Are there enough river anglers to merit the closed season?

DO OPPONENTS of the closed season stop fishing from now until June 16? No! They go to pits, Ireland or abroad. Very few people fish our local rivers, so how long do you want for a closed season?

There are miles and miles of rivers and drains that never see an angler. There are plenty of cormorants and alleged illegal fishing, and this year weed has covered the Sibsey Trader system from one end to the other, making it unfishable. On The South Forty Foot the disabled section and platforms have been out of use due to bridge works.

My husband and I agree in principle with the closed season (we only fish rivers because we do not enjoy pit fishing) but what we don’t want is for others who fish elsewhere to force their opinions on everyone else.

One last thought – if year-round fishing has not harmed Irish rivers, and our own lakes and canals, why would it hurt our rivers?

Any evidence that exists for or against a closed season must apply to all systems, and all systems must be treated equally! R Newton, Boston