Angling Trust

17/09/2026

21,000 citizen scientists. More than 61,000 water quality samples. One clear demand: Make Citizen Data Count. Across the UK, volunteers are helping expose the true state of our rivers. Now they’re calling on government to give citizen science a formal role in the new water regulatory system.

At the River Summit, we’re backing their call for citizen data to be recognised, used and acted upon.

Add your name to the petition:
https://www.change.org/p/make-citizen-data-count-put-citizen-science-at-the-heart-of-the-clean-water-bill

📖 Read the full press release: https://anglingtrust.net/2026/09/07/meet-the-volunteer-citizen-scientists-behind-the-uks-riverlution/

Thames21 WildFish Surfers Against Sewage Earthwatch Europe

17/09/2026

⚖️ How many times does the Government need to be told to act lawfully?
After 23 years of delay, two Judicial Reviews and a landmark Court of Appeal ruling, Fish Legal says the Government has still failed to produce a lawful plan to restore Costa Beck in North Yorkshire.
The river has been devastated by pollution, with its once-prolific fish stocks almost entirely lost. The latest Government-approved plan brings forward deadlines for reviews and investigations, but Fish Legal says it still fails to commit clearly to the action needed to restore the river.
Fish Legal, acting for Pickering Fishery Association, is now assessing whether it must take the exceptional step of seeking a third Judicial Review.
The legal principles established through the Costa Beck case affect how polluted and failing rivers and lakes across England must be restored.
Zoe Wedderburn Day, Head of Policy and Strategy at Fish Legal:
“People should not have to keep dragging the environmental regulator through the courts simply to get it to comply with the law.”

The ENDS Report article: https://www.endsreport.com/article/1970265/exclusive-defras-updated-plan-restore-river-may-face-rare-third-judicial-review

Press release: https://fishlegal.net/2026/09/17/government-fails-again-to-produce-lawful-plan-for-heavily-polluted-yorkshire-river-despite-two-court-defeats-and-23-years-of-delay/

17/09/2026

Protecting our native wildlife from the invasive non-native American Mink

The Non-Native American mink is a predator that has been decimating local ecologies for decades, yet until recent years very little has been done to control them.

With their diet ranging from fish, water voles and frogs to bird colonies like sand martins but also attacks on much larger bird life like swans and herons, it was time something was done to bring them under control.

The Waterlife Recovery Trusts mink eradication programme has been so effective they have managed to eradicate mink from the whole of East Anglia. They have now received funding to carry on their great work across the UK.

However, they need anglers and clubs to help identify hotspots where mink is prevalent where they can deploy smart traps.

If your club of fishery has been affected by this non-native species, then you can reach out to the charity here: https://www.waterliferecoverytrust.org.uk/

Traps can be free of charge dependant on your location or if you fall outside of the funded areas, you could still be eligible for an Angling Improvement Fund grant to tackle Invasive Non-Native Species. The AIF is funded through the Environment Agency and Rod Licence income and details can be found here: https://anglingtrust.net/funding/biosecurity-and-invasive-non-native-species/

Recently the BBC news covered the work that the Waterlife Recovery Trust is doing regarding the eradication of the non-native American mink, and the articles and video can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8r245y6jn6o

16/09/2026

What a weekend. 🎣💚

From Chris, Scott & Baz — THANK YOU!

When we first started talking about The BIG Fish N Show, we wanted to create something that celebrated everything brilliant about fishing, brought the established angling community together AND introduced a completely new audience to our sport.

Over 8,000 people came through the gates, with around 1 in 3 either completely new to angling or just getting started, while 36% of those who answered our age question were under 18.

But just as importantly, the established angling community turned up in force too. The feedback from exhibitors has been fantastic, with excellent footfall, engagement and sales reported across the show.

Was everything perfect? Of course not — it was year one and we learnt a huge amount. Our exhibitors are currently completing an in-depth feedback form, and we’ll use that alongside all the visitor feedback to make 2027 even better.

The response since the weekend has been incredible. There are far too many people to thank in one post, so professional media and plenty of specific posts celebrating each area of the show and everyone who helped make it happen are still to come.

For now, from the three of us, thank you to everyone who attended, exhibited, worked, fished, demonstrated, performed or supported us.

And we’re not hanging around…

2027 is already underway. 🔥

Registration of interest for 2027 exhibitors and visitors is already LIVE on our website.

Year one was just the start. 🎣💚

16/09/2026

🦈 **Anglers helping unlock the secrets of sharks**

Nice to see the media highlighting the important role recreational anglers can play in marine science.

The "Sharks of Kent" is a great project from Kent Wildlife Trust training local anglers and charter skippers to catch, measure, tag and safely release sharks, helping researchers build a better picture of their movements, growth and the importance of Kent’s waters as a potential nursery ground.

This is exactly the kind of citizen science the Angling Trust has long championed, including our own involvement in shark tagging programmes that put anglers’ knowledge and experience at the heart of research.

Anglers can be an invaluable part of understanding and protecting seas and the life that lives in them.

Read the full story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8xg23zze1o

The project involves sharks in Kent's waters being tagged so that scientists can gain vital data.

16/09/2026

Fishing is about much more than catching fish. 🎣

At Farnham Angling Society, Get Fishing is helping people take their first steps into angling in a safe, friendly and welcoming environment.

Thank you to the club, its volunteers and everyone who made the day possible.

The Get Fishing campaign to get more people fishing more often is funded by EA from rod licence income.

https://www.facebook.com/Farnham.Angling.Society/?locale=en_GB

Find a Get Fishing event near you: https://anglingtrust.net/fishing-events/

15/09/2026

Jeremy Wade has signed. Have you? 🎣
Angling Trust Ambassador Jeremy Wade is supporting the call for a change in the way our water industry is run.
The petition for a referendum on bringing the water industry into public ownership has already attracted more than 200,000 signatures and was debated in Parliament yesterday. But it is still open until 1st October.
For anglers, healthy rivers, lakes and seas are not optional. We need a water system that puts clean water first, not profit.
👉 If you fish, please sign the petition and share it with your fishing mates, clubs and communities. Let's see if we can get the petition over a quarter of a million. Sign and share the petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/762640
H₂O, not POO.

15/09/2026

Good for the Soul, the latest film in the Environment Agency participation series is out today.

This film reconfirms why fishing is a great leveller. Life's thoughts fall to the wayside and we’re left with the peace and tranquillity of happy memories.

Head over to the Angling Trust YouTube channel to follow Gillians reconnection with fishing.

Fishing. It’s good for the soul.

The EA participation film series is funded by rod licence income.

If you or someone you know is struggling, follow this link for help:https://anglingtrust.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Signposts-for-Support.pdf

Director & Editor -
Cinematography -
Sound -

Thanks to Gillian Smellie whose new book about her life with Stuart is coming out soon.

15/09/2026

FishNET training rated exceptionally well by police team.

Our work of enforcement support relies on many partnerships combining resources and efforts. One of the ways we have been able to share our knowledge with others is the free educational programme FishNET. This online course contains a huge amount of material that can help you protect your waters from poaching and fish theft. Clubs, fisheries, individual anglers, and police teams have all been taking part, and recently a team from the Suss*x Police were very impressed.

There are still a number of free places left so you can take part using the link here, you may be suprised at the information on offer.

https://anglingtrust.net/fishnet-learning-hub/

FishNET is funded by rod licence income and delivered in partnership with the Environment Agency.

14/09/2026

Join us for the latest edition of the latest in the Environment Agency participation film series – Good for the Soul.

This heartfelt film takes us on a journey most of us hope we will never have to travel.

Gillian picks up a rod after a 10-year hiatus and shows us how love and fishing have a way of reconnecting us with the things that make us happy.

Fishing. It’s good for the soul.

Full film releasing on 15th September on the Angling Trust YouTube Channel

The EA participation film series is funded by rod licence income.
If you or someone you know is struggling, follow this link for help:https://anglingtrust.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Signposts-for-Support.pdf

Director & Editor -
Cinematography -
Sound -

Thanks to Gillian Smellie whose new book about her life with Stuart is coming out soon.