Apply for share of cash windfall

Anglers are to benefit from another huge cash windfall as more money from rod licence sales is pumped back into the sport.
Clubs, commercials and fishing charities can apply for a share of the £400,000 being made available through the Angling Improvement Fund (AIF).
The fund, which has already channelled £1.3 million of rod licence money into projects that have directly benefited angling organisations and their waters, is being administered by the Angling Trust on behalf of the Environment Agency.
Those who wish to be considered for a slice of the £400,000 have until January, 17, 2017 to apply.
“The Angling Improvement Fund is just one way we use rod licence money to work with partners for the benefit of fishing,” said Sarah Chare, Head of Fisheries at the Environment Agency .
“This latest pot of funding is the largest yet, bringing the total awarded this year to £600,000, so thank you to all those anglers who get behind their sport and buy a licence.
“There is a wide range of categories for fisheries to consider applying for, from winter maintenance and improvement of fisheries to predation management and the training of volunteers.”
The AIF has already helped fund 119 angling projects since its launch in 2015, and the Angling Trust will shortly be announcing the winners of this year’s spring round of funding, focused on access improvements for disabled anglers.
“This increase in funding is another big step forward in our programme of work to improve fish and fishing,” said Angling Trust CEO Mark Lloyd.
“With more funds coming from the rod licence over the coming year, and membership of the Angling Trust & Fish Legal growing, the future looks bright.”