The future of over 2,000 miles of English and Welsh canals, and all the things they support, has been thrown into uncertainty after major funding cuts to the Canal & River Trust (CRT) were announced.
Experts fear that disrepair, poor angling access and a potential return to the dire state of the 1960s are the sad realities our canal network faces if the Secretary of State’s plans come to fruition.
April 2027 marks the date for a dramatic reduction in the CRT’s grant funding – a drop of at least 40 per cent represents a £300m fall over a 10-year period. As a result, experts, such as Professor Sarah Niblock, of the Inland Waterways Association, are fearful over the fate of our currently thriving canals, and the people and wildlife that rely on them.
“The waterways renaissance has been one of the UK's biggest success stories of the past 50 years,” she said.
“It is hard to express how devastated we feel and how fearful we are. Sadly, the government doesn't seem to have even referred to its own data on the sheer scale of benefits offered by the waterways to our economy, ecology, and wellness.”
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PROGRAMMES AT RISK
Of course, the funding cut still leaves the CRT with the resources to carry out some work. However, it will be the tasks the charity must do by law – such as removing non-native zander – that are likely to be prioritised.
Programmes for junior fishing, including the hugely successful Let’s Fish initiative, are the ones at risk.
“On the balance of probability, unless the whole angling industry get behind it, Let’s Fish won’t survive in the long-term,” John Ellis, national fisheries manager at the CRT, told us.
“That would be deeply saddening on a personal level, and for angling, after all we’ve done. Junior fishing on canals is in the best place it’s been in decades, with 350 participants expected in this year’s National Celebration competition. That’d make it the biggest junior match since 2004. If the funding cut takes place, events like this will be lost.”
John also fears that the accessibility of canals is at risk.
“Canals are a breeding ground for anglers of all types and abilities. Think of how many of today’s stars caught their first fish on a canal. If they’re left to rot, we risk losing so much.”
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WORST POSSIBLE TIMING
Currently, our canals are arguably fishing better than ever. The average match weights are far higher than they once were, and with fish of almost all species thriving, our navigable waterways are of high interest to specimen, predator and carp anglers, too.
However, if the cuts go ahead, everything we’re currently enjoying is cast into peril.
“Some canals will face closure in the long term, probably in the 2030s,” John explained.
“Who knows which ones, but I don’t think it’ll be good for anglers. Perhaps in the first few years, when the water clears, the fishing will be good. But when not maintained, canals will become overgrown and inaccessible. Dredging also does canal angling good, in my opinion, as it keeps the water deeper and less silty. Without it, catches could go downhill.”
There’s also been a real boom in canal match fishing over recent years, with events such as the Canal Pairs growing year-on-year. Not to mention historic contests like the Division 1 and 2 Nationals that took place on the Gloucester and Shropshire Union Canals this year.
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“Match anglers are almost spoiled on canals these days,” John joked.
“If a match isn’t won with double figures, people complain! In my day, back in the 1980s, I’d fish 400-peg events where 6lb would win, and people would be pleased with that. The canal network is fishing as well as it ever has.
“We’re seeing the results of our work at the CRT across the board, from the thriving junior scene to the excellent fishing. But just as we’re getting these results, the rug is being pulled from under us.”
Is there anything that can be done to stop the cuts? John isn’t sure, but there’s one thing we, as anglers, can try
“Judging by our current government, it’s hard to say anything will change, but I’d urge all anglers to write to their MP. Ask yourself: do you want our canal network to survive?
“If the answer is yes, I urge you to take action. We’ve got a general election coming in 18 months, so anglers might want to think carefully about who they vote for.”
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