WEST WALES ANGLING PASSPORT - WEST WALES RIVERS TRUST
The West Wales Angling Passport was a cooperation project between Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire by the West Wales Rivers Trust (WWRT).
The rivers of Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire are being restored by rivers trusts (Pembrokeshire RT, Teifi RT and Carmarthenshire RT) so that sustainable angling tourism can take place once again.
The aim of the project was to identify and make ready new and potential fisheries and market them via an existing and well-established scheme known as the “Fishing Passport”. The scheme brings in visitors from all over the UK, EU and further afield and links fishing with accommodation providers, pubs and other outlets, thus boosting the rural economy.
As part of the project activities in Ceredigion, an “Introduction to Angling in West Wales” event was held on 28th August 2021 at Cwmrheidol Reservoir, Aberystwyth. The event included casting demonstration and instruction by a World Casting Champion, educational talks by WWRT staff, insight into fishing and top tips from angling club representatives, bailiffs and guides, River dipping activities and refreshments.
The outputs in Ceredigion included:
- 6 angling clubs engaged with as well as 16 private riparian owners / fishing rights owners engaged on River Teifi
- 96-day tickets sold for angling clubs
- WWRT signed to The Fishing Passport in Ceredigion
- 15 people were directly introduced to fly casting and “river dipping”
- An increase in signage was put-up at all waters selected for signage improvements including Llandysul AA and Llanilar AA in Ceredigion
To date there are now 19 fisheries signed up to the WWRT Fishing Passport.
In conclusion, this project has allowed WWRT’s staff to identify and establish links with new, existing and potential fisheries and increase the uptake of marketing opportunities for a number of clubs across West Wales via engagement with the Fishing Passport. In addition, WWRT has gained new experience, improved face-to-face communications with landowners, built lasting relationships with anglers & angling clubs, assisted clubs to improve access to some of their waters and significantly increased awareness of the Passport initiative to a wide audience.
