A milestone agreement between British Waterways Scotland and the Scottish Federation for Coarse Angling (SFCA) gives under 16s access to free fishing in some of the most deprived areas along the central belt.
Autumn 2009
The new angling agreement for the Lowland canals - the Forth & Clyde, Union and Monkland canals - is the first of its kind in Scotland and confirms British Waterways Scotland’s commitment to angling and to stimulating community involvement and enjoyment of the canal network.
Adults joining the SFCA, as an individual member for £5.00, will also receive a free season ticket. The membership fees, in turn, will be reinvested into funding the Federation’s coach and coach assistant education programme which will benefit the new lowlands canal initiative.
At the launch, Gus Brindle, Chairman of the SFCA, explained: “The lowland canals represent a unique and valuable opportunity for Scots of all ages, particularly those living in inner city areas across the central belt, to gain access to, and become involved in, the sport of angling.
“This generous partnership offered by British Waterways provides us with the opportunity to implement a number of initiatives but above all, it will allow us to achieve a long held aim of providing free fishing to under 16s and creating the opportunity and incentive for young Scots to try angling for the first time or participate on a more regular basis.”
Moving forward, the SFCA aims to identify and establish a number of Induction Centres at key points across the lowland canal network. Here, anglers will be able to obtain tickets, information about angling on the canal, the environment and water safety and, in the longer term, access to coaching and equipment hire.
Membership and further information on the new angling agreement between SFCA and British Waterways can be found at www.sfca.co.uk
Do you have a comment to make on this story or do you want to get involved in some way? Please get in touch by emailing joanna.harrison@britishwaterways.co.uk.
