79,000 new young anglers join us!

The future of fishing looks brighter than ever after 79,000 youngsters took up the sport for the first time, Angling Times can reveal.

In a report issued by the Environment Agency it was announced that there was a 53 per cent rise in junior rod licences supplied this year since the law on junior licensing was amended. 

For the 2016/2017 season the age bracket for free junior licences changed from 12-16 to 13-16... meaning that those under the age of 13 don’t need a licence. 

Statistics for that season revealed a 25.7 per cent rise in juniors signing up to the sport – an encouraging sign that the numbers could rise even further over the course of 2018. 

Kevin Austin, head of fisheries at the Environment Agency, told Angling Times:

“Children today have a wealth of technology at their fingertips, and coupled with the costs parents face, it’s easy to see why fewer children are enjoying outdoor activities. 

“With this in mind, we’re really pleased to see that a growing number of young people are now taking up the offer of a free junior licence – helping them to enjoy the great outdoors and this great sport of ours.

“Today’s children are the anglers of tomorrow and it’s important we attract them to the sport early.”1