Issue 155 APRIL 2008
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ANGLING UNITY - A BIG STEP FORWARD
Chairmen of the major angling bodies in England have taken a major step towards a single unified body to represent all anglers. In a joint statement they said 'We have agreed that the following bodies intend to wind up their organisations and form a single new organisation to represent all anglers. This will be subject to each organisation passing the necessary legal and financial checks - known as 'due diligence'.
* Anglers' Conservation Association
* National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives
* National Federation of Anglers
* National Federation of Sea Anglers
* Salmon and Trout Association
* Specialist Anglers' Alliance
The transition process is being managed by the Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust, the umbrella body for fisheries and angling organisations. FACT has retained legal, financial and marketing professionals to advise on the formation of the new body.
Each of our organisations has contributed £10,000 to FACT to cover the new body's start-up costs, a clear indication of our commitment. In addition to funding the essential due diligence much work is needed to improve marketing and our services to members.
The target date for incorporation of the new body, i.e. legal registration as a company, is early July with full operation by January 2009. Before then each organisation will seek approval to proceed at a general meeting - NAFAC has already done so.
As Chairmen of long-established organisations with loyal members we have not taken this step lightly. However we all believe that a single new organisation is needed to fight for the interests of all anglers and the fisheries they enjoy. We have already received many messages of support for the move and look forward to a bright future.'
Stephen Marsh-Smith, Chairman ACA
Martin Read, Chairman NAFAC
Terry Fell, Chairman NFA
Richard Ferré, Chairman NFSA
James Carr, Chairman STA
Chris Evans, Chairman SAA
No further statements are likely while the detailed due diligence and other preparatory work continues. The team putting the unification of angling representation together have opened a new website to inform anglers of progress and the issues. You can find it at www.anglingunity.co.uk
Ed. This is, as far as I'm concerned, the only way forward for sea anglers. The membership of the NFSA was never going to influence DEFRA or this government, as opposed to the slick PR organisations employed by the commercial sector. Perhaps with ALL anglers united into one large organisation with up to 4,000,000 members, a united, single voice for common sense will be heard above the many strident cries of the avaricious commercial lobbyists who will never be satisfied with the quotas they get as long as one fish still swims in the sea.
(Left) Martin Cockram from Teignmouth Devon with a superb 20lb 8oz Thornback Ray caught from a Devon shore mark. Caught on a Team Daiwa rod, F/S reel, 30lb line to a leger rigged 3/0 hook baited with peeler crab. The best we've seen for a long time and good enough to earn Martin both our Shakespeare Shore prize and Sakuma prize this month, well done!
(Right) Simon Taylor could not believe his eyes when this winter whopper broke the surface. The 41 year old Aircraft Pilot from Southampton was out on his first pollack trip of the year aboard Weymouth based "Revolution", skippered by Josh Simmonds, when this tasty 16lb Turbot snaffled down his latex goldfish. What a good start to the year!
RECREATIONAL FISHING 10X BIGGER IN SWEDEN THAN COMMERCIAL SECTOR, REPORT REVEALS
The recreational fishing market in Sweden is more than 10 times greater than the commercial fishing market, a new report has revealed. Fiskeriverket, the Swedish Fisheries Board, values the socio-economic value of sport fishing in the country at around 1 billion kroner (106m euros). But commercial fishing is responsible for just 75m kroner (8m euros).
The report further reinforces the Swedish government's ambition to dramatically reduce commercial fishing quotas for the long-term benefit of recreational angling - especially tourism.
'Fritidsfiske och fritidsfiskebaserad verksamhet' ('Recreational Fishing and Recreational Fishing Dependant Business') says fishing tourism in Sweden has a growth potential, but only if more fish stocks are protected against commercial trawling.
Sweden has around 1 million recreational anglers - 776,000 using handheld gear only. The country supports around 1,300 sportfishing-related businesses, many of which are small-scale businesses operating in rural areas. This compares to just 1,000 commercial fishermen.
With these statistics in mind, Fiskeriverket wants to redirect parts of the catch quota to recreational fishermen, a strategy which is supported by one of the report's authors, Anton Paulrud.
Mr Paulrud believes recreational fishing poses no threat to fish stocks and said: "It is possible for the politicians to direct the quotas to another part of the business. Even if we are part of the common fisheries policy within the EU, which allocates quotas to Sweden, this doesn't mean that this entire quota has to be caught.
Rhys Coulson a Junior member of Brixham SAC proudly holds his Ballan Wrasse 4 lbs 9 ozs caught from a Torquay shore mark. Congratulations, Rhys, our Ian Golds prize winner this month - Sunday 24th February 2008 - Photo courtesy of Dave Fortune
GO FISHING 2008 COMPETITION
We had five pairs of tickets to give to our readers to attend the Go Fishing Show at the NEC, 14th - 16th March. The lucky winners were; S Midas - East Sussex, A Symmonds - South Glamorgan, A Sargent - Northants, M McCermack - Devon, A Shrimpton - Hampshire. Many thanks to the promotors. Full SAN competition details here
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