More time to ‘Take a Friend Fishing’

FOLLOWING the success of the Take a Friend Fishing initiative which saw hundreds of anglers register across the first two weeks of July, the Environment Agency, Angling Trust and Angling Trades Association have extended the campaign until October 4.

Fishing licence-holding anglers can register for a free one-day Environment Agency fishing licence worth £6 to take someone they know fishing. To take advantage of this offer, all they need to do is to visit www.takeafriendfishing.co.uk and provide some simple contact details including their fishing licence number and the date of the fishing trip.

This will notify their friend who, after checking their details are correct, will be able to go fishing with the fishing licence holder on the selected day using their own free one-day fishing licence.

Kevin Austin, EA deputy director for agriculture, fisheries and the natural environment, said: “The success of the recent relaunch and increase in licence sales since the lockdown period has shown the enthusiasm that exists and so we are extending the free one-day licence offer again so that we can grow our angling community even more!”

Angling Trust chief executive Jamie Cook said: “We need to seize this opportunity which allows both experienced and new anglers, as well as those returning to the sport, the opportunity to share the experience, sow the seed and help their friends and families take that first step to establishing a fishing habit.”

Members of the angling trade have responded positively, welcoming the initiative and adding their support. Andrew Race, chairman of the Angling Trades Association (ATA), said: “The decision by the Environment Agency to extend the Take a Friend Fishing initiative cannot be underestimated.

“It reflects the co-operative potential and commitment to angling that now exists between the major stakeholders.”