John Cheyne is Head of Marketing, Communications & Membership at the Angling Trust, one of the key organisations that Farlows actively supports to help the conservation of our fish and rivers and to encourage new audiences into the sport.
John's Top Reasons To Join The Angling Trust
1. ANGLERS AGAINST POLLUTION CAMPAIGN
THE PROBLEM:
Recent data has revealed that raw sewage was discharged for more than 3.6m hours into rivers and seas last year in England. That’s a 105% increase on the previous 12 months.
The scale of the discharges of untreated waste made 2023 the worst year for storm water pollution ever. On top of that we have huge issues with agricultural pollution right across the country. Pollution is slowly killing our rivers, destroying fly life, limiting the ability of our fish to spawn successfully and thrive.
If we are to protect our fishing for future generations this needs to stop and stop soon.
WHAT WE ARE DOING:
We are lobbying government hard to take action, not just alone but by joining forces with others including the End Sewage Pollution Coalition (Surfers Against Sewage, Rivers Trust, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, Riveraction, Royal Yachting Association plus nine others) and The Clean Water Sports Alliance (British Rowing, British Triathlon, GB Outrigger, Paddle UK, Royal Yachting Association and Swim England).
We are also empowering anglers and angling clubs to understand the extent of the pollution in their own rivers and using the information to demand change. 18 months ago we set up our Anglers Against Pollution Water Quality Monitoring Network. It now has over 700 volunteers from over 270 angling clubs, monitoring pollution on over 200 rivers ! that makes it the biggest anti-pollution citizens science project in the country.
Now we are stepping up the pressure ahead of the forthcoming general election and supporting demonstrations by anglers and others across the country. Our first demo was held in co-operation with the Hampshire Rivers Keepers Association and the Test and Itchen Association down on the River Test, which has been blighted in recent years by raw sewage from Southern Water.
More than 250 anglers and supporters marched on the Southern Water Treatment Works at Fullerton to demand change. The event attracted National media coverage from ITV, BBC and National Newspapers. This was soon followed up by another demo on the Kennet in Newbury and again there were over 200 in attendance including local MP’s and the National media. We will continue to help organise these demonstrations on key rivers right around the country.
2. THE WORK OF FISH LEGAL
Fish Legal take legal action on behalf of their members to protect our rivers, lakes and seas. Formerly known as the Anglers Conservation Association, they take polluters to court in civil cases as well as taking Government bodies such as The Environment Agency and National Resources Wales to Judicial Review in the High Court when we believe they are failing in their duty to protect the places we fish.
Fish Legal is united in a collaborative relationship with the Angling Trust. Their legal cases complement the Angling Trust’s campaigns and lobbying activities to protect fish and fishing. 30% of all Angling Trust individual membership subscriptions are used to fund the work of Fish Legal. In the last 15 years they have won over £2,000,000 in compensation for angling clubs impacted by pollution. All of this money goes to the Angling Clubs. They have taken the Government to court and changed the law 7 times. They have fought 140 legal cases on behalf of members and advised members on 181 planning threats to fisheries.
3. THE GET FISHING CAMPAIGN
The Get Fishing Campaign is run by the Angling Trust with funding for Sport England, Shakespeare Fishing tackle and Fishing Licence income from the Environment Agency as well as funding from individual Angling Trust member subscriptions. We help organise, promote and deliver 100’s of events right round the country every year to give people their chance to try fishing for the first time. It’s vital that we inspire a new generation of anglers by working with grass roots clubs and fisheries in this way. Last year there were 1886 Get Fishing supported events which attracted 24,759 participants, 70% of which were under 18.
4. REEL EDUCATION
The ‘Reel Education‘ project is a Free Primary school resource that has been developed by the Angling Trust and Shakespeare Fishing Tackle. Lesson plans and activities have been created by teachers, for teachers and are linked to the national framework. With a focus on Art, Maths & Science in curriculum-based activities as well as P.E and games led by licensed Angling Trust coaches the all-encompassing Reel Education resource demonstrates the link between Environment, Nature and Angling.
Reel Education is a brilliant way to get fishing back into schools and get young people enthused about our sport. Our team goes to the school and runs a full day of exercises, activities and lesson plans that can lead to next-steps follow-up attendance at, Get Fishing events all over England – the aim being to introduce pupils to the outdoors and provide a lifelong connection to all of the educational, health and wellbeing benefits that the wonderful world of angling brings to people of all ages and backgrounds each year! By joining the Angling Trust, you are supporting this work and inspiring a new generation of anglers.
5. PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE
Game fishing is not without its dangers, particularly to others who could be injured by a misplaced back cast or an over-cast lure. When you join Angling Trust as an individual member you are covered by our £10m of public liability cover for all your angling activities worldwide and personal accident cover when you are fishing too. It’s good to have peace of mind that you are covered!
6. MEMBERS DISCOUNTS
When you join the Angling Trust as an individual member you get a whole host of member discounts and offers including 10% off at over 90 fisheries around the country and 10% off purchases at Farlows and its sister brand Sportfish. So if you regularly spend more than £300 a year on fly fishing tackle, then you will be saving money by joining the Angling Trust!
7. FIGHTING FOR FISHING
The team at the Angling Trust dedicate their time to standing up for anglers’ rights on many issues. From reversing angling bans on famous waters, to lobbying government on over-abstraction, and bye-law changes we are there. We provide advice and funding to clubs and fisheries on a wide variety of issues such as predation by cormorants and goosander, control of invasive species and bio security and ways to prevent poaching and fish theft. We do all this, so you can go fishing in peace and enjoy our wonderful sport. Join Angling Trust today and support this work.
8. FIGHTING FOR THE FUTURE OF SALMON THROUGH THE MISSING SALMON ALLIANCE
We are a key member of The Missing Salmon Alliance, a proactive group of conservation focused organisations have come together to drive action and save our wild Atlantic salmon from extinction by combining expertise, coordinating activities and advocating effective management solutions.
The twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss are creating conditions that threaten their very existence in the wild. However, we have time to make a difference if we take decisive action now.
The Missing Salmon Alliance’s members and partners are uniquely placed to make a real difference, but if we are to save our wild salmon we need action at significantly more pace and scale. Saving the wild Atlantic salmon will take a coordinated effort. That is why the three leading salmon conservation organisations - the Angling Trust with Fish Legal , The Atlantic Salmon Trust, and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust came together to form the Missing Salmon Alliance. We have now been joined by Fisheries Management Scotland and The Rivers Trust. The Missing Salmon Alliance are fighting to reverse the devastating collapse in wild Atlantic salmon. By combining expertise, coordinating activities and advocating effective management solutions we can help wild Atlantic salmon survive and thrive in our rivers and seas for the next generation.
By working together we will Share information, agree priorities, avoid duplication of effort, present coordinated arguments, and take coordinated action to halt and reverse the decline. Increase the scale of funding available and make efficient use of resources by being more focused and more accountable. Regularly review progress and make changes accordingly. The Alliance’s goal is to build an evidence-base to influence national decision-makers to regulate activities that adversely impact wild salmon. Join Angling Trust today and support this work.
