The Norfolk Broads will not survive as a permanent freshwater habitat unless a tidal barrage is installed in the main river estuary near Great Yarmouth.

This has been a long-held view by many Broads lovers including anglers ever since the 1950s. It was stated again in the 1970s when the Government refused to fund a barrier because the cost/benefit criteria was not met. Now this issue has surfaced again as the Broads Authority addresses the real and frightening prospect of a tidal disaster transforming the whole area into a series of saltwater lakes linked by saline rivers devoid of all recognisable natural vegetation, freshwater wild fowl and populated only by flounders, eels, dabs, small bass and the odd mullet and sea trout.

Not a single pike, bream, roach, tench or river carp could survive in this saline solution arising from the almost inevitable effect of rising sea levels due to global warming.

Many sit on their hands and say: “Why worry, it is not going to happen in our lifetime.” Many young anglers alive today may well be catching coarse fish from the Broads in 30 years time, but this is by no means guaranteed.

Aside from that, Governments possess a moral obligation to defend this national treasure for future generations.

It will not be feasible to ignore this serious threat for Mother Nature, raped by her most advanced life form would be unforgiving and has already raised the crooked finger, beckoning the sea to liquidate all the freshwater fauna and flora in our famous water park that for centuries that has given so much pleasure to anglers, bird watchers, ramblers and boaters ever since these medieval peat diggings became flooded.

Already money has been allocated to defend the narrow coastal strip of land that separates Horsey Mere, Hickling Broad and the River Thurne from the North Sea. But, as Norfolk Wildlife Trust warden Richard Starling repeatedly warns: It is pointless in slamming the front door if the back entrance is left open to the invader. This logic has been debated at length by spoken and written words for the past 30 years or more. By now the irrefutable analysis will be indelibly engraved in the minds of the Broads Authority conservation lobby who have been discussing their options this week.

Which ever Government is in power, adopting a laissez-faire approach towards the rising tide of a malevolent North Sea and a failure to act would be regarded as gross negligence, and even little short of criminal vandalism. 

The worst scenario is that man has left it far too late taking remedial action against climate change. But optimistically, although the situation will worsen before world leaders finally agree to concerted action, it is vital to maintain what we have. Protecting world important reserves such as the Norfolk Broads fisheries has to take top priority for the Government if only to preserve its present status until the next century when the worst or best outcome may become apparent.