Become a member
Minimum standards for membership
All fisheries wishing entry into the ASSF must comply with the
following standards:
- Entry is only available to fisheries that are run solely as a
commercial enterprise.
- Fisheries wishing first time membership of the Association must
have been in full time operation, under the present management, for
a minimum of one year. Fisheries wishing to rejoin the Association,
due to a change in ownership, should normally have been in
operation, under the new management, for a minimum of six months.
- The entrance to a fishery must be properly and legally
signposted from the nearest public road and must be easily
accessible on adequate road surfaces.
- The information point/permit position must be clearly indicated
and be accessible to the public during all periods when the fishery
is open for ticket sales. Fishery costs, session times, rules and
regulations must be clearly displayed at this point.
- Toilet facilities must be available and open at all times during
the hours of business. Toilets must be kept clean and have suitable
hand cleaning and drying facilities. If facilities are advertised as
being suitable for disabled anglers then a disabled toilet, to the
accepted standard, must be provided.
- Weighing in facilities must be provided with suitable, accurate
scales being available to record catches. Provision must be made for
anglers to record their catches at the same point.
- Fishing areas and any excluded areas must be suitably marked or
easily understood.
- Where boat fishing is available, boats should be as watertight
as is practicable and must be suitable for the method of fishing.
Oars must be provided in all boats, including those fitted with
engines. Life jackets, to the relevant British Standard, must be
available for the use of every boat angler.
- Litter bins must be freely distributed and all reasonable steps
to be taken to ensure that the fishery and its immediate environs
are kept litter free.
- All paths, fishing platforms, bridges, steps or any other
structures must be properly maintained.
- Recent catch returns must be kept and made available for
inspection on reasonable request.
- Public Liability Insurance cover for at least £1,000,000 must be
held at the fishery. A copy of the valid certificate must be made
available for inspection by the Association on joining. Annual
renewal of Public Liability Insurance is a condition of membership
of the Association.
- A certificate of Employers’ Liability Insurance must be held at
the fishery if staff are employed. If appropriate, a copy of the
valid certificate must be made available for inspection by the
Association on joining. If appropriate, annual renewal of Employers’
Liability Insurance is a condition of membership of the Association.
- Each fishery must comply with all relevant Health and Safety
legislation.
- Each fishery must have a current Fish Introductions Licence
issued by Marine Scotland, or The Tweed Commissioners, on behalf of
The Scottish Government and be a registered Fish Business with the
Fish Health Inspectorate.
- Each fishery shall provide all suitable biosecurity measures
where applicable and practicable.
In all cases the final decision on admission to the Association rests
solely with the Council of the Association. As well as the items
listed above, fisheries seeking admission must be seen to be carrying
out good, accepted fishery practice with regard to customer service,
fish management and environmental considerations. Particular emphasis
will be placed on any actual or perceived negative environmental impact.
All prospective members of the Association will be encouraged to
join VisitScotland as a Trade Member. Once accepted into membership, all
fisheries are liable to spot checks to ensure they are still complying
with the Recommended Minimum Standards of Membership. Any fishery found
to be failing in these standards will be informed, in writing, and given
reasonable time to rectify the problem. The level of time given will
vary depending on the seriousness of the failure. Should the problem not
be rectified then membership of the Association will be withdrawn.
Complaints Procedure
Any angler who wishes to make a complaint against a fishery in
membership of this Association should: Make the complaint, in the
first instance, to the owner/manager/bailiff on site. If not satisfied
with the response, or unable to obtain a response then: Put the
complaint in writing and send a copy to the fishery concerned AND to The
Secretary, ASSF, Allandale Tarn Fishery, Gavieside, West Calder, EH55
8PT. Any complaint should include full name and address of complainant;
correspondence without this will not be accepted. The complaint will
be brought before the Council of the Association for detailed discussion
following which the complainant and the fishery concerned will receive a
written response.
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