Source: Angling Trades Association
The Angling Trades Association (ATA) is delighted with the positive outcome of its recent private meeting with George Eustice, the Fisheries Minister, and his supporting Defra officials. The high-level discussions were arranged to enable the Association to raise several key issues of concern for its members and to seek ministerial assistance in resolving them.
ATA Chair Naidre Werner, who attended the meeting with the Association’s Chief Executive, Dr Bruno Broughton, applauded the Minister’s response to their requests for Government help saying:
“We asked the Minister to help facilitate ATA representation on national sea fisheries consultation bodies and organisations – which is long overdue – and for guidance on how best to combat the sale of illegal lead shot on the internet. In both cases the Minister asked his officials to provide the co-operation we needed, and that on-going interaction will prove invaluable in future.”
The Association also sought ideas on cross-departmental Government support to enable National Fishing Month to continue to grow.
Bruno Broughton observed:
“The Minister officially opened National Fishing Month 2014 at the CLA Game Fair at Ragley Hall, and he was clearly impressed by sterling work undertaken by organisers, coaches and supporting partners in mounting this annual angling recruitment drive. With further financial constraints likely to be imposed on the Environment Agency, and cut-backs generally across many Government departments, securing public and private support for NFM is vital to the future of the sport. The Minister has kindly agreed to assist the ATA with this important process.”
The ATA has pronounced the meeting ‘a huge success’ and has been fulsome in its praise for the Minister’s response.
Naidre Werner added:
“It is unusual for an organisation to pat the Government on the back, but in this case it is well deserved. We look forward to continue working together with the Minister and his Defra officials constructively to help strengthen the tackle trade and its important role in protecting and promoting the sport”.
