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It has been a landmark year for angling

As 2025 draws to a close, it’s worth reflecting on what’s been a significant year for the Angling Trust, Fish Legal, and for the sport as a whole across England and Wales...

by Freddie Sandford |

Updated on22nd December 2025 at 10.58am

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From record-breaking citizen science and new competitions, to improved coaching pathways, growing youth participation, and hard-won policy gains, our community has again shown what anglers can achieve when we stand together.

Freshwater campaigns

This year our Water Quality Monitoring Network (WQMN) reached a major milestone: 10,000 water samples collected by 800 trained volunteers across over 80 catchments.

We began rolling out our estuaries testing programme, as these vital habitats have long been overlooked in water regulation. Work on stillwaters has begun too, combining LakeFly invertebrate surveys with chemical testing to provide a fuller picture of lake health.

Our entire dataset is now available through the interactive WQMN online map — a powerful tool and a base of evidence increasingly difficult for regulators and polluters to ignore.

LakeFly testing

Fish Legal

In 2025 Fish Legal, representing the Pickering Fishery Association, took the Government and the Environment Agency to court for a second time, and won again. The Court of Appeal agreed that the Government and the EA failed in their legal duties to restore the Costa Beck and that the river plans in place were too vague and lacked the legally required measures.

This significant win will have ramifications across the country, as the river plan for the Costa Beck is not the only one to be vague and lack the correct measures. Fish Legal has also challenged the Government and the EA on a related issue, and you will hear more about this in 2026.

Through our Every River Counts campaign we have a means by which the community can support our legal action against governments and regulators.

Fish Legal would like to thank the 200-plus individuals and the many clubs and fisheries who have made contributions.

Marine

2025 was arguably our most successful year yet for marine advocacy. We secured major Parliamentary wins, including shaping the Marine Protected Areas (Bottom Trawling) Bill, backed by 50,000 supporters.

We fought for sustainable outcomes for species such as mackerel and resisted damaging proposals, including a drift-net fishery for bass. Pollack descending devices were rolled out nationally, and new co-designed best-practice guidance for bass, bluefin tuna and pollack is now widely used by skippers and anglers.

Enforcement

We also launched FishNET, our online learning platform, transforming enforcement training. More than 1,250 people have registered so far, including rural police teams, enforcement officers, and members of our expanding Voluntary Bailiff Service.

Fisheries

A major milestone was the launch of the Fisheries Support Service, providing free advice on club development, invasive species, litter, volunteering, and more.

We dealt with nearly 1,000 predation-related enquiries and will play a key role in negotiations around the new European Management Plan for Cormorants, working with European governments to reduce winter migration impacts on UK fisheries.

Reflecting our wider duty to protect fisheries, we also supported Peterborough & District Angling Association in the challenging but successful removal and relocation of two seals that had become isolated in their waters, leading negotiations with the RSPCA, EA, and Natural England.

Once again, the Angling Trust has worked with the EA to reinvest rod licence money into otter-fencing projects.

Competitions

In the last 12 months we delivered 15 National Championships across coarse, sea, and game, 200-plus domestic competitions – including RiverFest, Fish O’Mania, SilverFish and the Winter League – and launched four new competitions.

We supported 43 England international teams (the largest number ever) and this extraordinary effort brought home seven gold medals, six silver and six bronze. We also celebrated coarse team manager Mark Downes being awarded the MBE.

Invertebrate surveys and chemical testing have provided a fuller picture of lake health.

Angling receives zero funding from either UK Sport or Sport England for elite participation, so these teams are self-funded, supported by volunteers or sponsors, supplemented by a small amount of direct funding that the Angling Trust can commit each year.

In 2026 we will relaunch RiverFest, revive the British Carp Angling Championships, build upon our acquisition of the Sea League and Sea Teams of Five events, and strengthen partnerships with our fly-fishing teams.

Angling Trust England Masters Shore team - World Champs GOLD

Coaching

Graham Mabey was appointed as Head of Coaching in June and, leaning on his 20 years of experience, he has already reshaped delivery and communication.

We now have 755 licensed coaches, and the launch of the Event Marketplace provides a purpose-built national platform, showcasing the best places to get into fishing and offering a simple booking system.

In 2026 we will launch a revamped national coaching programme which is more accessible and better aligned with the needs of grassroots coaches and participants.

Participation

Between April 1 and September 30, a total of 29,848 people took part in Trust-supported participation programmes such as Reel Education sessions, Get Fishing events and Get Hooked on Fishing.

This surge in engagement is already showing results, with junior licence sales increasing by 17,502, thereby reversing a trend of long-term decline.

We also distributed over £150,000 of licence income to 80 local angling projects, and the Get Fishing Fund returns in January 2026.

Campaigns and Policy

This past year brought a new Government, new ministers, and major challenges — especially around sewage pollution. Angling Trust and Fish Legal engaged extensively with the Independent Water Commission, submitting robust evidence.

Several of our recommendations were adopted, including the abolition of OFWAT, the creation of a new water super-regulator and a stronger focus on asset health and infrastructure.

Anglers in the Kennet Valley helped us to defeat proposals for a 32,000-bird intensive poultry unit, protecting a sensitive SSSI from further pollution in the process.

Following another devastating saline surge in the Norfolk Broads, we are pressing the Environment Agency for active solutions to protect a fishery worth more than £100m a year to local communities.

We also continued defending angling access at places like Wingerworth Lido, promoting evidence-based management plans over anti-angling sentiment.

Fishing will resume on the Lido | ©Big Duffs Fishing

Looking ahead

More than ever, angling needs a single, professional, united voice. We were invited to 10 Downing Street to discuss multiple issues, and that impact and influence can only be achieved with your support.

In 2026 we will:

Angling matters, to communities, to the environment, to the economy, and to every one of us who finds peace and purpose by the water.

Thank you for your support throughout 2025. Our members, volunteers, clubs, partners and supporters make everything we do possible. As not-for-profit organisations, Angling Trust and Fish Legal will continue to protect, promote, and develop, fighting on your behalf for fish, fishing, and the environment.

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