P R E S S R E L E A S E

Two key outcomes were achieved at a recent meeting between Finding Sanctuary and representatives from both national recreational angling associations and South West angling clubs, held in Exmouth on Thursday 26 March. The meeting was organised to decide how sea anglers can make sure that their interests are well represented during Marine Conservation Zone planning in the South West. Finding Sanctuary is working with sea-users to design a network of Marine Conservation Zones to protect marine life and to help safeguard the future of marine resources in the region.

Tom Hooper, Finding Sanctuary’s Project Manager explained: “We need the help, advice and knowledge of sea anglers from the South West. During the meeting, the decision was made that Finding Sanctuary would approach sea angling clubs in the region and ask them to provide a sample of active sea anglers for interview, representing both boat and shore fishing disciplines. During face-to-face interviews, sea anglers will be asked detailed questions about where they fish, how they fish, when they fish there, and what species they fish for. Similar questions are being asked of all other sea-users, from commercial fishermen to divers. It was also agreed that Finding Sanctuary would try to recruit volunteers, ensuring that more face-to-face interviews with sea anglers could be carried out.

“With more than 250,000 sea anglers in the South West it will be a challenge for us to gather this detailed information, but as one of the key sea-user groups in the South West, it is vital that we work with them from the start to help us carefully plan a network of Marine Conservation Zones.â€