Many stillwater fisheries in the York area will only allow keep nets to be used in matches.

The principle behind such a policy is to protect valuable fish stocks by not having catches restrained for lengthy periods in unsatisfactory products.

The task of deciding whether a keep net is fish-friendly or not could soon become much simpler following a new initiative from the Angling Foundation

At a recent meeting of its Nets Accreditation Group, the Angling Foundation formally tested the first batch of nets and allied products submitted by its members.

Five companies submitted a total of 32 products for testing, of which 27 were approved because they met the guidelines on unabrasive, 'fish-friendly' mesh and complied with Environment Agency byelaws on nets and fish-retention equipment.

During the next few months these and other approved items will start appearing on retailers' shelves, each carrying the Foundation's distinctive, water-lily logo and unique approval number.

This provides an immediately visible means of identifying nets that have been tested and have met the required fish conservation and welfare standards.

The Angling Foundation has distributed posters to all angling retailers, fisheries and other interested parties to raise the awareness of the Foundation's work and demonstrate the differences between approved and non-approved nets.

The scheme is entirely voluntary, and anglers who currently use soft-meshed nets should not experience problems in using them.

However, those anglers with harsh or rough-meshed nets may find that they are prevented from using them at certain fisheries, particularly at those controlled by Commercial Coarse Fisheries' Association members and by members of Premier Fisheries.

Anglers in doubt are advised to contact their fishery directly. Anglers who are considering purchasing new nets should check whether their fisheries will require the use of nets that meet their required standards.

Further companies are already in the process of submitting products for testing. The outcome of the tests is confidential to each company, but products that gain approval will be listed on the Foundation's website (www.anglingfoundation.com).

The British chub record was beaten during the final hours of the old season last week with a massive 8lb 13oz fish from the River Lea, a tributary of the Thames.

A deal has been signed with one of the angling weeklies and the fish will be pictured in this week's issue.

The current chub record is 8-10, a fish caught from the River Tees at Blackwell in 1994.

The end of season record-buster brings me to a timely reminder.

Rivers are now off-limits for coarse fish until June 16. The recent unseasonal weather has had anglers flocking for the banks.

Unfortunately some have chosen the river bank. I have seen anglers tackling the Foss Basin and the Ouse at Bishopthorpe in the last few days.

Please stick to the rules and give the rivers a miss until the new season. There are plenty of superb ponds and lakes in the area to wet a line in.

Updated: 11:25 Friday, March 28, 2003