FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO GET MORE OF US ON THE BANK
National Angling Strategy launched
OFFICIALS behind the National Angling Strategy have revealed plans to get more people fishing over the next five years.
The National Angling Strategy Partnership Board unveiled its objectives last week at Get Hooked on Fishing’s Northala Fields headquarters in Northolt, West London, when it admitted that that 33 per cent of anglers fished less in 2018 than they did in 2017.
Martin Salter, policy chief for the Angling Trust, said: “We’re
currently dealing with some very real challenges in this sport, and this strategy is a sensible, considered and honest document that doesn’t shy away from these challenges.
“The board is already doing everything possible within the current strategy and the current resources available.
“We have already engaged nearly 40,000 participants over 1,095 angling participation events, of which 21,000 were juniors.
“The Angling Trust has also trained some 295 new angling coaches who delivered around 250 domestic angling competitions involving over 12,000 anglers.
“We have helped, through the Angling Improvement Fund grant and other projects, something like 58 clubs with infrastructure projects – so significant good work is happening at grass roots level. There has to be more of it, however, and it needs to be properly funded.”
The strategy has been developed by research company Substance after 35,000 people responded to the National Angling Survey survey last year.
Among the most common responses were the need to make more information available on where and how to fish, alongside emphasising the mental health and physical fitness benefits fishing can bring.
Get Hooked on Fishing’s chief, Sarah Collins, added: “We want to try and change the image of fishing and show that it’s not just
for the lonely man on the bank but that it’s something that families can get involved in.
“We do a lot of work with young people but more has to be done.
“We want to create opportunities for them and help improve their lives.”
Officials from the Environment Agency also attended the launch, with the authority’s chair Emma Howard Boyd agreeing that fishing has superb health benefits to participants: “The National Angling Strategy aims to get more people out to experience angling – because we know that getting outdoors and experiencing nature is good for health and wellbeing.
“I’m really pleased that the Environment Agency is working with the partners and anglers on this exciting vision for growing the sport and delivering the best possible angling experience in England.” The National Angling Strategy is
coordinated by the Angling Trust with representatives from the Environment Agency, Angling Trades Association, Get Hooked on Fishing and Canal and River Trust.
To read more about the National Angling Strategy, please visit www.substance.net/ featurepages/ nationalangling strategy/
“Fishing is not just for the man on the bank but something families can get involved in”