On Saturday 11th June to mark the start of anti-angling week activists opposed to the bloodsport of angling met up in St Georges Park. Two large banners "Fish Feel Pain" & "Have a heart" let everyone know what the theme was.
SUCCESS! The first fisherman of the day that was spoken to gave up angling for good. Not only did he pack his kit up but was even up for a few photos with the banner and hung around chatting with people for the next hour! Most people were pretty supportive with many park goers fed up with the anglers spoiling the lake and leaving lines and hooks around to be a danger to not only fish but birds and other wildlife too.
The only major disagreement was from one person who had obviously had too much to drink and decided to throw his weight around against one of the female protestors. But she stood her ground despite his assault.
During a quiet period some protestors decided to start cleaning up the lake from beer cans - who said anglers are tidy? One protestor was arrested when the Police, as usual, got the wrong end of the stick.
After a short while the anti-angling crew headed off to Eastville Park where there was only 1 person fishing - a small child and her dad who seemed to prefer a chat with us than to maim fish (who could blame him!). After a quick chat about fish feeling pain he agreed it was cruel and his daughter decided she didn't want to fish anymore. A 100% success rate at Eastville!!
Flushed with success the drums were beat and everyone headed off, banner in tow, in search of an elusive angling club.
On the first day 2 anglers stopped- a great start.
SUCCESS! The first fisherman of the day that was spoken to gave up angling for good. Not only did he pack his kit up but was even up for a few photos with the banner and hung around chatting with people for the next hour! Most people were pretty supportive with many park goers fed up with the anglers spoiling the lake and leaving lines and hooks around to be a danger to not only fish but birds and other wildlife too.
The only major disagreement was from one person who had obviously had too much to drink and decided to throw his weight around against one of the female protestors. But she stood her ground despite his assault.
During a quiet period some protestors decided to start cleaning up the lake from beer cans - who said anglers are tidy? One protestor was arrested when the Police, as usual, got the wrong end of the stick.
After a short while the anti-angling crew headed off to Eastville Park where there was only 1 person fishing - a small child and her dad who seemed to prefer a chat with us than to maim fish (who could blame him!). After a quick chat about fish feeling pain he agreed it was cruel and his daughter decided she didn't want to fish anymore. A 100% success rate at Eastville!!
Flushed with success the drums were beat and everyone headed off, banner in tow, in search of an elusive angling club.
On the first day 2 anglers stopped- a great start.
Comments
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anti angling
22.11.2006 12:12
I love fishing ! i've been fishing every weekend since the age of 12 and i have no intention of stopping.. further more my 6 sons are also passionate anglers and i've got quite a few nephews into it to. That article stinks of imtimadation .. vive la fishing !
danny
Seems a little selectively written to me
25.09.2007 17:41
I wish to know if your organisation (and the other similar ones) are going to raise the same level of money for the Environment Agency that is paid annually by anglers to the EA (which is currently £26.50 per angler) and is used to help cleaning up our waterways, fighting pollution, prosecuting polluters, poachers etc.
Lets also look at how youve also seemed to tar all anglers with the same brush. There are many anglers who also pick up litter at lakes and rivers, join clear up parties to help improve their fishing environment, actively report river pollution and fish death from pollution to the EA. Its the same as any interest you get people who are considerate and people who are inconsiderate and fortunately round where I live the inconsiderate seem to be the minority I mean most of us i'd expect to want to keep fish alive and well and returned in good health to the water for the enjoyment of future generations of anglers and not have to sit in a tonne of beer bottles and fishing lines to catch them.
Have a read of the pisces website, it has lots of interesting points on there abou how to disrupt anglers such as "Saboteurs will wear waterproof gear and swim, wade or splash their feet in the water to stop anglers casting and scare away the fish". Would people from this site condone this sort of behaviour as that seems to be more of a danger to fish than a few hooks might be.
EssexAngler