NAA Code of Conduct-Press Release

[Chris Burt]

The following NAA PRESS RELEASE has been released today.

The National Angling Alliance are delighted to announce the launch of their

 

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR COARSE ANGLERS

 

The Prince of Wales has endorsed a new blueprint for environmentally-friendly fishing, the National Angling Alliance Code of Conduct for Coarse Anglers. The new Code gives comprehensive coverage on care of the environment, anglers’ behaviour, tackle advice and up to date fish care. The aim is to build and enhance angling and help safeguard the natural world in which anglers fish. Anglers have always been the eyes and ears of the aquatic environment and its surrounding habitat, seeking to protect and enhance the environment in which we fish.

 

Britain's millions of coarse anglers are being asked to adopt the Code, and the RSPB, Environment Agency, English Nature, Professor David Bellamy and many others have backed the document, which has been sponsored by a grant from the Environment Agency.

 

“We are extremely pleased that Prince Charles, who is a keen angler as well as a committed conservationist, has supported the Code.” said Chris Burt, who had the task of editing the new code.

 

Reading West MP and keen angler Martin Salter, Parliamentary Spokesman for Angling, said: "The vast majority of experienced anglers are highly responsible people who care both for the fish and for the environment but even they will benefit from reading this document. I applaud the work of the Specialist Anglers Alliance, the Environment Agency and everyone else who has worked so hard to put together this excellent Code of Conduct. It should be widely read by newcomers to our sport and those of us who have been wielding fishing rods with varying degrees of success for more years than we care to remember."

 

Dr David Clarke Head of Fisheries at the Environment Agency said, “We are very pleased to have been involved in producing this code. Angling provides a unique opportunity for people to enjoy the natural world in a quiet and unobtrusive way. Following this common sense guide to angling values and behaviour will enable coarse anglers to enjoy their sport while guarding against damage to fish stocks, their environment and other wildlife.”

 

The new code is available through the NAA Secretariat, the Environment Agency, the National Federation of Anglers, and the Specialist Anglers’ Alliance.

- ENDS –

 

Enquiries:

Contact Chris Burt Info@saauk.org

 

For the Environment Agency: Tel: 020 7863 8710

For the NFA: Tel: 01283 734735

NAA Secretariat: Tel: 020 7283 5838

 

Note:

 

1. The National Angling Alliance comprises the angling governing bodies – the National Federation of Anglers, the National Federation of Sea Anglers and the Salmon & Trout Association – who have been joined by the Angling Trade Association, Specialist Anglers’ Alliance and the National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives to form a working group.

2. The Code is aimed at all branches of coarse fishing, and includes a section for beginners. It covers care of the environment, anglers’ behaviour, tackle, fish care & stocking/diseases in a comprehensive & responsible manner. It aims to instruct, address problem issues and to help safeguard the environment in which anglers fish to establish comprehensive & nationally recognised standards.

3. The Code can also be used as best practice guidance for angling administrators, including fishing clubs and local authorities, which run freshwater fisheries.

4. A total of 30,000 copies of the original Code have been distributed. This new edition will have a print run of nearly 50,000.

5. This New Code was prepared by the Specialist Anglers’ Alliance on behalf of the National Angling Alliance.

 

Ends.

 

SAA group members will automatically receive a copy of the Code, but if you would like to receive one please send an A5 stamped addressed envelope (38p stamp) to me. Bulk copies are available on request. The Code may also be reproduced in whole or in part (for no charge) by applying in writing to ourselves and showing due acknowledgement to SAA. The Code will also be placed on our web-site in due course, once the text and diagrams have been converted back from the publishers format.

 

Chris Burt, 3, Great Cob, Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 6LA.

[mpbdsnu]

Well done! And, well done for posting it on here!

[Vagabond]

Glad to know that my SAA copy is on the way, but this is something that should be read by ALL anglers (those who need it most are the least likely to send for a copy)

 

Why not hand copies out whenever a licence is issued ie at the post office? Put the licence fee up 50p to cover costs, and incorporate EA regulations as well.

 

Something for our angling politicians to work on ?

Don't tell us it can't be done. They do it in the USA and in Australia - all rules and regulations in one neat booklet handed out at the point of sale of the licence.

 

But thanks from all of us to those that put in the time and effort to get us this far.

 

[ 20. October 2002, 01:41 PM: Message edited by: Vagabond ]

[Chris Burt]

Vagabond, re.

"Why not hand copies out whenever a licence is issued ie at the post office? Put the licence fee up 50p to cover costs, and incorporate EA regulations as well."

 

We'd love to get the Code to every licence holder, but the cost would be prohibitive, about £250,000 for printing alone. We certainly haven't got that kind of money and neither have the EA; given the flack they get every time the licence fee goes up I doubt they'd get the backing to do this. Nice thought but.....as ever not the money to do it.

[madmarine]

Hi Chris,

well posred it,s not before time either do I take it that all members of the Nfa etc will recieve a copy of this. If not is it not possible to send a copy to all angling clubs nationwide, they would then be able to pass this on thier own members.

[madmarine]

Hi Chris,

well posted it,s not before time either do I take it that all members of the Nfa etc will recieve a copy of this. If not is it not possible to send a copy to all angling clubs nationwide, they would then be able to pass this on thier own members.

[lyn]

Well done Chris, a little bird was telling me how hard you have been working on this.

 

lyn

[Excalibur]

Am I being obtuse, but if a copy of the document was put online could'nt we all read it at our leisure? Or does that infringe thousands of lovely regulations? :confused:

[Dunk Fairley]

well done chris. Lyn, Chris has worked his doo-dahs off with this code ands will appreciatte you comment.

 

The code is copyrighted, but use of it, or parts of it is free upon agreement from SAA and/or NAA and if ackowledgement is given. So I can't see why it can't go on the net. I'll bring it up at the next SAA meeting, while patting Chris on the back personally.

 

Why not on Angler's Net?

[Chris Burt]

Thanks Lyn, Dunk, Malc for kind comments, much appreciated! Just glad it is finally finished. Could I now cover two points raised;

 

Excaliber

Re “Am I being obtuse, but if a copy of the document was put online couldn’t we all read it at our leisure? Or does that infringe thousands of lovely regulations?”

No regulations infringed at all, please see tail end of our Press Release above on this post which says;

“The Code will also be placed on our web-site in due course, once the text and diagrams have been converted back from the publishers format.”

It will be up on Anglers Net on the SAA site just as soon as we can get it converted back from Quark Express, and all the diagrams have been rescanned into web format. Will not happen overnight but within a few weeks I guess.

 

Madmarine

Re “…..do I take it that all members of the NFA etc will receive a copy of this. If not is it not possible to send a copy to all angling clubs nationwide, they would then be able to pass this on their own members.”

The NFA will certainly be taking copies, they will then circulate within their membership as they wish. I’d also love to get a copy to all angling clubs in the UK, regardless whether they are NFA members or not, it would then act as good publicity for the NFA/NAA, and maximize the impact of what we’re trying to achieve with the Code which is to raise the standards we bring to angling and to the waters we fish. BUT no such data-base of clubs exists as far as I know, so how that could be achieved I am unsure!

In case anyone does have addresses, please bear in mind the bit of sending an A5 stamped addressed envelope (38p stamp) to me.

 

Chris