Post by billyfish on Nov 8, 2018 22:04:19 GMT
Formerly known as the River Otter Association the new body will be called the River Otter Fisheries Association.
Here is a letter from the secretary inviting interested parties to join.
Dear Sir/Madam,
As someone with an interest in fishing on the Otter, we are writing to invite you to join the newly formed River Otter Fisheries Association (ROFA).
ROFA has taken over the role previously taken by the River Otter Association. With the full support of the old Association’s Committee, ROFA has been formed to take forward the work of representing the interests of fish, fisheries and anglers on the River Otter. A new Constitution, setting out ROFA’s purpose and rules, is attached for your information.
We wish to be a representative body for all those interested in improving conditions for fish and fishing on the Otter. To that end, we hope to attract a wide membership of riparian land owners, fishing right owners, syndicates, individual anglers, and others interested in the river’s health and environment. We hope that you will join and thus support this work.
To give you an idea of some of the things ROFA has achieved since its inception earlier this year:
• Beavers. We hosted a meeting to review the fish/beaver issues and the science being undertaken by the River Otter Beaver Trial. Representatives of the Devon Wildlife Trust, Southwest Rivers Association, Environment Agency, Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, Westcountry Rivers Trust, and the Universities of Exeter and Southampton all attended. The meeting charted a new approach to ‘de-conflicting’ beaver dams and migratory fish access in a way that may have not just local but national importance. We are currently monitoring sea trout spawning areas to investigate how the presence of beaver dams on the river’s feeder streams affects fish migration and spawning success.
• Fieldwork. In conjunction with the Environment Agency (EA) and Axe Vale River Association, we are in the process of training a ‘River Watch’ team that will help monitor the Otter’s water quality and fly life. These volunteers will also help identify pollution issues and ways of improving the river for fish and other wildlife. This work has been welcomed by the EA as a new way of helping them monitor rivers at a time when their own resources are extremely constrained.
• Website. We have created a new website providing a wide range of information about ROFA and fishing on the Otter. Please see: www.riverotterfisheriesassociation.org
Apart from supporting this work, and joining a community with shared interests in the River Otter and fishing, becoming a Member of ROFA would give you access to a private section of the website, a voice in the Association, and an invitation to our AGM, where there will be a chance to hear about ROFA’s work, air your views and take part in a fund-raising auction.
If you would like to play an active role in fieldwork or monitoring, please let us know.
HOW TO JOIN
The annual cost of Membership is £15. Membership runs from 1st January for one year, but if you join now your initial term of Membership will last until 1st January 2020.
To join, simply fill in the attached Application Form. Please note the form includes a Bankers’ Order to create a standing order. This saves us administrative time and you having to remember to pay each year. However, if you do not wish to start a standing order, we can accept a cheque for £15 made payable to ‘The River Otter Fisheries Association’ or a bank transfer, as detailed in the Application Form.
Application Forms, with a completed banker’s order or cheque, or confirmation of bank transfer, should be sent to the Treasurer:
D Harris, 15 Badger Close, Newton Poppleford, Devon EX10 0EA
If you have any questions, please call David Harris on 01395 567143 or the Secretary, Alastair Rogers, on 01395 567269 (e mail: sec@riverotterfisheriesassociation.org).
We look forward to welcoming you to ROFA.
Alastair Rogers
Secretary
River Otter Fisheries Association
www.riverotterfisheriesassociation.org
Please support this newly reformed organisation if you are interested in the future of this lovely river.
Colin.