Crosby Defence & Access to the Sea

Project Name: Crosby Defence & Access to the Sea.

Group Name: Sefton Sea Anglers.

Group Representative: Stephen R. Bates

Project Description:

• Access to the sea.

• Secure Boat, tractor ad equipment storage.

• Safe launching and retrieval of boats.

• Enables access to the sea for adults, youths and disabled persons.

• Revitalisation of the waterfront as an ongoing process and is usage not just to fisherman but also to enable public participation.

• Connection between sea and land – “Pride in our Promenades.”

• To confirm out historic identity of the relationship between Merseyside and the sea.

• To assist in creating a long-term legacy in what would be the only access to the sea in South Sefton.

Project Timescales: Financial Yea 2007/2008 to tie in with Sefton Council’s Coastal Protection Scheme.

Basic Project Cost: Money to be requested from Mersey Waterfront: £110,000
(Compound £30,000 & Launch Ramp £80,000)

Total cost: Not Known
Please refer to Graham Lymberry-Project Leader for details as part of Sefton Council’s protection Scheme.

Match Funding: Potential match funding from Sefton Council & grant aided from D.E.F.R.A as part of Coastal Protection Scheme.

Overview:

• Nationally angling contributes £1 Billion to the economy.

• Historic identity of relationship between Merseyside and the sea.

• Tourism – Merseyside economy £600m turnover and 21,000 jobs according to Merseyside Waterfront figures.

• Connection between sea and land – “Pride in our Promenades.”

• Public Access to the sea.

• Revitalisation of the waterfront as an ongoing process and its usage not just to fishermen but also to enable public participation.

• Mixed use a priority.

• Sefton Sea Anglers consists of 97 members some of whom have disabilities and is the oldest fishing club on Merseyside.

• We are also stakeholders in the quality of water and the environment.

• We want to assist in creating a long-term legacy.

Background Information

• Fishing is the most popular sport in the U.K.

• The Government’s strategy unit has officially recognised that recreational sea angling contributes more than £1Billion to the economy. Over 1 millions sea anglers are now considered an integral past of the fishing industry. The Fisheries Minister Ben Bradshaw has recently agreed to increase the minimum size for landing Bass to 40cms. Quoting ‘which will at last recognise the contribution recreational sea angling makes to the British economy and the urgent need to restore a healthy Bass population to ensure that angling can develop still further.”

• DEFRA (Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs) has created a new unit to deal with inshore fisheries (up to 12 miles from the coast) and it’s staff will be directly concerned with the urgent need to introduce legislation to encourage sea angling from the shore and from boats.

• Tourism
  The British Marine Federation has published a report that quantifies the economic impact of the leisure marine industry. GHK consulting LTD reported that in addition to the direct value added of £700 million, the industry contributes up to £2.2 billion to the U.K tourism industry. It supports up to 68,000 jobs and there are 450,000 to 500,000 boats in the U.K based on 2004 figures.

• The River Mersey is no recognised as the most prolific winter cod venue on the country. Last winter the Welsh E.F.S.A (European Federation of Sea Anglers) held their annual Welsh Cod Championship in the Mersey. Forty anglers fished on seven charter boats and caught a total of 210 cod an average of 5.25 cod per angler in force 7 winds and showers. On the 18th of December 2005, fifty anglers fished the Mersey from the beach in a Merseyside angler’s match. This year E.F.S.A are holing their Boat Competition in the Mersey on the 9/10 December.

• Charter Boats
  Due to the excellent winter fishing for cod every winter charter boats from other ports, notably North Wales, relocate to the Mersey for the season.