The Canal & River Trust has made a new appointment to its Navigation Advisory Group (NAG), three appointments to the NAG sub-groups for moorings and locks, and two appointments to its Fisheries & Angling Advisory Group (FAAG). The voluntary groups help advise the Trust on boating and fisheries issues respectively.
Each appointment is for an initial three-year term and is an unpaid voluntary role. Members of the advisory groups are drawn from the communities they represent, and include boaters, boating business owners, angling coaches, fish experts and scientists.
Navigation Advisory Group
Hannah Sterritt has been boating since 2018, when she first went on a hire boat holiday. She and her partner have lived aboard their 54ft narrowboat since 2020, initially on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal and, since 2023, cruising the main network.
Additionally, Alan Moss and James Lowe have joined the NAG moorings sub-group, while Graham Puddephat has joined the NAG locks sub-group.
Fisheries & Angling Advisory Group
Paul Edwards is a keen angler and current secretary of Shropshire-based Hodnet Angling Club, and a member of Bay Malton Angling Club. Paul has a commercial background in sales and marketing and has driven the implementation of various modern systems for Hodnet AC.
Richard Gibbs is a level one angling coach and has held numerous administrative positions within fisheries and angling organisations, including being appointed the first secretary of the Grand Union Canal Anglers Consultative, and being the fishery officer for the Tring Anglers for many years. A retired police officer, Richard brings experience of the challenges of enforcement of legislation and environmental crime more generally.
Matthew Symonds, head of customer service support at Canal & River Trust, said: “I am delighted to welcome all our new advisory group members to the Trust. Our advisory groups are places where we can work through ideas with people who can share their first-hand knowledge of the subjects.
“In the last few years, our volunteers on our Navigation Advisory Group have reviewed the Trust’s proposed schedule for winter stoppages, advised on national and local proposals including accessible moorings, the Strong Stream warning system, and towpath works, and helped us develop the customer service facilities review, boat licence consultation and Boater Census. Meanwhile our Fisheries and Angling Group members have played a key role in developing the successful Let’s Fish events, policies around non-native fish species, and canal angling participation. This only scratches the surface of the huge range of initiatives they have been involved in.”
For more information on Canal & River Trust and how you can volunteer or donate to support our work visit www.canalrivertrust.org.uk
