The A.G.A. Group is the parent organisation under which a number of specialist divisions operate.

All divisions of the business are however drawn together to provide an integrated approach to aquatic and environmental management.

Integrated Approach

The multi-disciplined team offers a complete service to those responsible for the management of the aquatic environment and wetland systems in terms of fisheries management, ecology and conservation.

This integrated approach to the management of the aquatic environment takes into account the interaction of the entire systems ecology. No part of an aquatic ecosystem should be viewed in isolation and the holistic approach adopted by the A.G.A. Group facilitates a management style that considers all aspects of the environment.  

An integrated approach can lead to an improved natural balance, the enhancement of biodiversity and an increased productive aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem.  

Any approach to aquatic, wetland and indeed terrestrial environmental management should acknowledge that inland waters are often managed for a range of other recreational activities and that the water resource can be a priority for a potable supply or for a host of other uses and potential impacts.

Ash Girdler heads up the team as Principal Consultant and Director of Operations.  He has spent over twenty years actively carrying out practical fisheries work and is a Fellow of the Institute of Fisheries Management.  Having graduated as top student in his year from Sparsholt College with an honors degree in Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, he is currently carrying out Ph.D. research on a part time basis, this is related to fish disease in natural inland still waters. 

Ash is a Chartered Biologist,and Member of the Institute of Biology, a Chartered Environmentalist and a Fellow of the Institute of Fisheries Management,and one of a small number of independent fish health specialists recognised by the Environment Agency for the purposes of carrying out health examinations under Section 30 of the Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975.

Other qualifications held include an NPTC competence certificate for the safe and competent use of herbicides for aquatic weed control, so you can be sure that all advice is based on a sound knowledge and that any work will be undertaken in a safe and effective manner. Ash holds an 'idq' certificate for fish identification.

The group is divided into the smaller working divisions to facilitate effective management and operational administration.  The divisions are:-

A.G.A. Bioengineering Systems.

Bioengineering has become the favoured method of achieving high standards of effective erosion control, water quality and habitat improvement where a sustainable environmental approach is important to the specific project in question.

The restoration and enhancement of the UK’s canal network, its waterways and coastlines can be achieved more sensitively using a combination of natural and living materials alongside more accepted ‘hard’ methods. In many cases ‘hard’ solutions can be completely replaced by a bioengineered ‘soft’ methods and where this is not possible bioengineering techniques can be used to ‘green-up’ and soften the ‘hard’ engineered option.

A.G.A offer a complete range of bioengineering products, these include:-

	Coir fibre rolls
	Coir fibre pallets
	Coir-fibre edge sods
	Willow, chestnut & hazel faggots
	A.G.A. rock rolls

Design and installation can be carried out by our specialist teams from our Special Projects Division

The fish health division uses a co-operative system of independent health  specialists, each advises clients on matters relating to fish disease, nutrition and stocking.   The individual consultants who form this co-operative ensure that each individual consultant has access to a wide knowledge base and indeed a quality assurance system to ensure that clients get what they pay for and deserve, that being "the best possible advice".

The division also undertakes health examinations in accordance with Section 30 criteria and protocol of the Salmon & Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975. These examinations are required by current legislation before fish are stocked into the 'wild' system.

This division of the group  undertakes the design and installation of fish holding systems, including bio-filtration and complete re-circulation systems.  The division also undertakes the design and development of fisheries and fish farms and has the expertise to take the clients proposal from inception through negotiations with the regulatory bodies to completion.  The aquatic weed control function of the group is also dealt with under the small works division as is ornamental pond construction.

The aquatic consultancy division is responsible for fisheries management, conservation and larger scale integrated projects, which might include:-

	Scoping and  Feasibility Assessments
	Impact Assessment
	Environmental Action Plans
	Management Plans
	Environmental Appraisal
	Design and Build
	Planning