When We Fish Again: The Angling Trust

As we begin to look to the future and lockdown restrictions being relaxed, angling organisations, led by the Angling Trust, have held discussions with advisors and supporters in Parliament and submitted proposals to Government Ministers on how angling could be permitted as a safe, healthy, beneficial sport and why it should take its position at the front of the queue when restrictions are reviewed.

Through their work with other angling bodies, in this country and across the globe, as well as by consulting with experts across multiple disciplines - the Angling Trust have delivered guidelines under which angling could be safely permitted without increasing the risk of COVID-19 transmission when the Government begins to ease restrictions.

In sharing these guidelines, we want to be absolutely clear that restrictions on angling have not been lifted - that decision must remain with the government in order to align with the national effort to combat the transmission of COVID-19 and support the work of our public services, but we at the Countryside Alliance want to offer our support to these guidelines.

Charles Jardine said: "The Angling Trust has crafted a compelling case for consideration for the resumption of fishing after the 7th May. In a report to ministers, it clearly states the mental health aspects and well-being that fishing, be it Shoreline, Riverbank or Lakeshore, can bring during these testing times. All sensible measures are there, but the case has been made of why only good can come from angling being one of the vanguard sports to be resumed. Every Angler is the UK would agree."

You can read the summary of the proposals here and you can read the Minister's Report here.