The Angling Trades Association & A Sea Fishing Licence
EFTTA will play a key role next week in a debate about the effects of introducing recreational sea angling licences in the UK.
The Angling Trades Association, which represents the tackle trade in the UK, is holding an Open Forum to discuss the proposed Recreational Sea Angling Strategy for England. Defra (The Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs) has invited consultation on the Strategy from key organisations.
The Strategy recommends the introduction of a sea fishing licence – a decision which caused uproar in Portugal when licences were introduced there last year.
EFTTA’s input to the forum will be critical in creating a united response to the Defra strategy from the tackle trade industry, and EFTTA President Gregg Holloway and General Manager Janet Doyle, will both be attending.
Said Janet: “The Recreational Sea Angling Strategy for England could have a serious impact on the British fishing tackle industry. The EU regards the issue of sea angling licences as a national matter so we will be supporting the ATA in their official response.”
EFTTA is not directly opposed to the implementation of a sea angling licence if the revenue collected is directed back to the sport, to grow participation and improve habitats and fish stocks. However, in Portugal, a significant percentage of licence money has been given to the commercial fishing sector.
Opposition from anglers in the UK is fierce. Last week, the Whitby Charter Skippers’ Association – an organisation based in the North-east of England, claimed a compulsory rod licence could wipe £2m off the town’s economy.
Paul Kilpatrick, chairman of the WCSA, said: “It’s madness and it would wipe out the angling industry here overnight. It will be all aspects of the industry that will be affected, bait shops, hotels – we have the biggest angling festival in the UK in Whitby this summer. That will be no more. They brought this in Portugal and in the first year alone the bait shops saw their business drop off by 60%.”
The ATA meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 6th, 2008.
Tags: Conservation
I am a 50yr old angler and fished for most of my life. During that time I have seen the decline of shore angling first hand. I like many others would gladly make sacrifices if it were to improve our pastime which we feel pasionate about.
The proposed fishing licence would not make any difference to the quality of fishing whatsoever. It is an economic non-starter not only for the Government but for the buisnesses directly or indirectly involved with it.
My other concern is it,s potential to drive daytrippers and youngsters who visit our coasts away from a pastime that so many of us are trying to encourage people into doing.
I live in the south west region of the country and i personaly dont know how they expect to govern a sea fishing licence as it would be vertually imposible to check on shore fishermen, and i find that the main targets would be the charter boats who take people fishing as well as normal boat owners and holiday makers and would drive people away from charter boats as the coast line is vast in Devon AND Cornwall with so many places to shore or fish from rocks ect how on earth would they be able to check such a large area answer is it would be imposible and instead of going in charter boats would drive people to either find hidy holes or to risk life by trying to reach ineccessable places or worst still stop the sport they enjoy,licences for fresh water is ok the money goes into restocking the rivers ect which i dont mind paying, but for a sea licence im sorry but the thought is where would they put the money taken they cant restock the sea thats up to nature,they could use the money taken to add to the stocking of even more fish to the rivers but is that fair on the sea angler i think not . As far as im concerned a sea fishing licence for the average joe is obserd.