Craft identification on the River Wye

[Steve A]

Has anyone seen this. The Environment Agency are running a consultation on the Wye Navigation with a view to have ALL craft registered. See link Craft_identification_on_the_River_Wye.doc
The River Wye by Act of Parliament is a free navigation with no requirement to register craft. A few years ago the Environmnet Agency took over responsibility for management of the river from the local authorities. The claimed intent was to improve maangement of the river and recreation, but in practice the EA have done us no favours, indeed we have lost access points, and registration would impose constraint on use, albeit I anticipate they would extend the BCU sticker coverage to include the Wye.
I have replied objecting to registration for personal non powered craft, but that all hire craft should be registered and easiliy identifiable, as from my experience it is mainly users of hire craft that cause problems by ignoring restrictions on landing and access points. There are always a number of landowners and fishing clubs who I suspect would delight in reporting unregistered canoeists. Please reply as canoesists who enjoy using free Navigations without restrictions. The consultation ends 31 March 2010
Steve Adams