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NFA contacts all members regarding Unity developments
By admin | April 6, 2008
Angling Unity Why? How? When?
Historically, angling has become segmented into several different groups, even within the three main disciplines of coarse, game and sea. 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.
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, the serious decline in sea fish stocks through persistent commercial over fishing, and competition from other better-organised and resourced sports for new recruits are all issues which need concerted action backed by all anglers.
After very careful consideration of all these factors, angling’s leaders realised that the existing uncoordinated and fragmented approach, no matter how well meaning, was not going to provide an answer. Modern problems needed modern solutions.
As a result, discussions began regarding the formation of a single body that could resolve the problems of too much duplication of effort, too much unnecessary cost, and too many organisations still competing for the same membership market. 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 Anglers’ Conservation Association, the National Association of Fisheries and Angling Consultatives, the National Federation of Anglers, the National Federation of Sea Anglers and the Salmon and Trout 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. Latterly, the Specialist Anglers’ Alliance has also joined the group.
The task now is to design a structure that meets the above requirements whilst retaining all the positive aspects of the existing organisations. A Unity Implementation Group, with a representative from each of the founding organisations, has been established. Researchers and advisors in corporate restructuring have been engaged and are in the process of conducting a series of focus-group interviews. The feedback from these interviews will help the Group to design the structure of the new organisation. It is too early to predict exactly what this structure will look like, although there is general consensus that there should be a strong regional structure that allows individual anglers, clubs and other groups to exert real authority on what happens in their region and also to influence what happens at a national and even international level.
A good deal of careful planning will be necessary if the objectives are to be met. However, it is recognised that if the process is turned into a long drawn out affair, the resulting uncertainties will not serve angling well. Therefore, the proposed timescale is for the management and governance structure to be determined by 1 July 2008 (Vesting Day), when all members of the existing organisations would automatically become members of the new organisation. Then as membership renewals fell due, individuals clubs and others would be invited to renew through the new unified organisation.
The website ‘www.anglingunity.co.uk’ has been established in order to provide opportunities for the Implementation Group to keep all anglers informed as progress.
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