Fishing permitted with strict guidelines elsewhere in Europe

LIKE it or not, fishing has been outlawed in the UK, but we’re not alone in being housebound.

In France, for example, all anglers have been asked to stay in and across much of Europe the rules are the same. 

In the Netherlands, however, fishing is still permitted, provided that anglers follow strict guidelines. 

“Thankfully, we’re allowed to fish, but there are rules in place to keep anglers safe,”

says Tim Janssen, Dutch angler and manager of Korum Benelux.

“First, you have to fish on your own, so all matches are banned. We should also fish only in rural areas, which reduces the chances of seeing other anglers or pedestrians, and we must stay 1.5 metres apart at all times.”

These rules come from Sportvisserij Nederland, the official Dutch Sport Fishing Organisation, and will stand until April 28, when they will be reviewed and updated in line with the Covid-19 threat.

SN says that provided anglers are healthy, they should be able to go fishing to get a breath of fresh air.

It seems unlikely that we’ll be allowed out over the next few weeks, given Oliver Dowden’s (Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) reinforced order to stay home and avoid non-essential travel.

But maybe, once we begin to win the battle against the Coronavirus and our restrictions relax, fishing in Britain could resemble what’s happening in Holland.