Members of the Sea Anglers Conservation Network (SACN) recently received the email below regarding the Recreational Sea Angling Strategy Consultation being undertaken by DEFRA. As this potentially affects all sea anglers, we’ve published it here. Anybody can respond.
If you wish to join the SACN for free, please visit https://www.anglersnet.co.uk/membership.htm
To all SACN Members,
Just a reminder that there is just 2 weeks left to respond to the RSA Strategy Consultation being undertaken by DEFRA.
(Details at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/sea-angling/index.htm )
The responses received by DEFRA will be used to determine the strategy that the department will take in future with regard to the development and regulation of Recreational Sea Angling in the years ahead.
It’s important that as many sea anglers and sea angling organisations as possible respond, letting them know what you like, what you don’t like, and what you think is missing from the proposals.
Once the consultation closes, there are likely to be announcements made by the Minister (probably in April) on some of the issues raised within the strategy proposals, and work will be taken forward on some issues.
Once the framework of the overall strategy has been decided upon, there are likely to be further consultations on the detail of some of the proposals that DEFRA intend to take forward, but this is the opportunity to influence what will be dropped, what will be given priority and what else needs to be included.
After 31st March it will be very difficult to meaningfully input into the overall strategy that DEFRA will adopt, so every opportunity should be taken to let them know your views in the next couple of weeks.
And if you have already responded, but have more thoughts to add, write again asking them to take those ideas into account as well.
This is probably the most important consultation that Recreational Sea Angling in the UK has ever had to deal with, and the opportunity to influence the eventual outcome is running out fast.
Regards, Leon Roskilly
Sea Anglers Conservation Network
http://www.sacn.org.uk
