Keeping the Close Season on Rivers and streams

“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to keep the coarse fishing closed season on rivers.”

Details of Petition:

“The coarse fish closed season on our rivers protects the already under pressure fish stocks from all year angling, lets the banksides and surrounding areas recover. The fishing tackle industry has the revenue gained by the abolition of the close season on stillwaters and canals and should not be allowed to place their income at the expense of the delicate ecosystems of the rivers in this country. Further, we call upon the government, as licence paying anglers, to police and protect this season by prosecuting those not abiding by it.”

· The Government’s response

There is no plan to remove the coarse fish closed season on rivers.

The coarse fish closed season on rivers is in place to protect fish stocks during their vulnerable breeding period. Dispensing with it, as was done on stillwaters several years ago, would have to be based on sound science showing that this would not be detrimental to fish stocks.

The Environment Agency is aware from market research that while coarse anglers may have a preference for rivers or still waters, most fish both during their angling year. Market research has also shown that the majority of anglers who fish rivers want the closed season to be kept.

In view of this we believe it would be a poor use of limited funds to progress with research into the closed season, which in any event may be inconclusive.

The Environment Agency does prosecute offenders. In 2008 it put forward 165 closed season offenders for prosecution. So far this year, it has 145 reported offences, of which 108 have so far been recommended for prosecution

Well done everyone who signed the petition Long may the close season stay with us.