Anglers Against Pollution Launches
It is no secret that our water environments are in a terrible state. From raw sewage being pumped into our rivers to plastic polluting our seas, across the United Kingdom there are countless cases of our waterbodies and their wildlife suffering at the hands of our waste.
The statistics really are staggering. In September this year data from the Environment Agency revealed that not a single river in England achieved good chemical status and only 14% were classed as being of good ecological status. In 2019 water companies released raw sewage into our rivers more than 200,000 times, equating to more than 1.5 million hours. Agricultural pollution and surface runoff of animal waste, pesticides and fertilisers are increasingly in the news for causing harmful algal blooms which suffocate biodiversity - most recently in the River Wye. And how can we forget the vast streams of plastic, micro and macro, entering our oceans on a daily basis?
But why is this happening? After all, we have the required laws in place to protect our waterways from harmful pollution incidents like surface runoff from agriculture, chemical discharges and raw sewage. The problem lies with a lack of resources. Government agencies responsible for keeping our waters clean are struggling with limited assets to effectively monitor and enforce essential management practices.
The time for change is now. As the United Kingdom leaves the European Union we have an unprecedented opportunity to ensure that not only the needs of our environment are enshrined in law, but also that the stakeholders involved are provided with the necessary support to effectively do what’s required of them. Our water environments are degrading before our eyes, and some, like our precious chalk streams which are uniquely adorned with pure water filtered by underground chalk aquifers, are irreplaceable once they’re gone.
Last week the Angling Trust launched a new campaign, Anglers Against Pollution, to demand a cleaner future for our waterways and to raise awareness of the threats they face. Anglers Against Pollution seeks to give the angling community a collective voice in our united fight for healthier waters, for the benefit of our environment, our wildlife and our people.
But you don’t need to be an angler to get behind the campaign and to give your support. There are multiple ways to get involved including signing our petition, sharing the campaign online and buying one of our campaign t-shirts or hoodies. Every action counts.
The conservation of our water environments is in all of our interests. From providing nature-based solutions to climate change to giving us an abundance of mental wellness benefits, delivering economic security to supporting our biodiversity, clean and healthy waters are an integral part of our green future. The time is now. We can’t let this opportunity pass us by.
“Our waterways are suffocating from all forms of pollution – from agricultural runoff to plastics, chemical pesticides to raw sewage. Time is no longer a luxury we can afford in the fight for a cleaner tomorrow for our environment, our fish and our fishing.”
- Jamie Cook, CEO of the Angling Trust & Fish Legal
What is Anglers Against Pollution calling for?
Better monitoring of our rivers, lakes, canals and coastal waters.
Proper enforcement of existing laws and regulations.
Stricter penalties against polluters to discourage them from polluting again.
Review of existing laws to help close loopholes.
Disclosure: I work for the Angling Trust as their Campaigns Officer; however, the views expressed here and elsewhere throughout my website are my personal views and therefore may not necessarily also reflect those of the Trust.