Latest from the Angling Trust;

Re-think likely on Gove's Animal Welfare Bill after Trust warns it could 'open the door to extremists' Following intense lobbying by the Angling Trust and other organisations, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee has come out strongly against the animal sentience section of the poorly drafted Animal Welfare Bill, which could open up angling to legal challenge by animal rights extremists. The Government has been told to drop this aspect of the Bill or re-write it completely. The Angling Trust had written to Environment Secretary Michael Gove expressing serious concerns over possible consequences for angling as a result of the Bill, which seeks to increase the maximum sentences for animal cruelty and write into law the concept of animals as ‘sentient beings’. Read the Select Committee's recommendations Angling Trust's response to the Bill consultation Mixed reaction to EA's new rules for salmon and sea trout fishing The Environment Agency’s announcement of measures to regulate salmon and sea trout angling and commercial netting in England has met with a mixed response from the nearly 30,000 anglers who buy a migratory fish rod licence each year. The new measures will be in place for 10 years, with a review in 5 years’ time, subject to the outcome of a formal four-week consultation to be announced at the end of February.  Read the full story 100% catch and release in Wales moves step closer The board of Natural Resources Wales has supported its executive’s proposals for mandatory 100% catch and release for salmon anglers throughout Wales. It will now recommend to Welsh Government that this is implemented with effect from the 2018 fishing season, ignoring the 83% of respondents to the consultation who did not agree with the catch and release proposals.  Read more National honour for former world sea angling champion             Congratulations to Angling Trust ambassador Chris Clark, who has received the British Citizen Award for inspiring hundreds of young anglers to become England stars. Chris, a former world sea angling champion, had to overcome his own personal adversities after a farm accident left him with reduced mobility in his right arm and leg. But he refused to let it get him down and says it inspired him to give something back to the sport he loves. Read Chris's story East coast anglers advised not to eat fish after two dogs die The Eastern IFCA has advised sea anglers in Norfolk and Suffolk they may wish to return catches to sea rather than retain for consumption as a precautionary measure. It follows the deaths of two dogs with others becoming ill after eating fish and crustaceans found on beaches. The IFCA believes the cause was toxic shellfish. Read more Fishery owner takes down 'No Polish anglers' sign The owner of an Oxfordshire fishery has removed a sign banning Polish and Eastern bloc anglers after being threatened with court action. Rado Papiewski, who runs the Angling Trust’s Building Bridges project, had challenged the sign and had the support of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, as well as wellwishers across the world. Big discounts for Angling Trust members! Your Angling Trust membership entitles you to big savings on products and services from trade partners - and we've managed to secure some fantastic new offers for you, ideal for the New Year! There's huge savings on kitchen appliances, big discounts on dozens of top clothing brands, offers on fishing tackle ... and more. Don't forget, your membership also gives you 10% off day and season tickets at nearly 100 fishing venues, free £10m public liability insurance and entry to Angling Trust only fishing matches. Find out more about Angling Trust membership benefits See you at the shows! Going to an angling show in the next few months? Don't forget to say hello at the Angling Trust stand. We will be displaying at three shows - the British Fly Fair International at Staffordshire County Showground (Feb 10th & 11th), the Northern Angling Show at Manchester's Event City (Feb 24th & 25th, and The Big One at Farnborough (March 24th & 25th). Anglers rally to support fund for tragic Liam's family Fellow anglers have rallied to support the family of a young angler who is believed to have drowned while fishing the canal near his home in Tamworth. Liam Fairbrother, aged 20, is thought to have toppled into the water after having an epileptic seizure. A Facebook group, Catch A Fish For Liam, has been set up by Liam's fiancee Jamie Leigh, who is pregnant with their first child, while fellow anglers have launched a fundraising campaign for the family. Add your support WATCH: Take 5 - at the beach and on the riverbank To support our Take 5 litter campaign, the Angling Trust has produced two videos aimed at freshwater and sea anglers. Remember, you can help stop litter spoiling our beaches and riverbanks by taking five items of litter or spending five minutes to remove litter after you have finished finshing. Find out more Don't forget to keep logging your sightings of cormorants The Angling Trust has launched Cormorant Watch 2 to support our campaign for new measures to protect rivers and lakes from fish-eating birds. Please record sightings of cormorants, goosanders and red-breasted mergansers on the Cormorant Watch 2 website. How to log your sightings Let's all Spring Into Fishing With longer days and better weather just around the corner, our Spring Into Fishing events are ideal to introduce newcomers to angling. Funded by the Environment Agency, Spring Into Fishing runs throughout March and are a great way to help kids learn new skills outdoors – best of all they won’t cost a penny! Find out more News from Fish Legal Chicken farm 'threat to tributary' Fish Legal has helped a riparian member block plans to site an industrial chicken complex next to a tributary of the river Towy. Planning permission for a 32,000 strong ‘free range’ chicken unit near Llandeilo has been refused after Fish Legal raised concerns that surface water run-off posed a threat to salmon and sea trout. Read more Be 'planning wise' plea to members Fish Legal has suggested that member clubs and riparian owners check planning application lists regularly following concerns that the government’s targets for new homes could put more pressure on the UK’s river systems. Read more Competition News Book tickets now for £50,000 Fish'O'Mania Tickets for this year's Fish 'O' Mania qualifiers are now on sale. A maximum of two tickets per angler are available in the first round of sales, which closes at midnight on 8th February. Hayfield Lakes is hosting this year's final with a top prize of £50,000. Book tickets Find out more Launch of new fly fishing championship for teams The Angling Trust has teamed up with Scientific Anglers to introduce a new loch style fly fishing competition with an exciting new format and potential £8,500 prize fund. The two-day competition will be for teams of six anglers and be held at Draycote Water and Eyebrook Fishery on the 30th June and 1st July 2018. Find out more New stillwater classic The Stillwater Championship, organised by the Canal & River Trust and Angling Trust, is returning for 2018 with a new name and format. The new Boddington Classic will see three qualifying rounds taking place on the prolific Boddington Reservoir, with a 30 peg final being held on Saturday, July 28.  More information Venues for World Club qualifiers Dates and venues for the World Club Champioinship qualifiers have been announced. The World Club Feeder qualifier will be on the Gloucester Canal on Saturday, 29th September, while the Float qualifier will be on Furzton Lake, Milton Keynes, on Saturday, 6th October. Find out more Not yet a member? Please join the Trust today The Angling Trust represents anglers and protects fishing. The more anglers who join, the louder our voice becomes. By becoming a member, you help fund our work to promote angling and its future, to fight for better fish stocks in both the marine and freshwater environment and to campaign against threats to angling. Membership of the Angling Trust runs for a year from the date of joining - and you'll also receive great membership benefits including £10m public liability insurance, discounts on products and services, and at least 10% off day and season tickets at almost 100 fisheries. Please support our work ... join or renew today!