Join the NFSA and make it happen

There has never been a more appropriate time for sea anglers and the industry that it supports to move forward. At last you are being recognised as someone with a real stake and an interest in the fish stocks, the management of which we have all been moaning about for many years.

The reason for this change in attitude, is due to the work carried out on behalf of all of you by the NFSA who together with BASS and all its partner organisations including the web based SACN have achieved so much over the past five years.

We and our partner organisations have lobbied hard and at last we have the recognition that we have striven for, and as a result we have been able to contribute to the debate at the highest level in marine fisheries management and our recent input into the Governments Strategy Unit has been considerable.

This work is the responsibility of the NFSA Conservation Group who under the Chairmanship of Richard Ferre works tirelessly on its many projects some of which we were able to explain at a presentation to Ben Bradshaw at the recent Angling Summit in London. It was at the Summit that John Leballeur, chairman of BASS was able to present the Bass Management Plan which interested the Ministers to the point where he asked for a special meeting to explore its recommendations further. This Summit was organised by Martin Salter MP in conjunction with the newly formed Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust of which the NFSA is a founder Member.

DEFRA have invited nominations from sea anglers for the four year appointment to the Sea Fisheries Committees and the NFSA has nominated at least two committed anglers, with the necessary experience, to each of the English Sea Fisheries Committees. We are confident that when DEFRA announce their appointees, we will have in place enough committed angling members to make a real contribution to those committees who manage the inshore marine fisheries up to six miles.

However all this work on your behalf does not come cheap, in fact it is a huge strain on our resources and cannot be continued at the current level without some serious injection of finance and resources.

I therefore implore all those with a real interest in the future of our sport to join us in our work and don’t stop there encourage your friends to join us also and to contribute towards this new opportunity, which may yet be tangible in the form of improved fish stocks, but will without doubt help ensure your future as sea anglers.

Visit our website now at www.nfsa.org.uk and join on line, or call the Head Office on 01364 644643 for an application form on which you can specifically contribute to this vital work