During the EAA’s annual General Assembly in Tampere (Finland), EAA president Fred Bloot has stepped down in his role, giving way for new leadership. Fred Bloot, who has served in his role as president for 12 years, modernised the organisation to transform it into a highly valued civil society organisation promoting and protecting recreational fisheries not only at the national level but also at the European level. With his resignation, president Bloot “passed the reel” to the newly elected EAA President, Mark Owen – representative of EAA’s member Angling Trust (UK).
During the
30th General Assembly of the European Anglers Alliance, members not only celebrated the anniversary of the organisation, but they also elected a new president to steer the organisation. Outgoing president Fred Bloot did not present himself for re-election and thanked the organisation for the past 12 years of hard work and many remarkable moments.
"It has been a remarkable journey to steer the EAA’s organisation for the past years. I would like to underline that the work for and within this organisation gave me energy to further advocate for clean waters, a recognition of Recreational fisheries as a highly lucrative sector both economically but also in terms of sociological and environmental matters. Working for the European Anglers Alliance as its President not only has been very much rewarding, it also created friendships that will last a lifetime. I would like to thank the organisation, its members, and the millions of EU anglers for having granted me this role. I am sure that the organisation – under the leadership of Mark Owen – is in good hands”. – Fred Bloot
Mark Owen, representative of EAA member Angling Trust has been elected by the EAA’s General Assembly as the new President of the organisation.
"It truly is an honour to have been elected as the new EAA President by this year’s General Assembly. I believe that it is highly beneficial for the European angling community, our shared aquatic ecosystems and fish populations to further cooperate to ensure better recognition at policy level for our sector and all 25 million European anglers.” – says the newly elected President Mark Owen