Prix Charles Ritz Award 2019 celebrates river conservation in England and Wales
The Fario Club, London, with assistance from Salmon & Trout Conservation, have this year launched the Prix Charles Ritz award for England and Wales, to honour projects here helping to preserve our rivers for future generations.
Recognising environmental initiatives on the rivers we cherish
This year the Prix Charles Ritz is launching an award in England and Wales for individuals/communities who make a difference to the rivers they cherish. A monetary donation will be awarded to individuals or communities who, through their project(s) in England or Wales, exhibit the utmost devotion and commitment to the environment. Specifically, the award is granted to initiatives carried out for the preservation of our freshwater environment. The Prix Charles Ritz celebrate and rewards those who take care of our rivers and ecosystems, and champions work to develop and improve rivers.
Rivers are influenced by human activity, both upstream and downstream. However what goes on beneath the surface is mostly hidden from sight and unknown, with water often appearing much healthier than it really is. The issues impacting rivers are numerous, and fish sadly do not receive the same public conservation attention as more ‘cuddly’ mammals; yet the plight of our freshwater habitats has never been more deserving of attention, and their ecosystem and wildlife never in greater need of our protection.
The aim of the award is therefore to cherish the rivers to which we all belong, which was an important legacy of the late and great Charles Ritz, after whom the award is named.
In memory of international river advocate, Charles Ritz
Few people have contributed as much to the evolution of fly fishing and environmental awareness as Charles César Ritz, born in 1891. French born, Charles emigrated to the United States in 1916, where he mastered the art of fly-fishing and became one of the foremost specialists on the subject, eventually inventing the famous parabolic fly-rod.
Author of the internationally treasured ‘Pris sur le Vif’ (‘A Fly Fishers Life’), Charles César Ritz was a pioneer in ecology, a defender of river quality, and a passionate, well travelled, fly fisher; his skills famously endorsed by Ernest Hemingway. His favourite rivers included the Test, Avon, and Itchen in Southern England, where he helped to popularise catch and release.
In 1958, Charles Ritz created the International Fario Club to keep an eye on river quality & ecosystem health. The club brought together five continents with a shared passion for fly fishing and conservation.
Passing away in 1976, at the age of eighty-five, Charles left a genuine legacy in both conservation and fly fishing. Today, his beloved Fario Club continue to promote river health and further his conservation efforts through the aptly named Charles Ritz award. By highlighting and rewarding the improvement and restoration of aquatic environments, the incredible work of this ecological pioneer lives on, and our freshwater ecosystems remain an urgent environmental priority amid increasing pressures.
Applications
The award is aimed at restoration projects, large or small, and/or community projects with the core objective of improving the river environment and the species which depend upon them. This may be achieved through direct action or education, or a mixture of both.
Judges will be looking for a solid rationale and evidence of river improvements; as such applicants will need to submit photographic evidence of their works and a detailed explanation of both the objectives and the results. A range of resources could be used to highlight the impact of the work, for example media coverage, monitoring results, before and after pictures and any relevant documents which demonstrate the scope and success of the work.
How to apply
All applications with projects undertaken in England and Wales are accepted. Applicants can download an application form here. The application form must be returned by 31st August 2019 to prixcharlesritz@gmail.com.
The judging panel will compile a short list of 3 applicants and visit these projects over the summer. The winner will be notified in late November, and an awards ceremony held in the beginning of 2020.
Also look at:
https://flyfishing-blog.com/flyfishing-blog.com/2018/10/08/salmon-trout-conservation-scotland-on-the-one-show/
https://flyfishing-blog.com/flyfishing-blog.com/2017/10/09/scottish-ministers-ordered-to-disclose-names-of-scotlands-liciest-salmon-farms-to-salmon-trout-conservation-scotland/
https://flyfishing-blog.com/flyfishing-blog.com/2019/02/23/a-special-year-for-a-special-fish-the-lnternational-year-of-the-salmon-has-started/