ANGLING EXCLUDED FROM ANIMAL WELFARE BILL

The Salmon & Trout Association (S&TA) is delighted to see that the Animal Welfare Bill, published today, has expressly excluded angling from its cruelty and welfare clauses.

The Bill states that anything which occurs in the normal course of fishing (including commercial fishing and angling) is exempted entirely from the Bill. However, all fish for which a person is responsible (such as ornamental fish and farmed fish) will be protected by both the cruelty offence and the duty to ensure welfare.

S&TA Director, Paul Knight, commented, “we are delighted that the Bill has taken a common sense approach to angling, and that nothing is included which could jeopardise the social, economic or environmental benefits derived from the sport. However, we note the enabling nature of the Bill, and so there will be a need to monitor secondary legislation to ensure that angling remains safe from unnecessary future regulation.”