Recreational fishing to resume on Wednesday after restrictions are eased

The Angling Trust has welcomed Prime Minster Boris Johnson’s announcement that recreational fishing can resume in England on Wednesday.
Angling can resume recreationally from Wednesday.Angling can resume recreationally from Wednesday.
Angling can resume recreationally from Wednesday.

The Prime Minister announced the resumption of ‘unlimited outdoor sports’ from Wednesday providing they are conducted alone or with members of the same household and that social distancing rules are followed at all times.

Last month, a report from the Angling Trust was submitted to Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove and the Fisheries and Sports Ministers arguing for recreational fishing to be designated as one of the first permitted outdoor sports when ministers begin to relax the coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

“I couldn’t be more pleased to see the hard work of the Angling Trust and our supporters delivering such an outstanding result for everyone who loves to go fishing,” he said.

“We have demonstrated to the satisfaction of government that angling can be permitted as a safe, healthy, beneficial outdoor activity and why it can take its rightful position at the front of the queue as restrictions are relaxed.

"Our effective and professional campaign was in support of a carefully thought through set of phased guidelines under which angling could be safely permitted without increasing the risk of COVID-19 transmissions.

“Without these guidelines we would have got nowhere and it is now incumbent upon every angler to respect them and demonstrate that we are still playing our part in the nationwide battle against the coronavirus."

Other sports allowed to resume in the first wave of permits are golf, tennis and other watersports.