EFTTA BACKS FORMATION OF THE ANGLING TRUST IN THE UK

EFTTA, THE European Fishing Tackle Trade Association, has welcomed the formation of a new single body to represent angers interests in the UK.

The Chairmen of all of the country's angling's representative bodies have signed a merger agreement which will see them become a single new organisation to represent all anglers from 5 January 2009: The Angling Trust.

One of the aims of The Angling Trust is to generate 100,000 individual members in the next three years.

EFTTA chief executive officer, Jean-Claude Bel said: "We welcome this initiative. As in many countries, the UK government has always found it difficult to work more closely with the recreational angling fraternity because of the number of organisations involved.

"Creating one official body will unite the sport and make it stronger and better-equipped to represent itself. If all of the anglers in the UK got behind The Angling Trust and became individual members then it would become an extremely powerful voice in the ongoing battle to make governments understand the important and positive role recreational fishing plays in society."

The historic document forming The Angling Trust was signed on Sunday, 19 October, at the Tackle & Guns trade fair at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire, by:

* Jim Glasspool, Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust (FACT)
* Stephen Marsh-Smith, Anglers' Conservation Association (ACA)
* Martin Read, National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives (NAFAC)
* Terry Fell, National Federation of Anglers (NFA)
* Richard Ferré, National Federation of Sea Anglers (NFSA)
* Christopher Evans, Specialist Anglers' Alliance (SAA)

The Trust will continue to consult on its plans for the rest of 2008 and is very keen to ensure that it is representative of all anglers.

Media Contact
Naidre Werner +44 (0) 845 459 9956 or eftta@thesourcefor.co.uk