At the same time, 98% of all inland rivers in England and Wales remain closed to all boaters at all times. Three of the four showpiece river access agreement schemes launched by the Environment Agency (EA) in October seem to be in serious trouble.

On the Wear a lawyer's letter has been sent to the British Canoe Union (BCU), threatening action if canoeists use a major part of the agreed section. On the Waveney the Broads Authority website suggests use of the legally permitted tidal section specifically banned by the agreement. On the Teme there is a deathly silence.

Defra is considered by many to be far from supportive of boating and any other human activity except angling. It may give environmental and fisheries interests precedence and is often believed to do so.

But Defra's track record is hardly an example to hold up on how it would operate the Marine Bill (see story in BB May, page X)

If boating came under the control of a different department it would have someone to defend its interests, a situation reflected by other commercial interests. BB asked Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport, if it wasn't time for a change of department. She said this was not on the agenda.

She would not be drawn on potential damage to canal infrastructure as a result of the cuts, preferring to discuss the expenditure to come on the east London waterways and how they will assist sustainability during the construction of the Olympic sites, which will not be helped by the time slippage in restoring a vital lock needed to reach them.

On river access, she singled out one of some 650 rivers in England and Wales which could be used from canoes, if not larger boats, the Avon at Stratford, rightly extolling its virtues. Sadly, even here, the upstream section from Leamington is only available one day per year for a charity canoe paddle and there is no use permitted at all above that.

Opening the OS Outdoor Show, Sports Minister Richard Caborn exclaimed 'The great outdoors is there for everybody.' BB reminded him that he had launched the four demonstration access agreements the previous autumn, now mostly not examples of which to be proud. Our rivers are not for everybody. He said he could not discuss individual cases and observed that some anglers complain to him that having to share 2% of our rivers with canoeists is showing unfair favouritism towards canoeists. At least we could agree that the courts are not the place for resolving such issues, even if we could not agree on Defra's role.

Will the Marine Bill allow Defra to show the same bias on the sea as it does on rivers? If so, we should be very concerned. If not, we should ask why the difference.