The NFSA is trying hard to influence the Government’s approach to marine fisheries management around our shores. The objective is to improve the sea fishing experience, primarily through improved fish stocks situation.

To ensure that the people who run the NFSA understand the priorities of its 5000 members we conducted a survey in November 2006 designed to both gather that information and to get sea anglers views on three hot topics being discussed at the time.

The full results of the survey are available here for anyone wishing to see them. The main facts that emerged can be summarised as follows.

1. Very clearly Conservation, in the form of lobbying government, came out top. Recognising this, the NFSA will continue to try and exert maximum influence to benefit sea anglers. We will ensure sea anglers have a voice on all significant representative bodies and there is a clear agenda for promoting and improving the sea angling experience.
2. Insurance. Members voted the 3rd party insurance package that NFSA membership brings as the 2nd most important element. We will continue to ensure that joining the NFSA brings a high quality level of third party cover to sea anglers.
3. Our members see joining the NFSA, thereby empowering us to speak on their behalf, as the 3rd most important element of what we do.
4. Access and all the associated issues came 4th in priority terms. This supports the increasing trends we see for limiting or curtailing angling access, particularly in pier, estuary and dockside situations. The NFSA will both lobby central government for sea angling to considered in a positive light in all planning situations, plus fight or seek solutions in local situations where restrictions on angling are proposed.
5. Members placed a lot of emphasis on the renewal of membership process. Within the NFSA we have already put a lot of effort into ensuring this is a predictable and effective service. We will continue this focus.
6. Communications with the membership formed the next priority. Given our size of organisation versus membership levels this is always a challenge, but one that we recognise and will accept. This year we will issue 3 newsletters in the form of a journal to all members, provide every member with a handbook full of useful information, we will issue regular electronic newsletters to members who provide email addresses. We will also improve the level of information available on our web site to encourage higher usage, as 25% of respondents did not express a view upon it, causing its low score. Increasingly, we will seek to use fast electronic tools to speed up information flow on NFSA topics and activities.

These will be the priorities of the NFSA this year. We expect to repeat the survey at the end of this year to guide us next year.

On the “hot topic” questions we asked the responses proved extremely useful. There is very little data available on what the vast majority of normally silent anglers feel about contentious subjects. The questions covered three subjects, licensing sea anglers, bag limits and catch and release in specific circumstance. The report available on this site gives the exact wording of the questions and responses, which is important in understanding the following conclusions that the NFSA has drawn.

Licensing of sea anglers. The overwhelming response is one of “negativity”. Virtually half (49.2%) of sea anglers are fundamentally opposed to the principle. However, a further large percentage (42.9%), say it would be acceptable if significant improvements in fish stocks were achieved and revenues generated were ploughed back into the sport. The NFSA position is to oppose the principle until significant improvements in the sea angling experience are recognised.

Bag Limits in conservation cases. Over half (54.4%) outright agree with this action, a further 36.9% agree if improvements are realised. The NFSA will therefore support the concept of bag limits where it is part of a balanced campaign to conserve or improve a specific fish stock or stocks. For the avoidance of doubt we will oppose such proposals where controls are placed solely on anglers whilst other users have free access to fish stocks important to sea anglers.

Catch and Release. This subject arose during consultations on Marine Preservation Areas (MPA’s). It is anticipated that there will be a network of these MPA’s introduced around our shores on conservation grounds. The NFSA and other angling organisations have lobbied hard for sea angling, being a relatively low environmental impact activity, to be allowed in MPA,s. However it is likely there will be some areas considered so sensitive that a ban on angling will be proposed. In these situations, should they arrive, the NFSA will support the concept of catch and release providing it allows the continued use of the area for sea angling. Such discussions would be on a case by case basis. The survey responses indicated an overwhelming support for this position, with 54.2% agreeing outright and a further 30.3% agreeing where improvements are achieved.

My thanks to all NFSA members who responded to the survey, it is only by knowing your views that we can represent them. We will repeat the survey at the end of 2007 and use the results to both gauge how well we are responding to your needs and what the priorities should be for the next year.

Richard Ferre. Chairman NFSA.