The Way Forward for Angling-from the Environment Agency
The Government's response to the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review in early 2001 restated the Government's support for angling.
Good fisheries management brings much wider benefits to the water environment and anglers are a powerful voice in the drive for improving fisheries and their associated habitats. Angling also brings important benefits to the economy, particularly in rural areas, and to people's quality of life.
Angling should be accessible to all, including the young, the old and the disabled. It provides a unique opportunity for people to enjoy the natural environment in a quiet and unobtrusive way; in turn bringing tremendous social benefits in terms of people's sense of well being.
For these benefits to be realised it is important that angling is carried out in a way that is sustainable in terms of fish stocks and the wider environment. The Agency regulates angling through legislation and byelaws to ensure that fishing is carried out in ways that are sustainable and to protect our fish stocks for future generations of anglers. However, there are many other aspects of angling that are best improved through encouragement and education.
The Agency is keen to work in partnership with others to promote angling and therefore welcomes the opportunity to join with the Specialist Anglers' Alliance (SAA) in the production of this revised Code of Conduct. It is through partnerships such as this project that we will be able to offer better value for money for the income we raise.
All anglers should read the information on their rod licences and should be aware of the laws and byelaws that apply to them when fishing. This code is designed to complement the existing legislative framework and provides a commonsense guide to values and behaviour to which anglers should aspire.
The Environment Agency categorically supports the sport of angling, and through co-operation and collaboration with other interested parties is wholly committed to provide the nation with better fish stocks, better fisheries and better angling.
Dr David Clarke, Head of Fisheries, Environment Agency