71% vote to scrap closed season!

The results of an exclusive Angling Times poll have revealed that the majority of our readers would like to see the closed season scrapped.

As the Environment Agency and the Angling Trust reveal that they are in discussion over the laws that govern the annual break on running water, our online poll saw over 70 per cent of more than 7,000 participants vote in favour of abolishing the closed season on our rivers.

Those visiting our website - anglingtimes.co.uk - were given three choices – keep the current closed season (from midnight on March 14 until midnight on June 15); scrap it altogether; or move it to a different time of the year.

The Angling Times social media channels were also flooded with opinions from both sides of the fence over a result that’s been welcomed by river fishing legend and closed season abolishionist Dave Harrell.

“I base my views on a lifetime of fishing rivers and it’s such positive news that there are so many Angling Times readers that share my views on the outdated closed season laws,” said Dave.

“Now we’ll have to wait and see if the result is similar when the Environment Agency, too, invites anglers to vote on the closed season. 

“This will follow the publishing of findings of an independent review group – of which I was a part – that was charged with examining the evidence for and against scrapping it.”

Angling Times columnist and fisheries scientist Paul Garner reckons our exclusive online poll reflects his own opinion, and that of the anglers who he meets on the bank.

“Fishing on stillwaters and canals hasn’t gone downhill since their fixed closed season was lifted. I truly believe that this would be the case on rivers as well,” said Paul. “It’s time for change.”

But the graphic on this page shows that many people out there believe the current closed season should either stay as it is or remain but with different dates.

River fishing maestro Bob Roberts is in favour of some change, and said: “We definitely need a closed season, but not in its current format.

“If we lifted it altogether there’s no doubt there would be way too much pressure on stocks aon the most popular stretches. 

“Species like chub and barbel aren’t spawing in March and April. I believe that the closed season needs to be shorter, and one of my suggestions would be to move it from May 1 to July 1.

Bob added: “It’s so positive that we as a sport are now having these conversations about issues that will shape the future of fishing.”

WHAT’S NEXT? 

The findings of an independent ‘closed season review group’ – made up of anglers, highly-respected fisheries scientists, venue owners – which was charged with examining the evidence for and against scrapping the closed season will soon be released by the Environment Agency and the Angling Trust.

Once these findings are made public and anglers are given time to digest the information, the nation’s fishermen will be asked to take part in a vote on what they think should happen to the laws that govern the current closed season on rivers.