SAA – Specialist Anglers Alliance
What is the Specialist Anglers Alliance?
The Specialist Anglers Alliance (SAA) was formed in May 2001 fromthe amalgamation of NASA and SACG. NASA had a track record as anorganisation which catered for all specialist anglers and producedquality publications and ran successful conferences. SACG, spawnedfrom NASA, concentrated on the political arena surrounding anglingand had an enviable track record. SACG has been involved in amongstother things, the review of fisheries bylaws and the successfuloverturning of angling bans. SACG also produced the first code ofconduct for specialist coarse anglers which was endorsed by amongstothers the EA and HRH the Prince of Wales.
The SAA aims include:
To unite and represent all specialist anglers at National andlocal level, to maximise our collective voice. To defend the anglingrights of specialist anglers.
To represent our members within the National Angling Alliance(NAA), to other bodies and organisations, in particular with regardto environmental and political matters of concern to angling.
- To secure funding to further the cause of angling and the environment.
- To campaign for a cleaner aquatic environment.
- To promote the universal adoption of a responsible code of conduct for anglers.
- To develop ongoing dialogue with other established conservation groups.
- To build a closer rapport between all anglers and the Environment Agency.
- To play an active role in formulating any legislation which impacts on angling and its environment.
- To increase contact with bodies such as the RSPB and RSPCA to foster mutual understanding and co-operation.
- To continue to provide a unified body for the benefit of all specialist anglers.
- To collect and record factual information on notable fish captures through a voluntary reporting scheme.
- To provide 2 representatives to sit on the British Record Fish Committee.
To date the SAA has set up a special rivers group to representriver anglers and the species they fish for, is fighting alongsidethe predator groups to defend livebaiting and has sent a response onthe Common Fisheries Policy Green Paper to MAFF (now DEFRA) and theEuropean Commission.
The SAA have also been involved in countering the recent antiangling efforts of PETA, in conjunction with the NAA, and haveparticipated in televised debates where pro angling arguments werestrongly, and effectively put across to the general public and toangling’s detractors.
Press releases and other information are posted on the SAAwebsite, hosted on anglersnet (www.anglersnet.co.uk) as well as beingdistributed to the angling and national press.
Membership of SAA is open to all single species groups, clubs andindividuals. An application form is on the website.
Further information is also available from:
