Fishing tackles anti-social crime

Some young people are not known for sitting still but the Environmental Agency is hoping to persuade them to enjoy messing about by the river. It is aiming to get more children and teenagers hooked on fishing and join the 4m anglers in Wales and England. Some schemes are using the sport to prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour among certain groups. The agency in Wales said more than 3,000 people, mainly youngsters, had discovered fishing at events last year. Andy Schofield from Environment Agency Wales said all sorts of youth organisations could be potential targets for fishing schemes. "We recently held an all-Wales Cubs fun day. We try and tempt the youngsters [to take up fishing] - they're going to be the future of the sport," he said. "We have worked in several primary schools, we work with youth groups including housing associations. "We also work with the Federation of Welsh Anglers to make sure there are enough coaches out there."

'Sit and fish all day'

One example of using fishing to prevent anti-social behaviour is a scheme in Denbighshire, called Get Hooked on Fishing, part of a nationwide government-backed charity programme. Stephen Wood, who runs the programme, said 120 young people had benefited from the Conwy and Denbighshire scheme since it started in 2002. He said: "We have watched young people at risk of drifting into anti-social behaviour through lack of interest in anything, becoming good keen anglers and using their leisure time constructively. "We even have one young person who has trials coming up for the Welsh youth team. He's turned out to be a very good fly fisherman who might get the chance to represent his country."

Another project took children fishing in Porthcawl, south Wales. The Environment Agency's Andy Schofield added: "Kids with ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - are able to sit and fish all day without taking any medication. Teachers have been gobsmacked that they can do that."

The agency hopes to attract 200,000 extra people to the sport by 2015 in Wales and England. Head of fisheries, Dafydd Evans, said: "We aim to help more people from more backgrounds enjoy the simple pleasures of going fishing, and at the same time help them appreciate and protect their environment." Research by the agency found one in five young people aged 12 to 16 had fished during the past two years and as many again would like to try the sport. It has set out its 10-year strategy - Angling in 2015 - to encourage people from wider backgrounds to take up fishing.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4965726.stm
 

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