UK’s top retailer adds support to fight against ‘crisis point’ pollution

The UK’s largest fishing tackle retail chain has become a sponsor of a major campaign to protect the region’s waters from pollution – a situation described as at ‘crisis point’.

Angling Direct has partnered with the Angling Trust – the body that represents anglers in England and Wales – and its ‘Anglers Against Pollution’ initiative, providing contributions and logistical support to the expanding Water Quality Monitoring Network (WQMN).

Stuart Singleton-White, Angling Trust Head of Campaigns, said: “The importance of the Water Quality Monitoring Network cannot be overstated, and we are delighted this ground-breaking angler-led citizen science initiative now has the support of Angling Direct.

“With only 14% of UK water bodies in good ecological condition, pollution is at a crisis point. In 2023 alone, there were over half a million recorded sewage spills. Extremely high levels of phosphates and nitrates from sewage are fuelling algal blooms which cause oxygen levels to drop, damaging fish stocks and aquatic life. These conditions also allow for various e-coli strains to thrive, posing a health risk to all waterway users including anglers.”

“Here at Angling Direct, we believe fishing and clean water go hand in hand so are aiming to build a legacy of environmental responsibility,” said Steven Crowe, CEO of Angling Direct. “In addition to supporting the Anglers Against Pollution campaign, we’re going to continue our commitment to other vital environmental and community programmes. This includes ongoing support for the Angling Trust’s Get Fishing campaign, which introduces newcomers to the joys of angling, and we have expanded our partnership with the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme.”

Main picture, from left: Water quality testers Jamie Stansfield and Del Shackleford with Peter Devery (Angling Trust) and Phil Spinks (Angling Direct).