The Norwich and District Anglers Association (NDAA) is ready to join the Broads Authority and the Environment Agency to shape the future of Broads angling.

This was announced at the NDAA annual meeting in the Norwich Canary Club last week when the highest attendance for several years heard chairman Tony Gibbons declare the Broads and their rivers had never produced such wonderful catches of roach and bream during his angling life of more than 50 years.

'This is a very important fact because a survey shows that 28pc of holiday craft are let to anglers each year and many more come to the Broads to fish while staying on caravan sites and other land-based holiday accommodation,' he said.

'Having seen the draft plan for tourism that will successfully boost our local economy and create jobs, we must join the Broads governing bodies to meet anglers' needs for visitors and locals alike.

'And, as a result of us entering this tripartite, it is probable we will be invited to nominate representatives to serve on local committees involving all water users.'

More mundane matters revealed a small deficit in the annual accounts and members agreed to plug this next season by an increase in annual subscriptions.

These will rise for full adults from �15 to �18, for pensioners and registered disabled from �8 to �10, with under-16s remaining at �1.

Day permits for non-members to fish from the banks to the tidal rivers Bure and Thurne will be increased from �2 to �3 and hire charges for boats on Ranworth and Decoy Broads and the joining fee for new members will be pegged at last year's rates as will the cost of joining the syndicate for the Wensum Fisheries.

After a minute's silence was observed for the long-serving Les Utting, the chairman paid fulsome tribute to him and the remaining committee who had worked strenuously on working parties and other essential duties.

Retiring from the committee were Basil Linstead, Eric Aldous and Steven Sadd and the vacancies were filled by Eddie Towers, Matthew Pope and Stuart Mutch.

The officers re-elected were: Tony Gibbons (chairman and match secretary), Karl Hodgins (vice-chairman), Malcolm Major (secretary) and Cyril Wigg (treasurer).

In his annual report, the secretary noted that new angling platforms for the disabled and improved car parking facilities would be completed by next season at Cold Harbour and a gate is to be installed for access to the River Bure at St Benet's Abbey, replacing the present stile, which has proved an almost insurmountable barrier for the elderly and disabled.

In the nine competitions this season, a total of 475 anglers lined up to produce a massive aggregate of 6,700lb of mainly roach and bream and the sums raised for local charity was more than �5,000.

In conclusion, the chairman stated that the agenda for next season was to promote the NDAA nationwide. 'We are now on the internet informing anglers everywhere that we are in control of fisheries that are unrivalled anywhere as value-for-money sport.

'We intend to explore other avenues for distributing day tickets and we undertake to repair the walkways and the embankments,' he said.