THE Angling Trust has clarified its position on zander, supporting the right of anglers to practise catch-and-release alongside that of venue owners to manage the species as they see fit.
Zander have become increasingly popular among predator fishing fans, who claim they cause no problems in enclosed stillwaters and catchments.
Now the Trust accepts that zander are here to stay, and are classified as no more than ‘medium risk’.
Head of Policy, Martin Salter, said:
“I remember the dire predictions in the 1970s about what zander were going to do to fish stocks in the Fens, and later in the Trent and Severn. In reality, a balance has been struck.
“The law quite rightly allows for controls where necessary, but in many locations zander have become a valued sporting target, and our fishery rules need to reflect this fact.”
The Trust’s bilateral stance has attracted wide support among anglers. Predator fishing expert Gary Knowles said:
“Asking anglers to kill or remove a fish that they respect and care for goes against the very core of why we love this sport. But we acknowledge that in certain environments their presence is not welcomed by other coarse and competition anglers, who see them as detrimental to their own sport.”
