CLOSE SEASON VICTORY FOR ANGLERS

Kelvin Hopkins MP for Luton North claimed victory this week in the campaign to preserve the coarse fishing close season on rivers in England and Wales. Early this week the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced that he had decided not to lift the close season ban on coarse fishing, after a long campaign by anglers and MPs.

Speaking after the announcement, Kelvin Hopkins said:
“I wrote several times to Ministers on this issue and was one of a group of MPs who put down an Early Day Motion last year calling for the retention of the coarse fishing close season on rivers. I was lobbied by local anglers who provided me with the necessary expert advice and kept me informed of developments. I am sure this is going to be beneficial and will ensure that our rivers remain well stocked with fish. It would be tragic if our rivers became like the North Sea, which has been massively over-fished, bringing a real crisis in fish stocks. The threat to the fresh water fisheries had been raised by the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Review Group which had recommended the abolition of the close season. That threat has now receded and I am delighted”.