The Environment Agency is calling on anglers across the North East to spruce up their fisheries with a spring clean! Not just for cosmetic purposes – it could save anglers’ money, and help protect the environment too.
Rubbish left beside (or in) rivers and stillwaters, especially in urban areas, has a detrimental effect in many ways. For example:
Submerged shopping trolleys which snag anglers’ costly fishing tackle
Metal tins and cans which trap or cut small animals
Glass bottles which can focus the sun’s rays to make a fire risk.
So, as part of its Go Wild! millennium month celebration, the Agency is calling on fishermen to take rubbish home, and also to remove litter from the waterside – even if they are not the culprit.
Agency recreation officer Jason Watts said: “Most anglers do care for the environment and take their litter home, but as usual it’s the minority who spoil it for the rest. It would be great if anglers got together in work parties with other water users to spring clean their favourite fishing venues.
“This sort of litter is not only very unsightly but can also harm the local environment. If everyone does a little bit the region’s fisheries will soon be in pristine condition, which in turn will increase anglers’ enjoyment of their sport.”
The Environment Agency is supporting the Go Wild! millennium month as one of twelve themed months in the Year 2000 aimed at celebrating the environment and inspiring everyone to take a closer look at the effect they have on their surroundings. Other organisations promoting activities include Going for Green, Tidy Britain Group, and the Ramblers Association.
stacey.rennard@environment-agency.gov.uk
