Police Chief’s comments spark confusion for anglers

THE Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police has questioned whether fishing counts as exercise amid confusion over regulations.

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that angling locally was allowed in Wales under the new lockdown laws, with First Minister Mark Drakeford stressing that while it is permitted, the Welsh Government continues to encourage people to stay home.

However, its reintroduction has led to confusion over certain regulations and restrictions - such as whether you can drive to go fishing locally.

Chief Constable Mark Collins was speaking on BBC Radio Wales when a listeners asked for clarification over the reintroduction of fishing as exercise and driving regulations.

And while addressing confusion over travel concerns, he also questioned whether fishing could be considered exercise.

“Well, my understanding is that angling comes under the umbrella of exercise so exercising in Wales is permitted as many times a day as you wish to but it is from your house and back to your house and doesn’t include driving,” he said.

“So the first point is you wouldn’t be able to drive.

“The second point is it is about exercising and, with all due respect, being sat on a riverbank for three hours, you are not continually exercising.

“So we need to revisit that and have a conversation with Angling Cymru just to make sure they fully understand what the regulations say.”

When the caller responded by saying the type of fishing he did had him moving along the river bank, Collins said: “If you’re constantly on the river bank up and down, then I’d suggest you’re complying with the exercise restrictions.”

Speaking about Mr Collins’ comments, Jamie Miller, the owner of Garnffrwd Fishery near Carmarthen, said that Collins’ comments were totally wrong.

“Of course it’s exercise. It’s not only exercise, but it’s the mental wellbeing side of it,” he said.

“For many anglers, they rely on fishing to give them that escapism. I’ve been involved in fishing for about 30 years and I know how the mind of a fisherman works and the relief it gives their mind.

“Those comments are simply quite wrong.”

The driving confusion stems from different stances from bodies that have emerged in the past few days.

Mirroring Mr Collins’ advice on the radio, Natural Resources Wales, in their own guidelines, stated that you can go fishing, but without driving.

They said: “Angling is allowed in Wales as part of your daily exercise. You must fish within your immediate locality without driving.”

But Angling Cyrmu announced earlier in the week that driving to fish was allowed in local areas.

However, those guidelines were amended on Friday afternoon following further discussions between Sport Wales and the Welsh Government - bringing them closer into line with the NRW.

As with any form of exercise, driving to go fishing is allowed if you are disabled or have specific health issues.

Angling Cymru’s new advice, which now mirror the NRW’s, state that you should stay close to home, walking or cycling if you can and fish at the nearest venue to your home and not your favourite - with the warning you could be fined or turned away if you leave your local area.

Speaking about the confusion surrounding regulations around angling, Lee Evans, the Chairman of Gwent Angling Society, said: “I think what happened is a result of no single voice for angling in Wales.

“What we’re talking about here is semantics around a far more serious issue.

“Those regulations about what we can and can’t do around a pandemic.

“Angling was deemed part of exercise and that was translated via a number of speeches by Welsh government that made it clear that they wouldn’t object if people would walk from their homes to fish.

“That recognition was appreciated.

“The issue that we need to remember, as Gwent Angling Society, is that we recognise the core message is to stay at home.

“It’s very important we are responsible at a difficult time.

“At the end of the day, it is only angling and there are people, particularly in the NHS frontline, going through great difficulties every day.

“I think that is recognised by many in the angling community.”