WHAT IS THE EUROPEAN EEL ANGLERS ASSOCIATION?

As its name implies, the European Eel Anglers Association represents all anglers in Europe in the study, conservation and pursuit of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla).

WHY WAS THE EUROPEAN EEL ANGLERS ASSOCIATION FORMED?

The European Eel Anglers Association was formed in the summer of 2002 in response to the need for an organisation to serve the interests of eel anglers in their quest for study, conservation and pursuit of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla), throughout Europe and across all European borders to wherever the European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) finds an appropriate habitat. Indeed, there is a vast richness of untapped information, expertise and information amongst the thousands of eel anglers in the European Community.

The European Eel Anglers Association was founded by a group of 13 ex-National Anguilla Club (Great Britain) members, including an ex-President, four ex-Chairmen and other senior ex-Officers including Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Publications Editor, etc. Altogether, representing over a hundred years of angling administrative experience. They had the vision to understand the innovative need for a totally new concept in eel angling organisations. The requirement for a new eel angling organisation encompassing the whole of Europe, wherever the European Eel finds an appropriate habitat. An eel angling organisation that is administered democratically and constitutionally from a central Committee whose members are elected annually and an organisation based on sub-Committees set up in each European country and open to all persons interested in the study and conservation of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla), whether active anglers or not. It is envisaged that there will be many problems in the establishment of such an organisation representing such a diversity of languages and cultures, including different fishing legalities. However, all problems encountered can be overcome with effort, dedication and time and the recruitment of appropriate and dedicated representatives for each European country.

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE EUROPEAN EEL ANGLERS ASSOCIATION?

The basic aim of the European Eel Anglers Association is to further the study of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla), European eel conservation and eel angling in Europe by providing an organisation to enable specialist eel anglers throughout Europe to associate together and to exchange and pool knowledge and experience.

HOW CAN THE EUROPEAN EEL ANGLERS ASSOCIATION ACHIEVE ITS AIM?

The European Eel Anglers Association will achieve its aim by following a carefully structured framework and development timetable. The initial organisation will evolve from the 13 founding members forming the initial development Committee and recruitment of a broad based membership in the U.K. and the setting up of a regional network. Parallel to the U.K. development, recruitment via the Internet and by letters to the angling media in other European countries will eventually result in a network of European countries with their own sub-Committee of the European Eel Anglers Association and who will send delegates as members of a representative Executive Committee. The Sub-Committee of each European Country will run itself independently but in accordance with the Constitution and Rules of the European Eel Anglers Association, which of course will be translated into several main European languages as needed. The Constitution and Rules will be amended appropriately as the organisation expands to cater for new developing needs of members.

WHO CAN JOIN THE EUROPEAN EEL ANGLERS ASSOCIATION?

Membership of the European Eel Anglers Association is open to all anglers who have a bona fide interest in specialist eel angling and eel conservation in Europe, up to a numerical limit as determined by the Committee or a General Meeting of members.


HOW CAN YOU JOIN THE EUROPEAN EEL ANGLERS ASSOCIATION?

You can join the European Eel Anglers Association by requesting an application form from the General Secretary, completing the form and returning it with two recent passport sized photographs and the appropriate membership fee. Acceptance shall be subject to the decision of the General Secretary who will act on behalf of the Committee. As the European Eel Anglers Association develops into other countries, this membership application procedure may be amended appropriately.

WHAT WILL YOU GET OUT OF MEMBERSHIP OF THE EUROPEAN EEL ANGLERS ASSOCIATION?

Initially you will become a member of an innovative and widely representative organic organisation enabling you to further your knowledge and understanding of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla), and to associate with wide ranging, like-minded anglers from all areas of Europe where the European eel finds an appropriate habitat. Following suitable input from yourself and other members of all European nationalities, information will be collated and presented in publications published in several main European languages and distributed to all members.

It is envisaged that to achieve its aim, particularly with respect to the conservation of the European eel, the Association will need to establish contact and possible membership of various different “political” angling bodies in Europe and to contribute appropriate articles in the angling and environmental publications of Europe.

General Secretary
Brian Crawford, B.Sc.(Hons), P.G.C.E., Adv. Dip.Ed.
Kersulan, 56310 Bieuzy Les Eaux, France. Tel. 00 33 2 97 27 78 95, e-mail brnjlcrwfrd@aol.com

National Anguilla Club: (NAC) (eel angling specialists)
Member 34 years (1968 – 2002); Ex-President, Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Secretary, Publications Editor, Records Officer, PRO, Representative to NASA, Representative on several angling consultative associations, Honorary Life Member (1994 – 2002).

National Association of Specialist Anglers (NASA)
(Formerly National Association of Specimen Groups, NASG) (Now Specialist Anglers Alliance, SAA): Member since 1968; Ex- Chairman, General Secretary, Secretary to the NASA Coarse Fish Record Committee, Representative to the National Anglers Council, Representative to the National Federation of Anglers, Representative to the Anglers Cooperative Association, Representative on several angling consultative associations.
Currently Life Member.

Author of ‘Catchmore Eels’, ‘Fishing For Big Eels’ and many articles on eels in other publications and angling press.