NATIONAL Fishing Month (NFM) is back, with organisers aiming to make this year’s event bigger and better than ever.
Running from July 24 to August 30, the Environment Agency and Defra-run initiative is aiming to reach its largest-ever audience, with more than 200 activities set to take place around the country in what’s being trumpeted as a ‘festival of fishing’.
There will be added emphasis this year on fishing’s positive impact on mental health, as well as its ability to bring us closer to nature. In addition, there will be a drive to disprove some of angling’s old stereotypes, as Emily Brunt, Campaign and Marketing Manager at Defra, told us.
“We want to show people just how accessible fishing is,” she said.
“You don’t need to spend five hours on the bank or use loads of expensive kit, and by showing that you can fish with cheap, simple tackle on a short timescale, we hope to encourage more people to give it a go.”
Public relations company 23red have been drafted in to help spread the word about NFM, and its account director Katy Davies revealed the lengths it has been going to:
“Fishing is an activity for everyone, and we’re using influencers such as England International Bev Clifford to appeal to a diverse audience and broaden NFM’s reach.”
The hugely popular Take a Friend Fishing (TAFF) scheme will also be returning this summer, set to run from July 23 to September 5. Coordinated by the Angling Trust, TAFF enables rod licence holders to register for a free one-day licence with which to introduce somebody new to the sport, and it’ll be easier than ever to get involved with, as Will Smith, the Trust’s Angling Promotion Manager, explained.
“You can register for a free licence from your phone and the whole process can be completed in two minutes,” he said.
“With many people staying in the UK this summer, we’re urging anglers to introduce someone new to the joys of fishing, with urban areas where angling is free and accessible being a great place to start.”
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