Welcome to Angling Unity
This site has been set up to provide up to date information relating to the unification of angling bodies. This is probably the most exciting and important development in the history of angling in the UK, the formation of a single body to represent all anglers and the sport of angling across all disciplines. The development of the new body, which has yet to be named, is moving at an ever increasing pace. This site will provide updates as the situation changes, and answer as far as possible questions relating to the new body and how it will operate.
For many very valid historical reasons angling representation has become segmented into several different groups, even within the three disciplines of fishing: coarse, game and sea. Over time other interests, especially the protection and development of fisheries, and specialist angling have also become established, and the situation has become yet more complicated leaving anglers faced with a wide array of bodies seeking their support. This fragmentation has meant that for too long the huge influence that should be exercised by the sheer numbers of anglers has not been realised.
Many attempts have been made in the past to rationalise the situation but for a whole host of reasons these have until now not succeeded.
In today’s world the current situation is not sustainable. Anglers face many threats, which could significantly affect how we fish, where we can fish, and even if we might fish at all. Over abstraction, pollution from ever-more complex chemicals (such as gender-bending endocrine disruptors), foreign diseases, fish theft, and the serious decline in sea fish stocks through persistent commercial over fishing, are all issues which need concerted action backed by all anglers.
And there are many more.
Against this background angling’s leaders quickly realised that more than ever an uncoordinated, fragmented approach, no matter how well meaning, was not going to provide an answer. Modern problems needed modern solutions. And so in 2005 the Fisheries and Angling Conservation Trust was established as an umbrella body for the sport. It was a useful first step, but it did not totally resolve the problems of too much duplication of effort, too much unnecessary cost, and too many organisations still competing for the same membership market. As a result, in 2006, discussions began regarding the formation of a single body. It was a brave step, but possibly for the first time ever, there was a commitment from the leading organisations to success. More importantly, ordinary anglers were also seeking the same goal.
In 2007 the five major bodies, the Salmon and Trout Association, the National Federation of Anglers, the National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives, the National Federation of Sea Anglers and the Anglers’ Conservation Association began discussions to agree a way forward which would see each give up its own identity and establish a single body for the common good.
Today that process is well underway with the Specialist Anglers Alliance now joining the ranks. It has not been an easy task but success is now well within sight. More background to the unification process and details of progress with regular updates can be seen on the other pages.