Angling is arguably the most popular participation sport in the country with more than four million anglers already in the sport and as many again looking for help in taking it up. Increasingly we are attracting groups not traditionally associated with angling such as families, women and the disabled.
£ 17.6m in rod licence fees were collected last year by the Environment Agency with £ 2.5m being spent on widening access and improving facilities. Simple developments such as car parking and toilets go a long way to making angling a more welcoming and enjoyable pastime for millions of people.
Richard Wightman, Angling Participation Manager at the Environment Agency commented “The work we are doing is transforming access and opportunity in the UK; and the Agency, with its partners, is opening up the sport to all parts of society – fishing is a truly inclusive sport for all.”
The popularity of angling has led to its recognition as an activity that, while worthwhile in its own right, can also help significantly in tackling community issues such as anti-social behaviour, young offending and social exclusion. This development has been in no mean part due to the Environment Agency working in close partnership with community stakeholders.
One specialist group the Environment Agency has been working in partnership with is the British Disabled Anglers Association (BDAA), with the aim to help make open access a reality for the many disabled anglers who use our waterways.
The Environment Agency and the BDAA have visited 125 fishing clubs and fisheries this year advising, supporting and helping to fund improvements to open up access like never before. Under parts of the Disability Discrimination Act that comes into force this October, clubs and fisheries will be obliged to do all they can to ensure sites have disabled access.
Angling is not only the most popular participation sport amongst able-bodied people but also the most popular amongst disabled people. 54,000 rod licences were purchased by disabled people last year, meaning the Agency has a clear duty to provide facilities for this growing customer base.
Fishing has proved an invaluable tool in reducing social exclusion amongst disabled people.
“It’s a great leveler,” explains Terry Moseley of the BDAA. “A disability rarely effects your ability to fish well; and because disabled people can fish alongside non-disabled people, it is a great way to breakdown the barriers that exist and reduce the exclusion often felt by disabled people in society.”
Although clubs and fisheries will be obliged by law to provide disabled access, it also makes sound economic sense. 8.7 million people are registered disabled in the UK and have a predicted £ 8bn to spend on recreation activities. The clear message is that here is a market that is not being tapped into as effectively as it might
Romney Lock on the River Thames was re-developed by the Environment Agency with advice from the British Disabled Angling Association – A new Angling platform was constructed which allows safe wheelchair access along with an access track. Ramps were also installed at the locks to improve general disabled access along the river. This platform is also available for use by non-disabled people meaning this project has been beneficial to all. This work is now being extended along the Thames from Marlow to Teddington.
