As promised Gentlemen with thanks to all that responded this appeared in Tonights Manchester Evening News.
Angling Does Far more Good Than Harm.
Recently angling has become the target of certain groups who want to enforce their minority view on others. These anti-angling factions have no agenda other than to get many aspects of our national life and pastimes banned, with no clear programme for the future protection of the aquatic environment.
I started angling in my childhood beginning at the age of eight years, I have always had a fascination of the world that existed under the surface of the water and the fish that swam beneath. Some thirty-nine years on I still have that fascination.
Throughout my fishing years I have visited ponds, lakes, rivers and the sea that surrounds us all.
As a young man I carried with me the rebelliousness that comes with youth and carried the potential for latent aggression and anger that many young men feel. During these years my passion for angling kept me out of trouble by providing a positive focus for my spare time. I did not feel the need to spend my time hanging around street corners and cause mayhem.
Through angling I am able to cope with my very busy daily life. All of us will recognise that life is increasingly stressful and there is a real need to create beauty and peace within our existence.
When I go fishing I count myself fortunate that I am able to go into some of the most beautiful places that our region has to offer.
For my company I have the friendly dipper who greets me from his favourite stone in the river. I watch the kingfishers flash up and down the river - they are always in a hurry. On the banks I observe the rabbits, foxes and occasionally deer as they come down to the waterside and drink.
Angling has taught me many things. It has allowed me to become much more than an observer of the natural world. I no longer just look at the beauty of the countryside ,I interact with it. Through that interaction I have come to understand my environment.
Angling can be a solitary activity or it can meet the needs of those who prefer the company of others with club outings and competitions.
Angling attracts both men and, increasingly women, from across the social spectrum. For many disabled people the sport provides a pastime that they can take part in as equals. Many clubs and fisheries provide facilities for disabled people.
Angling is a pastime that virtually anyone can take up, the cost of the equipment is inexpensive, though if you want to spend a fortune you can do so if you wish.
Nearly all of us live within reasonable distance of fishable water. Many town and city parks have ponds and lakes that are ideal for the purpose. Manchester is blessed with the rivers Tame and Goyt both of which provide good fishing and are easily accessible During the recent foot and mouth crisis these rivers were amongst the very few in the country to remain open. Visitors during this time were highly impressed with the quality of ManchesterÂ’s hidden waterways.
It is through the work of anglers that many of BritainÂ’s rivers remain able to sustain life at all. The Anglers Conservation Association remains the only organisation that takes the polluters of our waterways to court and makes them pay to clean up and restore the damage that they have done.
We are the eyes and ears of our rivers and every year the lives of countless thousands of fish are saved by anglers spotting pollution and other incidents and reporting them to the Environment Agency so that rapid action can be taken.
Many angling clubs throughout the North West are heavily involved in conservation projects to restore the aquatic habitat.
Even on our costal waters it is we are campaigning to stop abuse of a naturual resorce by commercial operations.
Angling is valued by many organisations, police forces are creating schemes to get youngsters involved with angling because of the values that the activity teaches. There are many other similar opportunities, particularly for young people, available from a wide range of organisations.
Anglers support many charities, one group have raised over £25,000 for Mac Millan Cancer Care, while angling’s own charity ‘Second Chance’ uses recreational fishing as a means of helping traumatised and abused youngsters to rebuild their lives.
Angling contributes £3.3 billion every year to the UK economy and provides thousands of jobs.
WhatÂ’s more we even excel at an international level. UK national teams are frequently world champions in almost all areas of the sport. Would that our football and crickets teams be able to emulate such success.
There is no valid scientific evidence that proves that fish feel pain and whilst a fish may be slightly irritated by being caught, admired and then lovingly returned, IÂ’m sure that if asked it would rather have us looking after its interests than those who seek to ban it.
Alan Roe
August 2001
Cheers
Alan<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by IanWelch on 20/08/01 07:51 PM (server time).</FONT></P>