A formal complaint to the European Commission made by the ACA back in October 2001 has lead to a final warning issued by the European Commission to the UK Government - clean-up your act on the River Strule or the Commission will take the UK to the European Court of Justice.

The ACA acts on behalf of members on the Strule against the Water Service of Northern Ireland, which operates Omagh Sewage Treatment Works. This works has failed to comply with the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive and has caused a string of fish kills in the River Strule. The ACA is also seeking compensation for the damage caused.

River Mychydd - a 'juicy' case

The ACA has won damages on behalf of the Llantrisant and Pontyclun Anglers Association for a pollution on the River Mychydd in Mid-Glamorgan, Wales. In May 2001, the River Mychydd was grossly polluted by sewage resulting from illegal discharges by a food processor in Llantrisant which discharged excessive orange waste to the public foul sewer, resulting in a blockage that caused raw sewage to overflow into the Mychydd. This resulted in a severe fish kill involving hundreds of salmon parr and brown trout, and also lampreys. Damage to the trout fishery was significant.

Faced with the threat of legal action by the ACA the polluter settled out of court and damages have been received by the LPAA, as is the case for any member club represented by the ACA.

River Colne - a gritty taste in the mouth for quarry polluter

In October 2002, a stretch of the River Colne in Middlesex fished by ACA members, the Gerrards Cross and Uxbridge District Angling Society, was grossly polluted by a quarry operator. The river ran red with silt and a fishing match being held by the GCUDAS was wiped out. Faced with a legal challenge from the ACA, the polluters have settled the claim without a fight and have also paid the ACA's costs.

River Rede - ACA fights for club and owner doing maintenance work

On a stretch of the River Rede at West Woodburn, Northumberland, the ACA took on the defence of two ACA members, the Felling Flyfishing Club and a riparian owner, after they were threatened, quite ludicrously, with prosecution for some fishery maintenance work carried out with the greatest of care. Prior to the hearing, the ACA's legal representative persuaded the Crown to drop their prosecution against the club. The Crown proceeded against the riparian owner, but Hexham Magistrates Court subsequently threw the case out on a submission of 'no case to answer' by the ACA's legal representative.