Your views on the closed season

WE ASKED readers to send us their views on the closed season after we revealed that the Environment Agency is to poll 20,000 licence holders for their opinions. Here is a selection:

In my opinion I think the closed season is outdated, and should be scrapped. AJ Simpson Just two words to say on this subject. Scrap it! It hasn’t affected the fish in lakes over the last few years so I cannot see it doing any harm to fish rivers all year round. Phil Mawby Although I do feel that abolishing the closed season would benefit many organisations – hotels, guest houses, bait farms and the tackle shop industry – I also believe that some high-profile anglers would like the closed season abolished so that they can make more money on the match circuit.

The closed season should remain to give the fish and wildlife a rest. David Ryley

Surely, with its limited budget, the Environment Agency and angling alike would benefit from no closed season. If passionate, sensible anglers were out on the bank all year round this would provide the EA with more people who actively care to report on illegal activities/poaching on our waterways! Coupled with education/awareness campaigns on fish safety (not fishing for spawning fish etc) and how to report illegal fishing, we would likely see reductions in a number of angling issues, making the EA’s time more productive as well as having a reduction of pressure on stillwaters during the closed season. Charlie Halliday

I’ve yet to see a single good reason to keep it. I get the impression the EA is trying to make it as difficult as possible to get it removed. Robert Court

I thought that the closed season was designed to protect spawning fish. Most experts I have read seem to imply that the fish spawn outside of the closed season dates. I am all for protecting the fish but if the closed season is at the wrong time, what is the point?