European fishing trade bodies unite in fight for future of sport

Two of Europe’s largest recreational fishing trade associations have joined forces to present a unified voice in the fight to secure the future of the sport in the region.

The European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA) has agreed to work alongside the French fishing industry association, GIFAP (Groupement Industrie Française Articles de Pêche), in a union it hopes to extend to include other associations within Europe.

EFTTA already has a similar agreement with the Angling Trades Association (ATA), which represents the interests of the tackle industry in Great Britain.

EFTTA representative Gerard Bakkenes said: “A big thank you to Benoît Mayolle and Stéphane Sence for their great support in making this collaboration possible. The French fishing tackle industry is a specific market with its own rules and structures. To achieve a common strategy at EU level, it is essential to have a close partnership.

“By joining forces, both EFTTA and GIFAP will have a more significant and effective impact.”