100 YEARS THE GUARDIANS OF GAME FISHING
On 23rd April a small group of fly fishers, deeply concerned about the environmental problems affecting their sport, established an association to be the voice of game angling in the United Kingdom.
23rd April 2002? No – 23rd April 1903.
The centenary of The Salmon and Trout Association on 23 April 2003 finds the objective of the first resolution to ‘improve the salmon and trout fisheries of the United Kingdom’ to be as valid today as it was 100 years ago. Even more so, in fact, as the Association, the single body representing game anglers in the UK, now not only lobbies the British parliament, but also the EU, the regional parliaments, quangos, other environmental bodies, Trusts, Associations, specialist interests……
Today the cause of, and the case for, game angling have never been stronger. The Association’s prime concern of improving fisheries has considerably expanded to include wider environmental issues as it becomes more and more evident that the health of a river is a key indicator of the health of the countryside and, at the same time, taking on a much more proactive role in lobbying, influencing, informing.
Paul Knight, the Association’s Executive Director, declares, “In this our Centenary year, and beyond, we aim to convince politicians to show some vision in these vital areas of environmental rehabilitation and conservation. ”
(For a full listing of our centenary activities please see our website www.salmon-trout.org.)
