Sea Angling - An industry which needs more shareholders - A. Brothers   The Government estimates more than a million recreational anglers fish the shores of the UK - either literally, or from boats a few miles out. They contribute - government figures again - more than £1 billion to the economy. Sea angling has been recognized as not only being a hobby but a substantial industry. It promises great future benefits for the country’s coastal communities - and far better fishing for anglers. But only… If the NFSA on behalf of sea anglers convinces central and local government they must protect the decimated fish stocks from further destruction and ensure their breeding grounds are left alone, and… If sea anglers band together to make the NFSA a real force with which government must reckon. This is the message the NFSA has begun to get across to politicians, civil servants and those million sea anglers, the government has counted. Gradually we are stepping up our public relations to raise the image of our sport and increase and awareness of it at national and local council levels. Government listens to the Federation and has recently been asking for our views about the future development of sea angling. But Government is also aware that the Federation has less than 40,000 members in total including less than 10,000 affiliated directly, amongst those million sea anglers. Governments listen best and most, to organisations with large memberships. Thus the overriding importance of getting more and more anglers to join. As you are reading this, you are very likely already a member. Or you may have borrowed it from a member who is trying to get you to join. if you are a member try to recruit another one. if you are not a member, then join. To talk effectively with government and other organisations now beginning to understand that sea angling matters, the federation needs more paid staff. They can only be paid for through increasing membership. Today we have one full-time member of staff. And two part-timers. Not nearly enough to do the work begging to be done to protect our fish stocks. More members means more cash to pay our way. It is not expensive - membership is less than five pence a day. Very little to pay to invest in the body which government is listening to.