1 Policy Statement
Peterborough & District Angling Association recognises that angling depends entirely on a healthy aquatic environment. We are committed to protecting our waters from the threats of Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS), fish diseases, and pollution.
Our role is not only to provide angling for our members but to act as guardians of the waters we lease, manage, and visit. We expect a "Leave No Trace" ethos from every member, day-ticket holder, volunteer, and junior coached at P&DAA waters.
2 Scope
This policy applies to:
- Members and day-ticket holders fishing P&DAA waters.
- Volunteers and bailiffs who must model best practice.
- School Of Fish coaches for whom biosecurity is a core teaching topic.
- Junior anglers and their parents/guardians.
- All P&DAA waters including leased lakes, rivers, and stretches of canal.
3 Biosecurity: "Check, Clean, Dry"
To prevent the spread of invasive species (e.g. Killer Shrimp, Signal Crayfish, Floating Pennywort) and diseases (e.g. Koi Herpes Virus), all members and visitors must follow the Check, Clean, Dry protocol.
3.1 Equipment (Nets, Mats, Slings, Waders)
- Check: before leaving the bankside, check all equipment, footwear, and clothing for mud, aquatic animals, and plant material. Remove anything found and leave it at the site.
- Clean: wash equipment thoroughly as soon as possible. Hot water (above 45°C) or high-pressure spray are most effective.
- Dry: dry all equipment thoroughly before using it at a different venue. Some invasive species survive for weeks in damp nets.
3.2 Venue-Specific Equipment
- Where P&DAA provides venue landing nets, keepnets, or unhooking mats, these must be used in preference to anglers' own equipment.
- Personal nets brought to P&DAA waters from elsewhere must be dipped in venue disinfectant tanks where provided.
3.3 Movement of Fish and Bait
- Movement of fish between waters is illegal under the Keeping and Introduction of Fish (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 and is grounds for permanent expulsion from P&DAA.
- Live bait must not be brought onto P&DAA waters from a different water system.
4 Environmental Stewardship
4.1 Litter and Waste
- Zero tolerance: P&DAA operates a strict "Pack It In, Pack It Out" rule.
- Discarded line: all waste line must be cut into small pieces and placed in a sealed bin or pocket immediately. Discarded line is a death trap for waterfowl.
- The "Plus One" rule: we encourage every angler to pick up their own litter plus one piece left by someone else, leaving the peg cleaner than they found it.
4.2 Lead Weights
- In compliance with UK law, lead shot in sizes 8 to SSG is prohibited at P&DAA waters.
- Only non-toxic alternatives (e.g. tungsten, stotz) are permitted.
4.3 Bankside Erosion & Vegetation
- Use designated pegs as defined. Do not trample reeds or hack back vegetation to create new fishing spots.
- Care must be taken not to damage bankside habitats which may support water voles, nesting birds, or otters.
5 Fish Welfare
- Handling: fish must only be handled with wet hands to preserve their slime coat.
- Unhooking: all fish must be unhooked on a padded mat or soft grass — never on hard gravel or wooden platforms.
- Deep hooking: if a fish is deep-hooked and the hook cannot be easily removed, the line must be cut as close to the hook as possible. Forcing a hook out injures or kills fish.
- Return: fish must be returned gently and allowed to recover their balance before release. They must never be thrown.
6 Educational Responsibilities
P&DAA, working with School Of Fish Ltd, integrates environmental education into junior coaching:
- Junior sessions: coaches dedicate time to explaining why we don't litter, identifying local wildlife, and demonstrating Check, Clean, Dry.
- Coach training: School Of Fish trainees are assessed on their knowledge of biosecurity risks and their ability to teach Check, Clean, Dry to others.
7 Reporting Pollution & Incidents
Volunteers and bailiffs are trained to recognise signs of environmental distress. P&DAA acts as eyes and ears for the Environment Agency.
Report the following immediately to the Environment Agency Hotline: 0800 80 70 60:
- Dead or gasping fish (suspected pollution or oxygen crash).
- Pollution entering the water (oil, sewage, slurry).
- Illegal fishing activity (poaching).
- Suspected illegal fish movement or unauthorised stocking.
All such reports should also be communicated to the Head of Fisheries or Head of Enforcement so that P&DAA can coordinate any follow-up.
8 Ecological Monitoring
P&DAA uses the Hydroscape platform to monitor predation, biodiversity, and water quality across our waters. Members, bailiffs, and coaches contribute structured observations, which feed a growing record of ecological conditions at each venue.
8.1 What we record
- Predator sightings — cormorants, mink, otters, and other species whose presence affects fish populations. Records build a picture of predation pressure over time and inform fishery management decisions.
- Biodiversity observations — wildlife sightings beyond predators, including waterfowl, amphibians, water voles, and invertebrates. These help us evidence the ecological value of our waters.
- Water quality and pollution reports — visible signs of pollution, fish in distress, algal blooms, or anything else that warrants concern. These are escalated to the Environment Agency per Section 7 and logged on the platform for our own records.
8.2 How the data is used
- P&DAA operational use — patterns in the data inform stocking decisions, predator-control applications under General Licences, habitat work, and reporting at the AGM.
- Sector contributions — anonymised, aggregated data may be shared with conservation bodies (e.g. Natural England, Environment Agency, Wildlife Trusts) to support wider habitat protection and wildlife management.
- Personal data protection — observations are stored under the Hydroscape platform's published data-handling terms. P&DAA does not share members' personal contact details with third parties; see our Privacy Policy.
8.3 How members can contribute
- Members and bailiffs are encouraged to submit observations whenever they're on the bank — predator sightings, wildlife notes, anything unusual.
- The platform is at https://www.hydroscape-group.co.uk/.
- Photographs strengthen the record; the platform supports AI-assisted species verification.
- Pollution incidents should be reported to the Environment Agency first (Section 7), then logged on the platform.
8.4 Disclosure
The Chairman of P&DAA, Rob Harris, is also the founder of Hydroscape Group, which operates the Hydroscape platform. P&DAA's use of the platform was reviewed and approved by the P&DAA Leadership Team in the interests of transparency. P&DAA pays no fees to Hydroscape for use of the reporting platform.