Ministers Support National Fishing Week

Rural Affairs Minister Backs National Fishing Week

RURAL AFFAIRS MINISTER Barry Gardiner MP visited Beale Park in Pangbourne, near Reading last Tuesday (August 22nd) to support National Fishing Week and to back the Environment Agency’s drive to get more people fishing.

Barry Gardiner MP, Martin Salter MP and local instructor Dave Phillips fishing at Beale Park Lake

Reading West MP Martin Salter, who is the Parliamentary spokesman for angling joined Mr Gardiner at one of two free angling days held by the Environment Agency at Beale Park, Pangbourne, Berkshire last week as part of National Fishing Week. Qualified angling coaches from the National Federation of Anglers were on hand to give children one-to-one tuition sessions.

Barry Gardiner received a full briefing from Environment Agency officials and Mr Salter on plans to improve the habitat for fish in the Thames Region and to restore Thames tributaries such as the River Kennet. He then had an opportunity to meet with the youngsters who were trying their hand at fishing the Beale Park lake and even managed to catch a few fish himself.

Mr Gardiner said: “We have made our commitment to angling and shooting very clear in consecutive manifestos, and as Rural Affairs Minister am delighted to fulfil that pledge. I’ve seen for myself the many benefits of angling for people of all ages and abilities and was pleased to be able to support National Fishing Week by joining in at Beale Park.

“Angling is good for our health, the economy and the environment. I want to see an increase in the number of people involved in angling, and in particular for more people from a wider range of backgrounds to have the opportunity to go fishing.”

Mr Salter said: “I’m pleased that the new Rural Affairs Minister found time not only to re-state the government’s support for angling but to see for himself the excellent contribution that angling makes to the health of the population and to the environment in general. National Fishing Week was a huge success and it was good to see a newly appointed government minister out on the bank encouraging more people to take up fishing.”