THE ANGLER IMPACT REPORT 2025
COVER PICTURE: JOEL VIRGO
Thank you …
… to all our volunteers who dedicate their time and effort to support our work
OUR WATERS OUR FISHING OUR FUTURE
By Jamie Cook CEO, Angling Trust & Fish Legal
Hello and welcome to your new-look Angler, our annual impact report for the Angling Trust and Fish Legal. This report shares with members, partners and supporters the critical work delivered over the past 12 months to protect, promote and develop angling, and to fight for fish, fishing and the environment.
Why the new look?
We live in a world defined by outcomes and results, and we are proud of the impact our two small, not-for-profit organisations deliver. We consistently punch above our weight and want to give a clear sense of the breadth of work we undertake across the angling community.
That includes sea, game, coarse, carp, predator and specimen fishing; in saltwater and freshwater environments; and fishing for competition, pleasure, wellbeing, connection with nature or food for
the table. It includes individuals, coaches, clubs, skippers, volunteers and all those who value fish and healthy aquatic environments.
This report demonstrates what your investment means. Every penny is reinvested in protecting and improving the sport, and none of this would be possible without your support.
We have also been working to secure charitable status for the work that is already charitable in nature. While not yet complete, this will open significant new opportunities to increase our impact, building on a legacy that stretches back to the formation of the ACA in 1948.
For decades, anglers have protected rivers, restored habitats, held polluters to account, educated communities and delivered environmental volunteering. What we have lacked is the formal charitable structure required to access major grants, donations and legacies. The formation of the Fisheries Conservation Trust will provide a charitable home for that work, turning more than 75 years of environmental action into lasting public benefit.
Please be assured that nothing changes day to day for the Angling Trust and Fish Legal. They remain the public-facing organisations delivering campaigns, legal action, competitions, member services and support for clubs and fisheries. Not all of our work is charitable in nature, and that remains the case. What the new structure unlocks is
additional funding, partnerships and long-term resilience so we can do more and go further.
The Fisheries Conservation Trust will act as the charitable arm of the family, helping protect fish, fisheries and clean water for future generations, without changing the identity or role of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal.
Many environmental and sporting bodies operate this structure successfully. It will allow us to expand work in mental health and wellbeing, environmental stewardship, habitat improvement, education, volunteering, legal action for public benefit and community engagement — areas where anglers have long led the way.
It will also provide new ways for members, clubs and fisheries to work with us. With the right structure in place, legacies and donations can be directed towards protecting fish and waters for the future.
In a shifting legal landscape, Fish Legal remains unique: agile, focused and highly effective. It supports clubs and fisheries, makes polluters pay, enforces the law and holds regulators, developers, water companies, agriculture and industry to account. Its greatest limitation has always been resources — something we now have the opportunity to address.
For some, this report will only
scratch the surface. More detail can be found on our websites, including our missions and five-year strategies. If you believe your club or fishery could benefit more from membership, please contact us.
Member benefits and discounts have been overhauled to provide a comprehensive package tailored to different styles of angling, with further partnerships planned for 2026. We now have more club and syndicate members than ever before, some are adopting a federated model, block-joining all of their members as individuals, ensuring their anglers align with their shared values, safeguard the fishery and also that they are all insured. If this is of interest please get in touch.
2025 has been another significant year. Highlights include record-breaking citizen science results; new competitions taking our annual programme beyond 200 events; improved coaching pathways; growing youth participation; and important policy gains.
We have delivered groundbreaking legal victories, taken the fight against cormorant predation to the European Parliament, secured licensed seal removal from rivers and won international medals across multiple disciplines.
We have taken fishing into schools, seen junior licence sales rise again, launched a national
marketplace for fishing events, introduced a new clubs and fisheries support service, and trained over a thousand people to report fisheries and environmental crime.
We have represented anglers on the Independent Water Commission, opposed damaging poultry farm expansion on protected sites, met at 10 Downing Street, and protected rivers from proposals for unrestricted paddler access.
We have strengthened the voice of recreational sea anglers, led efforts to protect endangered salmon, challenged ideological angling bans and pressed for action following catastrophic fish kills.
We have supported hundreds of litter picks, redistributed hundreds of thousands of pounds of rod licence income into clubs and fisheries, and backed thousands of volunteers, club officials, keepers, bailiffs, coaches and organisers.
The Angling Trust and Fish Legal continue to be run for anglers, by anglers. Once again, our community has shown what can be achieved when we stand together. Thank you for your continued support.
Best fishes, Jamie Cook
Breakthrough year for evidence and influence
In 2025, our angler-led Water Quality Monitoring Network (WQMN) reached a major milestone with 12,000 water samples being collected by 800 trained volunteers across more than 80 catchments.
Those 12,000 samples showed 34% of phosphate samples in our rivers failed ‘good ecological status’ while 45% of nitrate samples showed signs of pollution. In the hot dry spring of 2025, nitrate pollution was above recommended levels in 53% of cases, and ammonia levels had doubled since 2023.
The WQMN is a key part of the Angling Trust’s Anglers Against Pollution campaign and was launched to engage angling clubs in better understanding
pollution and other issues on their waters. The findings also help the Angling Trust hold the government to account, ensuring it lives up to its rhetoric on improving our environment and meeting its own legal responsibilities.
In 2025, the WQMN expanded into estuaries with a pilot on the Ribble estuary with volunteers analysing 180 samples. The findings showed that levels of inorganic nitrogen meant the estuary was classed as poor in many samples taken. As a result of the success of the Ribble project, volunteers are now monitoring seven more estuaries around our coast.
We also launched a pilot, alongside the Freshwater Biological Association, to develop ‘Lakefly’ allowing us to assess the biological health of our still waters alongside their chemical health using the WQMN equipment. In developing the right methodology, we will be expanding this work in 2026 to give us a richer picture of the health of many of our still waters.
WQMN FACTS & FIGURES
n Over 800 trained volunteers n 300-plus angling clubs involved n 12,000 water samples collected n 80 river catchments tested
A huge thank you to all the volunteers and our trade partners Orvis and Angling Direct for supporting the Anglers Against Pollution campaign to protect our waterways.
Our entire dataset is now available through the interactive WQMN online map — a powerful tool and a base of evidence increasingly difficult for regulators and polluters to ignore.
CASE STUDY: MEDWAY
The Royal Tunbridge Wells Angling Society (RTWAS) exemplifies how local groups are driving change. For several years, they have monitored the Medway catchment, building a substantial dataset and expanding work to include E. coli testing and Riverfly invertebrate studies.
RTWAS has actively engaged regulators to improve monitoring and river management. Working closely with the Environment Agency, they demonstrated that over 90% of pollution in the monitored stretch
came from Southern Water’s wastewater treatment works and combined sewer overflows.
As a result, the EA installed 24/7 monitoring at a treated sewage outfall for six months and appointed a Senior Environmental Monitoring Officer/Citizen Science Lead to strengthen collaboration.
Supporting members and protecting environment
Despite significant external challenges in 2025, Fish Legal has continued to demonstrate its value and resilience in protecting the environment and supporting its members. This year has seen clear signals from Government of an intention to weaken key environmental protections, notably through the Independent Water Commission’s recommendations to amend the Water Framework Directive (WFD).
In response, Fish Legal, working with the Angling Trust, submitted evidence to the Commission highlighting the benefits of the WFD and published a detailed response to its final report. This ensured Fish Legal’s expert perspective remains part of the policy debate as Government prepares a forthcoming Water White Paper.
Fish Legal also secured a landmark victory in the Court of Appeal in April 2025, achieving a second win for the Pickering Fishery Association against the Government and the Environment Agency. The Court confirmed that their
approach to WFD duties was unlawful, representing a major success for environmental protection. However, this could be undermined if legislation is amended in response to the Commission’s recommendations.
Alongside its legal work, Fish Legal continues to provide vital advice and support to members, with 317 open advice and case matters.
We would also like to thank the 200-plus individuals and many clubs and fisheries that have contributed to support legal action through our Every River Counts campaign – with a special mention to the Grayling Society, Tenchfishers and Barbel Catchers Club for their donations to the cause.
In 2025, Fish Legal said goodbye to Penny Gane, Head of Practice, who stepped down after 18 years’ service, and appointed Zoe Wedderburn-Day as Head of Policy & Strategy and Haseeb Ilyas as Head of Legal Services.
Meet the Leadership team
Zoe Wedderburn-Day Head of Policy & Strategy
Zoe joined Fish Legal in 2024, bringing with her a background in complex commercial litigation from an international law firm. An avid environmentalist, she holds a master’s degree in Environmental Law and Sustainable Development. Zoe joined Fish Legal with a strong desire to hold decision-makers to account for their environmental actions and to continue the fight for cleaner, ecologically thriving rivers. In her new role as Head of Policy & Strategy, Zoe will lead on the strategic direction and policy positions of Fish Legal, helping to ensure the organisation’s limited resources are used as effectively and strategically as possible.
Haseeb Ilyas, Head of Legal Services
Haseeb has been with Fish Legal since 2024 and became Head of Legal Services in October 2025. He leads the legal team with a focus on strong case direction, effective delivery, and consistent standards of advice and representation. Haseeb oversees complex litigation, manages strategic priorities, and ensures cases are progressed efficiently and proportionately. With experience from a top 200 law firm, he has acted in high stakes civil litigation for both Claimants and Defendants. He works closely with external experts, regulators, and stakeholders to build robust cases that stand up to scrutiny.
Thank you, Penny Gane
Fish Legal extends its sincere thanks to Penny Gane, who stepped down as Head of Practice in summer 2025 after 18 years of exceptional service. Joining in 2007 and becoming Head of Practice in 2016, Penny led the legal team through landmark cases that protected fisheries, upheld anglers’ rights and held polluters to account. Her achievements include the first private criminal prosecution of a water company in 20 years and a major High Court victory for the Pickering Fishery Association against the Government and Environment Agency. Her impact on environmental justice will be long-lasting and widely felt.
A year of real progress fighting for sea angling
It’s been a landmark year for recreational sea angling.
In Parliament, we helped shape the Marine Protected Areas (Bottom Trawling) Bill, backed by 50,000 supporters, and secured stronger recognition of recreational sea angling in fisheries policy.
We fought for sustainable outcomes for key species including mackerel, pollack and bass — successfully resisting damaging proposals such as a drift-net fishery for bass.
Eighty-five pollack descending devices were distributed to charter skippers and boat anglers to reduce fish mortality, while new codesigned best practice guidance for bass, bluefin tuna and pollack are
BLUEFIN TUNA
now widely used among the sea angling community.
Sea anglers are also playing a growing role in science. Through partnerships with universities and research bodies, we’ve supported projects on bass, black bream and pollack, with our Pollack Pact providing clear, practical advice to anglers.
Regionally, we relaunched and expanded our sea angling engagement network, strengthening anglers’ influence in local byelaws and IFCA decisions.
Meanwhile, Anglers Against Litter continues to grow, with 60 sea clubs organising litter picks and 50 line recycling bins installed at popular coastal venues.
The Angling Trust continues to lead England’s recreational catch-and-release bluefin tuna fishery, promoting evidence-based best practice through angler engagement, guidance and advocacy. In 2025 we worked with anglers, charter operators and regulators to support ethical fishing, science-led management, and effective enforcement, safeguarding the species and supporting coastal communities.
Fisheries Management
With support from Esmée Fairbairn, the Angling Trust fills a critical representation gap for recreational fishing, now formally recognised under the Fisheries Act (2020). In 2025, this role was vital as scientific advice continued to be overlooked in setting Total Allowable Catches (TACs).
Key 2025 activity included:
n Advocacy for sustainable management of pollack, mackerel, cod and bass.
n Representing anglers in the Bass Management Group, delivering best practice handling guidance and opposing drift netting.
n Input into Skate & Ray, Wrasse Complex and Seabream Fisheries Management Plans.
n Working with Southern and Sussex IFCAs on MCZ and byelaw consultations.
This work ensures fisheries are managed sustainably for fish stocks and coastal communities alike.
CHARTER BOATS
Charter boats are vital to coastal economies and fisheries research but are often overlooked in management. With support from Seafarers, the Angling Trust appointed a Charter Boat Officer to strengthen engagement, improve communication, support policy clarity, and ensure skipper representation in key fisheries management discussions, with further engagement planned for 2026.
A new era of support for clubs and fisheries
A major milestone in 2025 was the launch of the Clubs and Fisheries Support Service, providing free advice to anyone involved in the running and general management of clubs, fisheries and angling venues.
Already, our Fisheries Support Officers have handled over 700 enquiries covering a range of subjects including club development, funding opportunities, invasive species, litter picking and volunteering.
Meanwhile, our Fisheries Management Advisors have dealt with nearly 1,000 predation-related enquiries and the Angling Trust will
play a key role in negotiations around the new European Management Plan for Cormorants, working with European governments to reduce winter migration impacts on UK fisheries. We know avian predation is a huge challenge to fish stocks and will continue to lead the fight to protect fisheries at the highest possible level.
Reflecting our wider duty to protect fisheries, we also supported Peterborough & District Angling Association in the challenging but successful removal and relocation of two seals that had become isolated in
THE SAFE CLUBS WORKSHOP
Throughout 2025, the Angling Trust has continued delivering safeguarding training to Welfare Officers and club officials to help keep clubs safe.
Our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Di Murray, led 12 online interactive workshops, training 150 officials — including 105 Welfare Officers — in essential safeguarding knowledge. Sessions will continue in 2026.
During the year, 97 safeguarding concerns were recorded, ranging from cases investigated by police or statutory agencies to lower-level poor practice and DBS risk assessments for those in positions of trust.
The Trust also advised clubs on issues such as disciplinary breaches, adult disputes, safeguarding risk management, DBS requirements, junior section setup, and fraud prevention.
Through the Angling Improvement Fund, the Angling Trust has once again worked with the Environment Agency to re-invest rod licence money into otter-proof fencing projects. Over the past decade, the fund has distributed over £3m in grants to clubs and fisheries to help mitigate predation and ensure these fisheries have a sustainable future.
The Fisheries Support Service is a joint venture between the Environment Agency and the Angling Trust.
Over 1,250 sign up for FishNET
The Fisheries Enforcement Support Service is a partnership between the Angling Trust, Environment Agency and rural police teams, fully funded by English freshwater fishing licence income and delivered in partnership with the Environment Agency.
In 2025 we launched FishNET, our online learning platform, which is transforming enforcement training. More than 1,250 people have registered so far, including rural police teams, enforcement officers, club bailiffs, and members of our Voluntary Bailiff Service.
We are not the regulator, nor an enforcement authority, but our members, clubs, and fisheries continue to report challenges with illegal angling activity. The FishNET Learning Hub is a means by which we can offer meaningful support. their waters, leading negotiations with the RSPCA, Environment Agency and Natural England.
A record-setting year at home and abroad
2025 was a landmark year for angling competitions, with the delivery of 15 National Championships across coarse, sea and game disciplines. These included events for teams and individuals, Ladies, Juniors, Disabled, Master and Veteran anglers, and featured some of the largest national competitions ever held on natural waters.
Alongside this, the Competitions team organised and delivered 14 major domestic competitions, including qualifiers and finals for RiverFest, FishOMania, Boddington Classic, SilverFish, Winter League, Sea League, Shore Teams of Five, Sea Species Hunt and the British Pike Championships –contributing to more than 200 events overall.
We also expanded opportunities at grass-roots level by partnering in, or launching, a number of new and inclusive competitions. These included Club SuperCup, The Carp Challenge, Mersey Basin Species Hunt and the Sensas International Challenge, welcoming
both members and non-members into competitive angling.
Internationally, 2025 was equally impressive. We managed and supported a record 43 England teams across coarse, carp, predator, shore, boat and bank disciplines, competing in World, European and Home International Championships. Events were hosted across France, Spain, Scotland, Italy, Serbia, Lithuania, the USA, Mexico and England, with Team England returning with seven gold, six silver and six bronze medals.
A further highlight was the award of an MBE to Mark Downes, our longestserving international team manager, recognising his exceptional voluntary service to Team England.
The England international calendar now runs year-round, from January’s youth Talent Pathway through to December’s final World Championships. Delivering this scale of activity presents challenges for a small Competitions team and largely self-funded international squads. Access to suitable venues for near 500-peg Nationals on natural waters is increasingly complex, requiring safe parking, fair fishing, and significant volunteers and club support. For example, the Division 1 National on the Warwickshire Avon involved over 50 volunteers, nine clubs, two HQs and pegging across nearly 50 miles.
MARK DOWNES RECEIVES MBE
Angling legend Mark Downes was awarded an MBE by King Charles at Windsor Castle. The long-serving England Men’s Team Manager received the honour for Services to International Angling and the Angling Trust. With a 50-year career representing and managing England at the highest level, Mark’s contribution to the sport has been immense and widely celebrated.
focus in 2025, achieved through clearer communication, easier entry processes, improved venue selection and pegging, and higherquality media – reflected in strong engagement and positive feedback.
Improving the competitor experience has been a major
We thank all clubs, fisheries, anglers, officials, volunteers, sponsors and partners for their outstanding support. Looking ahead to 2026, exciting developments are already underway, including a refreshed RiverFest format, the acquisition and relaunch of the British Carp Angling Championships, and a strengthened partnership with Team England Fly Fishing, ensuring our competitive offer is stronger and more diverse than ever.
Over 750 coaches and purpose-built platforms
Coaching made major strides in 2025. We appointed Graham Mabey as Head of Coaching in June and with 20 years of experience he has already reshaped delivery and communication.
We now have 755 licensed coaches, and the launch of the Event Marketplace provides a purpose-built national platform, showcasing the best places to get into fishing and offering a simple booking system. We want to encourage all licensed coaches and organisations delivering participation initiatives to benefit from the Marketplace in the same way other successful sports do — supporting families to make first steps into the sport easier than ever.
In 2026 we will launch a revamped national coaching programme — more accessible, more modern, and better aligned with the needs of grassroots coaches and participants.
Graham Mabey: Driving quality, inclusion
Graham Mabey is Head of Coaching at the Angling Trust, working across the organisation to embed the coach licence throughout everything from Get Fishing Awards to international team programmes. His focus is on celebrating and promoting the work of licensed coaches across all disciplines of angling.
Graham has been an angling coach since the age of 25 and previously ran a successful full-time coaching organisation in Hampshire for 13
years. During that time, he delivered a wide range of programmes for young people, adults with learning disabilities, individuals in recovery, and those experiencing mental health challenges, working in partnership with local authorities, schools, and charities.
He also spent a decade coaching Carp Team England alongside Rob Hughes, helping the team secure two World Championship gold medals and achieve a world number one ranking.
New in 2025: Event Marketplace
The Angling Trust’s Event Marketplace, powered by swimbooker, was launched in 2025 and provides a single, trusted platform for discovering and delivering high-quality angling events.
Designed by coaches for coaches, the Marketplace allows clubs, fisheries, organisations and licensed Angling Trust Level 2 coaches to promote events, manage bookings and deliver safe, professional angling activity. All events are endorsed by the Angling Trust and aligned with its minimum operating standards, giving the public confidence that activities are led by qualified and licensed coaches.
From free Get Fishing Award sessions and CAST Award courses to private tuition and specialist coaching,
the Marketplace caters for all abilities, disciplines and age groups. Events can be public or private, shared via the Angling Trust website or directly through social channels.
The platform also provides powerful event management tools, including automated registers, award issuing, safeguarding and health & safety resources, rod licence waiver applications, and smart scheduling to prevent double bookings. Coaches retain full ownership of their events, with the Marketplace acting as a support and endorsement system rather than a takeover.
and opportunity through coaching
A multi-discipline angler and experienced outdoor educator, Graham is passionate about using angling to improve wellbeing and is committed to developing angling coaching as a respected and viable career pathway. Previously, Graham served as the Angling Trust’s Regional Development Officer for the South East for four years.
Introducing fishing to nearly 30,000 people
Get Fishing is the Angling Trust’s campaign to get more people fishing more often. Each year we run hundreds of angling events for all ages and abilities for anyone who wants to get into fishing, get back into angling or find out where to go fishing, who to go fishing with, what to use to start fishing and how to go fishing for the first time.
Our Get Fishing events are either no cost or low cost beginner sessions where you can learn to fish or get back into angling after a break. Nearly all of them are completely FREE!
Between 1 April and 30 September, 29,848 people took part in Angling Trust-supported participation programmes:
10,430 attended a Reel Education session.
14,570 joined a Get Fishing event.
4,848 took part through Get Hooked on Fishing.
This surge in engagement is already showing results: junior licence sales increased by 17,502, reversing long-term decline and demonstrating the impact of targeted, highquality engagement. Creating desire in new participants through schools has been a major factor and is inspiring new people to try fishing for the first time.
The Get Fishing campaign is funded by the Environment Agency from fishing licence income as part of the National Angling Strategic Services contract with the Angling Trust, and Sport England.
We also distributed over £150,000 of rod licence income to 80 local angling projects, helping clubs, schools, charities, and community groups create opportunities for people to access fishing. The Get Fishing Fund returns in 2026.
Reel Education: Connecting classrooms to the water
Reel Education is a free school education resource developed by the Angling Trust to bring learning to life through angling, nature and the environment. Created by teachers, for teachers, it offers lesson plans and activities aligned with the national curriculum framework.
The programme supports learning across Art, Maths and Science, alongside PE and games-based activities delivered by the trained Reel Education team. Together, these elements demonstrate the strong link between environment, nature and angling, helping young people better understand the natural world.
2025 saw the busiest summer term to date, with over 10,000 students from primary and secondary schools taking part in the Reel Education experience. The secondary school offer is also being refined, with pilot
schemes engaging smaller groups of 11–16-year-olds through classroom lessons that lead to on-the-bank sessions.
Reel Education is proving to be an effective pathway into wider participation. Multiple holiday Get Fishing sessions were attended by young people who had previously taken part at school, including one session where every child had experienced Reel Education.
The programme continues to support progression, with hundreds of children completing their Bronze Get Fishing Award through schools, and 15 teachers and teaching assistants trained as Level 2 coaches. Engagement has been strong nationwide, including the first Reel Education sessions on the Isle of Wight, highlighting the programme’s growing reach and impact.
Hard battles, big wins in fight for clean water
With a new government in place, 2025 brought major challenges — especially around sewage pollution. Angling Trust and Fish Legal engaged extensively with the Independent Water Commission submitting robust evidence. Several of our recommendations were adopted, including:
n Abolition of OFWAT.
n Creation of a new water superregulator.
n Regional water planning and governance reforms.
n A stronger focus on asset health and infrastructure
We strongly opposed any moves to weaken the Water Framework Directive or dilute river protections, and we continue to call for an end to developers’ automatic right to connect
where sewage capacity is inadequate.
Anglers in the Kennet Valley helped us defeat proposals for a 32,000-bird intensive poultry unit, protecting a sensitive SSSI from further pollution.
Following another devastating saline surge in the Norfolk Broads, we are pressing the Environment Agency for active solutions to protect a fishery worth more than £100m a year to local communities.
We also continued defending angling access at places like Wingerworth Lido in Derbyshire (pictured), promoting evidence-based management plans over anti-angling sentiment.
We have also pushed for the control and management of invasive species and called for more action to protect chalk streams from the impact of development and abstraction.
And with the Missing Salmon Alliance, we have argued for more action to protect Atlantic salmon through the measures taken by NASCO, the international governing body.
Anglers Against Litter
Litter poses a serious and ongoing threat to rivers, lakes, canals and coastal waters. Once waste enters the water, it travels far beyond its original source, spreading pollution from headwaters to the sea. Discarded items can entangle wildlife, while plastics break down into microplastics that are ingested by fish, birds and other animals. These persistent pollutants contribute to ocean garbage patches and have been found in over one-third of freshwater and marine fish globally. Litter also damages people’s enjoyment of waterside environments and can create hazards such as broken glass and sharp metal.
Despite this challenge, momentum is growing. Anglers across the country are taking action to protect the waters they value most.
In 2025, Anglers Against Litter:
Worked with trade sponsor Shimano to provide litter-picking equipment to angling communities.
Supported the Great British Spring Clean and Plastic Blitz through our national network.
Secured Fisheries and Seafood Scheme funding from the Marine Management Organisation to support sea anglers, including:
n Installing 50 Anglers National Line Recycling Bins across England.
n Supporting 60 sea angling clubs with equipment.
n Delivering a pilot with ReAP UK to recycle aquatic plastics collected from coastlines.
Alongside community action, the Angling Trust continued to campaign for stronger action at source, including improved Extended Producer Responsibility and tighter wet wipe regulations.
Looking ahead, we will continue to press for tougher plastic restrictions and work closely with partners and angling organisations to achieve cleaner, healthier waters.
Angling Trust Income & Costs
By Paul Gant
Angling Trust financial analysis
shows relatively consistent income across most categories with membership and the EA NASS3 contract accounting for most income. Increasing fundraising and grant income will remain a focus for the organisation and the formation of a charity will allow us to expand our delivery in a number of areas of our work to protect, promote and develop, reducing pressure on membership income and allowing us to achieve more in areas such as education, public affairs, pollution and grassroots community support.
I defined not for profit a year ago as meaning to be broadly neutral over approximately a 5-year time window. Last year, the Angling Trust made a very small surplus, this year the Trust has ended up with a modest deficit due to supporting Reel Education after a trade sponsor reduced their funding and some restructuring costs.
Overall income has surpassed £4m, with membership income growth of 9% as the full costs of insurance premium uplifts were passed through to clubs and fisheries. Competitions revenues stepped up again moving this closer to a break-even point and more activity was delivered through the EA NASS3 contract. The 2-year Catchwise project concluded in 2024 but other sources of funds for broader advocacy and campaigning work increased slightly, however this flatters an increasingly challenging backdrop for securing philanthropic funding.
Our costs of doing business and delivering all the activities we do in support of our 11 ambitions went from £3.8m to £4.1m, with spend on people costs (by far our biggest cost driver) remaining at 63% of total cost (same as 2024 & 2023). Cost inflation was a consistent challenge for all businesses in 2024/25 and the Angling Trust was not immune, with premises, utilities, IT etc changing adversely by 14% year on year.
After this year when costs exceeded income, the first for some time, reserves remain satisfactory and the outlook into the near future looks broadly positive with the aimed formation of a charity in 2026 providing opportunities to support our expanded workstreams as we lead the fight for fish, fishing and the environment.
Fish Legal Income & Costs
Fish Legal remains heavily reliant on membership income, and although that proportion of income has dropped (total figure up 5%) in line with our plans, our objective in forming a charity is to help us to diversify, become less reliant on membership and allow us to increase the small number of donations and legacies we currently receive. This will expand our work to make polluters pay and help us to undertake complex strategic litigation which has the potential to alter national policy and regulation off the back of our successful local interventions alongside our existing members.
INCOME
For the first time in most people’s memory, Fish Legal were forced to settle a case on behalf of a fishery member in 2024 resulting in a substantial payment, which makes this year’s costs of almost £1.2m look very high when compared to income. However, also this year very little in the way of recovered costs were received, so the numbers are imbalanced. These costs are always variable annually and by nature difficult to forecast.
As a not-for-profit organisation Fish Legal strives to break even over a 5-year period and when I add up the cumulative position at the end of this year we’re still in the black. If I were to take a detailed look at this year and strip out the loss and the ups and downs of expert and counsel fees versus recovered costs, then the underlying core business of Fish Legal, to advise and represent club and fishery members, made a small surplus.
Membership income is up 5% and we received 10% more income from donations and legacies, including our Every River Counts campaign towards the costs of pursuing (and winning) the flagship Costa Beck Judicial Review. We grew the team with two new solicitors joining and just one leaver. Overhead costs suffered with the same cost pressures as the Angling Trust, but after improving our treasury management Fish Legal was able to drive up interest income by 150% year on year.
Reserves remain strong, and the business was able to utilise cash on deposit for the settlement rather than immediately draw down from the fighting fund investment, however expect to do so eventually to balance up legacy intercompany loans as we move towards legal incorporation and the formation of a charity in 2026.
If you want change, join the Angling Trust
Dai Gribble Gardner Consultant and Guide
I’m proud to be a member of the Angling Trust and help support the wide range of activities they undertake to improve fishing for all. It’s easy to stand on the sidelines and complain but if you really want things to change you need to join with others and use your voice constructively.
Steve
Ringer
Former World Feeder Fishing Champion
Every major sport or interest needs a governing body to fight its cause and angling is no different. It’s time for anglers to offer a united front and fight the problems we face together through one governing body. Only this way do we stand any chance of succeeding long term. You only have to look at the work that their legal arm Fish Legal has done to realise how important the Angling Trust is and the good work it can do providing it has our backing as anglers.
Jim Murray Actor and founder of Project White Hart
The Angling Trust’s water testing initiative confirms what the salmon are already telling us. In our chalk streams, water quality is failing and the consequences are catastrophic. Project White Hart aims to address how pollution is pushing these fish to the edge of extinction. The Water Quality Monitoring Network provides the hard evidence needed to hold polluters and regulators to account and force the urgent action required to restore clean and vibrant chalk streams.
Dave Lewis Sea Angling Journalist and Shimano UK Ambassador
I have been a supporter of the Angling Trust for many years, in particular the excellent work they do to ensure a healthy and prosperous future for the sport I love. As a sea angler, I feel that more than ever now is the time for all anglers to unite behind the Angling Trust in order to present a united front against the increasingly frequent challenges facing angling in the UK.
Six more ways you can make a big difference
We greatly appreciate your continued support through membership but here are some other ways you can support the work of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal:
n Enter the Anglers Lottery - with fantastic prizes to be won, all surplus generated goes to supporting our work.
n Make a donation - whether you are an individual, club, fishery owner or society, consider a one off or annual donation to support our work.
n Leave a legacy - ensure future generations have the opportunity
to benefit from the pastime and environment we all love.
n Get your members to join - if you are a club, fishery or syndicate contact us to discuss how you can block-join your individual members to support the cause.
n Support our auctions and raffleswhether it’s donating a lot, bidding or buying a few tickets it all makes a big difference.
n Volunteer in the community - not all contributions are financial so please consider how you could give something back. We have all sorts of volunteering opportunities and would love to hear from you.
Supporting our work, saving you money
As an Angling Trust individual member, you receive discounts and special offers on a range of tackle, accessories, bait, books, travel and more.
Our Member Benefits are now organised by fishing preference
- so whether you are a Carp, Coarse, Game, Match, Predator or Sea angler, you can access great savings from top brands, including Sportfish, Veals, Go Outdoors, Weird Fish, Hinders, Fjuka and lots more!
Our pledge: We’ll never stop fighting for fish and fishing YEAR AHEAD
More than ever, angling needs a single, professional, united voice. We were invited to 10 Downing Street to discuss multiple issues, and that impact and influence can only be achieved with your support.
In 2026 we will:
n Expand the Water Quality Monitoring Network into its most complete form yet.
n Defend recreational sea angling through key marine Fisheries Management Plans.
n Grow participation in angling at scale.
n Launch a new national coaching programme.
n Deliver market-leading domestic and national competitions.
n Support clubs facing predation, pollution, and planning pressure.
n Continue fighting to restore our rivers, lakes, and coastal habitats.
Angling matters — to communities, to the environment, to the economy, and to every one of us who finds peace and purpose by the water.
Thank you for your support throughout 2025. Our members, volunteers, clubs, partners, and supporters make everything we do possible. As not-for-profit organisations, Angling Trust and Fish Legal will continue to protect, promote, and develop, fighting on your behalf for fish, fishing, and the environment.
THANK YOU for your support
The Angling Trust and Fish Legal would like to acknowledge the support of the following:
Angling Direct
Anyfish Anywhere
Ashfield Angling Club
Asso
Beechfield Headwear
Carp Scene
Cefas
Daiwa
Defra
DFDS
DH Angling
Drennan
Environment Agency
Esmee Fairbairn
Farlows
Fishing Republic
Free Spirit Match
Freedom Brewery
Go Outdoors
Guru
Halkon Hunt
Lindholme Lakes
Matchroom Sport
Mersey Rivers Trust
Missing Salmon Alliance
Northern Powergrid
Orvis
Reuben Heaton
Ringer Baits
Sensas
Shimano
South Coast Rods
Sport England
Sportfish
SportsHotels.Com
Swimbooker
The Fishmongers’ Company
The Seafarers’ Charity
Trent Baits
Tronixpro
Tubertini
Waterloo Foundation
Weird Fish
Winning Ways
Yeti
