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The
European Anglers Alliance (EAA)
The
European Anglers Alliance, launched in 1994, is a pan-European organisation
located in Brussels. It was
founded to act as an interlocutor for the authorities (European
Parliament in Strasbourg, European Commission in Brussels) and various
other organisations.
It represents 18 countries with 5 million affiliated anglers in
membership and acts to protect the interests of 25 million anglers
across Europe. It cooperates closely with the European Fishing Tackle
Trade Association, and together supports a combined business of
25 billion euros.
Many issues are of international importance i.e cormorants, migratory
fish, exploitation of the sea, eels, acid rain, etc. The EAA benefits
from knowledge from organisations in each country, the understanding
of problems others may have and ways of approaching issues (for
example, in the United Kingdom, fishermen frequently associate with
ecological groups which is not the case elsewhere). Each country
has its differences but the angling organisations unite in their
action. There is a common passion for fishing and the aquatic environment.
The Alliance also belongs to the EFFTA which represents the European
manufacturers of angling equipment. The Alliance is concerned with
the policies concerning fishing and not the technical side although
it often associates itself with scientific research.
In past years the Alliance has carried
out work on issues such as:
Acid Rain : caused by sulphur emissions
from Western industrialized nations and developing economies in
Eastern Europe which has devastated fisheries and fish stocks all
over Scandinavia.
Cormorants : uncontrolled development
of populations of cormorants throughout Europe and the resulting
serious damage and the manner of approaching this problem in each
European country.
choose for further information
Migratory species : The Alliance has,
of course, taken an interest in the salmon in the Atlantic and the
Baltic whose populations have severely declined over the last 40
years. The causes are well-known and the Alliance supports the steps
of specialized associations for the protection of this fish (NASCO),
and in particular the consequences of industrial aquaculture, gill
nets, etc. The conservation of the Sea Trout also fiqures highly
on the agenda of the EAA.
Eels : The problems of eel fishing
and elvers show that the species is endangered in numerous European
countries.
Over Fishing : in the sea is a catastrophe
for the survival of some species ( cod, sea-bass, bluefin tuna,
etc). The Alliance has been able to voice the concerns of sea anglers
who were not represented on the commission of maritime fishing.
Resolutions have been proposed for the protection of these species.
Economic importance of angling : studies
carried out all over Europe have shown the economic weight of angling
in fresh water.
The Alliance has taken firm positions concerning the implanting
of micro stations, it is also working on the regulating of chartered
sea-going vessels, re-stocking problems, fishing regulations, tourism,
etc.
Committee:
The European Anglers
Alliance is directed by a committee under the presidence of Harm
Minekus (Netherlands), treasurer: Lars Gruber (Sweden); executive
vice president: Bernard Breton (France);
Members : Espen Farstadt (Norway), Chris Poupard (Great Britain),
Ferenc Szalay (Hungary) and Kurt Meyer (Switzerland).
General Secretary: Jan Kappel: eaa.aepl@skynet.be
Member countries: France, Italy, United Kingdom, Germany,
Hungary, Poland, Sweden, Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Denmark,
Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium (Walloon), The Czech Republic, Austria,
Slovenia, Macedonia.
Note:
A
meeting of EAA Ireland will take place on 27th November 2002
@ 2.00pm
Venue-
Ashling Hotel
Parkgate St.
Dublin
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