments are expected to provide lasting benefits for the local fishing community, supporting both the environment and the economy.

James Wimpress, an Environment Agency project manager, said: “The Fisheries Improvement Programme is a virtuous circle. Money from rod licence sales is put back where it came from to improve the experience of anglers, protect fish stocks and improve the environment. This investment unlocks funding from partners which creates even more benefits.  

“But none of this would happen without the hard work of everyone who volunteers to improve their angling club premises. Their actions improve the environment for everyone.”