The Chair of the Forum on Recreational Fisheries and aquatic environment, Member of the European Parliament Niclas Herbst, was invited to Amsterdam by the European Anglers Alliance’s President, Fred Bloot, to go angling on the canals.
Niclas Herbst said: “during the COVID-19 lock downs, for many Europeans, recreational angling has been a way to let off steam and balance their daily life. Many have started fishing again and some tried it for the first time. Let’s hope they continue as we know that angling has many social, health, well-being benefits.” “I am glad that I could enjoy it as well, in Amsterdam and use the occasion to discuss key challenges and opportunities ahead for the recreational fisheries sector, in the fresh air and get new ideas together with the EAA President” he then added.
Fred Bloot underlined that Niclas Herbst has been a key supporter of the sector in the European Parliament since he took the chairmanship of the Forum on Recreational Fisheries and aquatic environment. “We have a busy year ahead, with high ambitions for our sector and it was very useful to exchange with MEP Herbst on how to work towards an inclusion of the recreational fisheries sector in the Common Fisheries Policy” he added.
He concluded that Niclas Herbst’s participation to this fishing trip also recalls that recreational fisheries deserve full attention from the EU decision-makers, in particular from Members of the European Parliament from the Fisheries Committee who play a key role in the definition of the EU fisheries policies.
Peter Steven, Policy Advisor to MEP Niclas Herbst, Stefan Spahn, EAA Board Member, David Vertegaal, Marine Officer from Sportvisserij Nederland and EAA contact point on the Common Fisheries Policy, as well as Julie Changivy from the Recfishing Forum Secretariat also joined the fishing trip to Amsterdam.