The Specialist Anglers' Alliance (SAA) is extremely disappointed that East Midlands region of the NFA sees no benefit to NFA in continuing in membership of the National Angling Alliance (NAA).
For the first time in fifteen years angling is speaking with one voice, and however much we might all want to see that voice improved the only way forward is to preserve the present level of unity it represents. It is a pity that those elements of the NFA now suggesting fragmentation cannot hold 'the good of angling' as their prime objective - rather than perceived short term gains for the NFA as a stand-alone organisation.
Indeed it seems strange that at a time when Martin Salter, the Angling Minister, states that the representation of angling should be “more professional” and that “the Joint Angling Governing Bodies alone are not enough”, the NFA may set sail in another, independent, direction.
The Specialist Anglers' Alliance's prime objective is to promote and protect angling. SAA is currently a full member of the NFA as was NASA in previous years. SAA is committed to angling unity as the way forward. If the NFA voluntarily withdraws from NAA, SAA will immediately leave the NFA and continue to represent the interests of specialist anglers through whatever means are available to us.
The Mail article suggests that smaller bodies should join the NFA, rather than have equal status within the NAA. Specialist coarse anglers have been full members for many years, through NASA and now SAA, - however our membership of NFA is based on the NFA representing our interests politically. If the NFA voluntarily leaves one of the key angling committees how does that serve our interests? Indeed SACG, now SAA, was established in 1991 solely because of the inability of the NFA to represent the growing specialist sector of coarse angling.
In its current state the NFA needs all the friends it can get. Leaving NAA and setting itself against the other angling bodies will not make future recruitment any easier, indeed it will be much more difficult as NAFAC and SAA will openly compete with the NFA for members. Both NAFAC and SAA can offer human resources that the NFA does not seem able to find from its own membership. The NFA needs strategic alliances with these bodies, not open warfare.
SAA urges the NFA Conference to firmly reject these moves to fragment angling representation, including motions to leave the Moran Committee, and we will be there to put our case. All moves towards angling unity have the complete support of SAA and we will continue to work for the benefit of all anglers.
Mike Heylin
Secretary SAA
Fighting for anglers' rights - Join SAA today at www.saauk.org
Graham Marsden
