ABERAERON TOWN ANGLING CLUB

THE RIVER AERON’S ONLY ANGLING CLUB

News 2010

Fish kill!

On Sunday 30th May a slurry spill on a small tributary of the Mydyr at Mydroilyn killed 180 juvenile salmonids affecting over 1km of the stream. The Club is pursuing the EA to ensure appropriate action is taken to prevent a repeat. Any member noting pollution of any kind is urged to report it immediately to the EA using the EA Hotline (0800 807060) and to the Club by email or phone using the contact details on this site.

Sad news

It is with great sadness that I report the passing away of the Club’s President, Mr Alan Butler, who died at Aberystwyth on 6th May aged 83.  Alan had struggled to regain his health after a stroke a couple of years ago and had been resident at a nursing home in Clarach since falling ill. He was a great supporter of the Club and fished regularly with his friends on lakes all over the country until the time of his illness. He will be greatly missed.

Wild Fishing Wales grant funding success!

During the winter ATAC partnered with Charles Symons Jones of Monachty Mansion, Penant who owns water on the Arth, to form an Aeron and Arth Association. The Association, sponsored by the Wye and Usk Foundation, submitted an application for funding under the Wild Fishing Wales initiative and was successful obtaining £50000 to spend on habitat improvement on the Aeron and Arth system.  Work has already begun on the Arth to clear log jams and surveying work has begun on the Mydyr, a tributary of the Aeron.  Survey work on the Mydyr revealed many log jams and slurry entering the river from several farms. Ongoing efforts are underway with the EA to curtail the slurry.  

Work with EA

The Club is presently working with the EA on a number of projects to help improve health of the Aeron.  

• Several slurry ingress points have been reported on the Mydyr and are being investigated (see Wild Fishing Wales report).
• Gravel abstraction has been reported at Talsarn and is being investigated by the EA
• The 2009 full spatial fish monitoring survey results are being discussed and evaluated
• An illegal weir on the Mydyr is being pursued for modification to include a fish pass or completer removal.  This represents a significant obstacle to spawning fish on this key Aeron tributary and the Club are working painstakingly to secure a successful outcome.   

Town weir wall repairs

The Club has been working with County Councillor Elizabeth Evans to secure funding to pay for repairs to the walls supporting the weirs and bordering the river through the Town Pools area. Many of these walls have fallen into disrepair and need urgent attention to avoid further erosion and possible collapse. £50000 has been secured for the works which should take place in 2010.

Club dinner

The club dinner was held in early December at the Feathers Royal Hotel Aberaeron. A great night was had by all - the food was only matched by the company and it was nice to see all the Club trophies presented to worthy winners on the evening.  The Club will again hold its annual dinner at the Feathers this year in December.  For information please contact the Secretary nearer the time.

2009 AGM

The 2009 AGM was held 29th January 2010 at the Black Lion Hotel, Aberaeron. It was poorly attended which is a shame but the business of the evening was dealt with effectively.  The main points from the evening were:

• The minutes from the 2008 meeting were read and approved
  
  
• The Club accounts were reviewed and approved
  
  
• The membership structure and fees remain unchanged for the 2010 season
  
  
• The existing Committee were re elected along with Geoff Churton who had been co opted to replace John Lewis who had resigned during the 2009 season.
  
  
• Mr Lynne Hughes won the free permit draw - congratulations Lynne.