Angling
Fishing is often regarded as a gentle activity that puts adults and children in touch with nature. But what is gentle about spearing living creatures on a hook, dragging them out of the water, and leaving them struggling for life as they suffocate? Discarded hooks and lines injure and kill swans, ducks and other wildlife.
‘Coarse fishing’ is the most popular type of angling, and takes place between mid-March and mid-June each year (other types of angling are ‘sea’ and ‘game’). Anglers try to catch freshwater fish in streams and lakes by using a rod and line with bait on a hook. Some fish are caught to be eaten, but the majority are caught just for the fun of it, and then released. ‘Catch and release’ is far from cruelty-free, however. Studies in the US have shown that 43% of released fish die within 6 days due to their injuries.
Fiction and Fact
Here are some of the arguments that anglers use to try to persuade people that fishing is the right thing to do:
- Fiction: ‘Fish don’t feel pain.’
FACT Pulling a fish from the water is much the same as pushing a human under water – they cannot breathe and will suffocate. The delicate gills and sensors round a fish’s mouth can feel the pain of the hook going through them and, additionally, the anglers handle the fish before throwing them back into the water. This removes the mucous outer layer on the fish’s gills, which is used for ‘waterproofing’. The consequence is that the fish are more likely to contract infections when they are thrown back into the water. - Fiction: ‘People who go fishing help to conserve the fish and their habitats.‘
FACT It is true that there are some anglers who monitor the quality of the rivers, and clear up after themselves. Sadly, however, they are outnumbered by those who don’t bother and who leave litter around such as discarded fishing line and hooks that is hazardous to wildlife. - Fiction:‘Angling helps to teach young people about nature.’
FACT Angling teaches young people that it is OK to kill defenceless creatures for fun. There are lots of other outdoor hobbies and pursuits that are far better for learning about nature, such as bird spotting, visiting nature reserves, helping at an animal sanctuary or getting involved in practical conservation work with your local wildlife trust or British Trust for Conservation Volunteers group. See www.btcv.org.
