Vote For A Fishing Future! - Angling Trust 2024 General Election Manifesto

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Vote For A Fishing Future! - Angling Trust 2024 General Election Manifesto

With election day finally here and after several weeks with all the major political parties out on the road lobbying for votes. The fishing governing body, the Angling Trust has issued a challenge to all the major political parties vying for the votes of the UK's two million anglers.

The Angling Trust have called on the parties to demonstrate their commitment to protecting the environment upon which the sport depends, support policies that protect and promote angling, and maximise the economic and social benefits angling deliveres. As a proud trade associate partner to the Angling Trust, supporters of the Anglers Against Pollution campaign and exclusive Angling retail sponsor of the Get Fishing Campaign, in association with The Angling Trust. We feel this requires the angling communities full support to ensure this sport continues to flourish under the next government. 


Why we need to take action! 

Currently, our rivers are blighted by agricultural and sewage pollution, many are threatened by over-abstraction due to the failure of successive governments to build sufficient reservoir capacity or properly regulate the farming and water industries. Our seas are overfished and poorly managed, with vital habitats disappearing.

Since 1970, there has been an 88% decline in freshwater species. Hundreds of thousands of fish were killed by sewage pollution last year. Atlantic salmon are now listed as endangered, with a quarter of our marine fish stocks classed as in a critical condition. Not only that just 5% of our marine environment is protected from damaging bottom trawling. All leading to a potential climate and biodiversity crisis. 


10 Policy Asks to Protect, Promote and Develop Angling for All

The Angling Trust manifesto, entitled ‘Vote for a Fishing Future’, presents ten specific policy asks aimed at protecting, promoting, and developing angling for all. These policy areas include pollution, regulation, marine conservation, angling access, participation, economic and social benefits of angling, anglers’ rights, reviving salmon stocks, and addressing threats from predation. They are as follows.... 

1. Reform the water industry to stop pollution of our rivers and seas.

2. Abolish OFWAT and replace it with a single water regulator, accountable to the public, who puts the protection of the environment as its first priority.

3. Beef up the EA, the MMO and local IFCAs to ensure they have the resources, expertise and power to properly enforce the law and protect angling.

4. Ensure taxpayers’ money given to farmers is used to improve the water environment and does not support actions that damage it.

5. Ensure government, include devolved and local government, support policies that protect and promote angling and maximise the economic, social and environmental benefits it delivers.

6. Support actions aimed at supporting broad and diverse participation in angling through schools, community centres, youth clubs, and social prescribing.

7. Support the rights of all anglers to go fishing and protect and develop angling access.

8. Recognise recreationally important species in sea fisheries management and the socio-economic benefits sea angling brings to coastal communities.

9. Take concerted action to reverse the decline in salmon stocks throughout the UK.

10. Address the damage caused to inland fisheries by invasive species and support fishery managers’ efforts to protect their waters and businesses from unsustainable predation.


Secure Britain's Fishing Future

Over the life of the next Parliament, this ever-accelerating decline must stop and things must improve. The Angling Trust manifesto sets out what needs to be done to protect fish, fishing, and the environment.

This Angling Trust manifesto has been sent to all the main parties representing English constituencies in the House of Commons ahead of the General Election to establish their commitment to securing Britain’s fishing future.

The Angling Trust encourages its members and all anglers to engage with local candidates to seek pledges of support for angling in the next Parliament to guarantee Britain's fishing future long term, so not only our generation, but future generations can enjoy this wonderful sport. 


To download a full copy of the Angling Trust Manifesto, click here

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