In a controversial statement to social media followers, Matt Hayes has questioned whether anglers should refuse to renew their fishing licence this year. Within just an hour, it had attracted hundreds of reactions and comments, showing both the passion and division of anglers on this topic.
After laying into the agency’s record on England’s rivers, not one of which has “good” health status, he wrote: “I don’t think we get anything worth having."
“Surely it would be better to give the money to @fishlegal instead?” he continued, citing the Angling Trust’s law experts, who have fined countless polluters where the EA failed to act.
A majority of angler comments, which ran into the hundreds, were in support of Matt and joined the offensive.
“I’ve been saying this for years,” said Gary Huckins. “It’s just a tax on angling."
“Can’t see any tangible benefits,” added Wes Jones. “Fish theft and pollution are worse than ever.”
Another common complaint was over actual licence checks, with numerous anglers saying they hadn’t seen a bailiff in decades. One or two contributors were even brazen enough to admit they didn’t have a licence.
However, a significant number of others warned that defunding the EA would be a dangerous step, whilst pointing out the agency’s often overlooked work from river improvements to emergency rescues, and the severe potential consequences if the funding for this was lost.
“Removing the only funding it now gets is bound to make it work better - NOT!” said Eric Edwards. “If I call the EA, and I have done so a number of times, they come.”
Others were quick to point out helpful staff and grass roots impacts of rod licence money - along with a general lack of awareness over spending. This was especially obvious with regard to pollution and huge government cuts to the agency’s central budget to deal with this, which is entirely separate to the rod licence.
“I would say this is a rather ignorant post,” wrote Adam Johnstone. “There are many things that our licence fee is stretched to cover such as restocking, policing and much more. The issue is not with the money we provide. It is with government support to the agency. They are stretched thinner than ever as it is”.
“Surely you of all people know the amount of money that is made available to angling clubs through grants” said Darran Mulcahy. “If this was taken away many just couldn’t survive. Or even worse, they would have to put their fees up, meaning less people could afford to go fishing.”
Speaking exclusively to Angling Times, Matt later clarified his position in no uncertain terms. “I realise this might raise some hackles, but we’re in a huge fight here,” he said. “Our rivers are in the worst state they’ve been in my lifetime.”
About the possibility of an actual boycott, he said: “I realise that there are good guys on the ground for the EA. I’ve met them. But the management is rotten. Where is the vision? We’re being failed. I’m not saying we should pull the rug from under the EA overnight - but it’s high time anglers made a statement and if things carry on as bad as they have been, we shouldn’t take that option off the table.”
The Angling Times has asked the Environment Agency for further comment, while you can read more from Matt Hayes on the issues facing our rivers and fishing as a whole in our weekly magazine shortly.
