Now just passed its first birthday, the Specialist Anglers Alliance, SAA, has announced a few developments and has re-iterated its support for the close season.
New Chairman
Following its AGM, the SAA announced that David Bird had been elected to replace Keith Barker as chairman. David has been taking an increasing part in the activities of SAA since its inception, previously he had been both President of the NFA and Director, Conservation and Environment of the Angling Trade Association with extensive contacts throughout the angling world. He has also been a member of NASA and SACG for many years and said after his election, “I am more than pleased to take a higher profile with the Alliance as I feel it is really going places and doing an effective job for the sport.”
The SAA expressed its thanks to outgoing chairman, Keith Barker, for steering the Alliance successfully through its inaugural year and bringing together the various specialist threads and interests to make a cohesive united group. Keith will continue to be active within the SAA and continue his specialist input to the committee.
River Anglers Join SAA
The recent formation of the River Systems Support Group (RSSG) was welcomed by the SAA, and now the SAA has announced that it will be working together with the new organisation and granting it SAA membership. The RSSG will aid the SAA in monitoring and campaigning on river angling issues and monitoring the effects of EA policies in drainage and land management within the river catchments of England and Wales. The SAA says that this will add to the armoury protecting angling and fisheries and that the involvement of local anglers will mean faster and better information and knowledge to those who take decisions at national level: “Both groups can much better represent the needs of our rivers and of river anglers at the highest levels in angling and Government”, the SAA stated.
Retention of the rivers close season
The SAA AGM included a wide-ranging debate about the rivers close season culminating in a vote where members provided unanimous support for its continued retention. This is unlikely to cause much surprise, as the policy echoes the previous stance of the SACG and NASA. As members of NAA the SAA plans to continue to defend the rivers close season at the highest level within the Environment Agency and Government.
For further information contact:
saauk@hotmail.com
