RSA STRATEGY RESPONSE

Dear Mr Kilpatrick

Consultation on a draft Recreational Sea Angling Strategy for England

Thank you for your response to the consultation on a draft Recreational Sea Angling Strategy for England.

Your response will be considered alongside other comments we receive on the consultation and next steps will be announced in due course. The closing date for the consultation is 31 March 2008, after which time and in line with Defra’s policy of openness, copies of the responses received will be made publicly available through the Defra Information Resource Centre, Lower Ground Floor, Ergon House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.

You may wish to be aware that the Minister, Jonathan Shaw, has recently announced that we will not be proceeding with enabling powers in the Marine Bill to introduce a sea angling licence. This follows a meeting which the Minister attended in the House of the ‘Angling Summit’, chaired by Martin Salter MP, on 18 February where a number of concerns were raised regarding the introduction of a chargeable licence for sea angling. Also a number of anglers around the coast have raised their concerns direct with Defra officials.

In view of the concerns expressed, including the extent to which sea anglers expected to see benefits from the charge, powers to introduce a sea angling licence do not feature in the draft Marine Bill, published on 3 April. I should clarify that the current consultation is to gather views on the Recreational Sea Angling Strategy. A chargeable angling licence is only part of a whole series of proposals in this document on which we are seeking comments.

I acknowledge that you have not requested that your response is treated confidentially.

Yours sincerely

Anthony Hynes

Direct Line 020 7238 4604