SACN has received a reply from Gareth Baynham-Hughes of DEFRA, to our appeal that the views put forward by recreational sea anglers, in response to the EU consultation of the Common Fisheries Policy, must be taken into account.

In his letter he acknowledges that ‘A large proportion of the individual responses came from stakeholders with a particular interest in recreational angling’.

Enclosed was a copy of the 7 page formal DEFRA response to the Commission, outlining their thoughts.

In a paragraph headed ‘Environmentally friendly fishing including sea angling’ appears the statement: ‘Recreational sea anglers also have a strong interest in the development of the CFP. They make a significant contribution to local fishing communities and the policies adopted need to ensure that this is fully taken into account.’

The covering letter finishes: ‘We will attach great importance to staying in touch with stakeholders and taking account of their views as we do so.’

(I hope to get the full document published on the SACN website, and distributed to the SACN membership, in the near future.)

So! It is finally being acknowledged that recreational sea angling has a stake in the management of European fish stocks.

The progress thus far has only been achieved thanks to the huge amount of work put in by our representatives in (among others) the NFSA, BASS, the SAA and not least SACN. But mostly by individual anglers finding the time to sit down and write a letter, both in the UK, and throughout Europe.

Sometimes it’s difficult to think that one little letter is going to make a difference, but this proves that it does.

And it’s not just the letters written in response to the consultation. All the letters received from anglers, addressed to DEFRA, MPs MEPs etc, about the issues concerning anglers, reinforce the idea that there are a lot of concerned anglers out there, and that they are becoming a force to be taken into account, a political body of opinion which must be listened to.

Keep up the good work!!

Tight Lines – Leon Roskilly
Sea Anglers’ Conservation Network (SACN) http://www.anglersnet.co.uk/sacn/

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This has to be a positive move, just a pity you have to wade through the "Newspeak" of current government language to get to the point.