The UK’s top angling association CEMEX Angling is committing £10,000 per annum for a three-year period to the Fish Welfare Fund which campaigns for a safer aquatic environment. CEMEX Angling fully endorses the need to secure the future of angling through the development of a cleaner, safer, healthier aquatic and marine environment.

The Fish Welfare Fund is a joint venture by English Carp Heritage Organisation (ECHO) and the Specialist Anglers’ Alliance (SAA) to establish long term financial support to promote and defend anglers’ rights and practices, as well as campaigning.

The first initiative by the Fund will be to ensure full representation with Government, NGOs and other organisations involved with recreational fishing.  It also aims to strengthen contact at every level in the decision-making process.

CEMEX Angling, which dates back to a 1960s scheme to restore sand and gravel pits, today has 60,000 members and is the largest commercial angling association in the UK, offering over 75 mature, fish-filled lakes and 20 stretches of river, with purpose-built disabled access and swims at the company’s day ticket fisheries. It caters for specialist anglers as well as match and pleasure anglers.

The company strives to work in harmony with nature and create environments in which fish thrive and the landscaping and restoration of CEMEX Angling sites have won national and international awards. They have also witnessed a number of British record catches of Grass Carp, Crucian Carp, Mirror Carp, Tench and Golden Orfe.

Freshwater angling is one of the country’s top sports and pastimes. There are more than 4.5 million anglers in the UK.