Does the Angling trust speak out for anglers......?
The reason why I ask is that the recent horrific pollution on the Trent has been widely reported in the media, but where is/was a 'spokesperson' from the Angling Trust???
If birds or animals were involved, the RSPCA and RSPB would have been the first port of call for a reaction, if they weren't already hammering on the doors of the various media outlets to put their point across.
And that is the chicken and egg situation for the AT, until it gets recognised as the voice of anglers, then it hasn't got a hope of gaining the respect of anyone outside of angling
Birds and animals were involved, Kevin, maybe they weren't seen dead by the side of the river or floating on it, but then they are blessed with the privilege of not having to be permanently in it. The Angling Trust are on the case, this I know for a fact, but it is up to the BBC, Sky, and ITV who they choose to interview in their 3 minute alloted space. No other group was interviewed except the EA in this case so your comments are unfair in that respect.
I would just add that Mark Lloyd has been interviewd on the BBC on a previous occasion.
His comments are also recorded on this website about this incident -
"Mark Lloyd, Chief Executive of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal said: “This incident demonstrates yet again the need for business to take the utmost care in handling noxious chemicals. Drains should never be used as a means of disposing of waste chemicals. We will be pressing for a full investigation of this tragedy and will do everything we can to make the polluters pay for the damage they have done to our members’ interests on the river.”"
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I thought I was trying to make it clear, I don't want to tax anglers buying tackle in a direct sense. Hence I was a little uncomfortable about using the word levy, but it's the only one that seemed to fit. It could also be a donation from teh manufacturer out of their profits, but either way it has to come from somewhere, money doesn't grow on trees.
The £1 I am proposing would come off a discount ultimately so you would never miss it and neither would the dealer. It was always £1 that was given away, it never really existed.
Let me give you an example. I've been buying a fair bit of stuff recently for a forthcoming trip and saw a rod discounted by 43% so I bought it as it could be useful. Had it been discounted by only 41% (that would have been about £1 difference) I would still have bought it because it would still be as useful and I would never have known what else it could have been discounted to. All that I know is I would have made an incredible saving with either discount.
Now you might say, well now I've saved an extra pound, but only because I now know that. I would still have been as happy with my purchase had I not saved that extra pound. Get it now?
Well, perhaps my glass is always half-full that I look on the positive side of life.
It's just an idea to kick around and try to find some short-term funding for the AT and to point out that everyone in angling whether it's just your sport or providing your livelihood should be doing their utmost to help out.