Campbell: Get hooked on Fishing

Minister for Sport and Leisure Gregory Campbell is encouraging people to take up angling for relaxation and enjoyment.

The Minister joined young fisher men at Movanagher fish farm in a bid to encourage more youths to take up the sport and to announce the 2009 permit and licence charges.

He said: Angling is usually considered to be a sport dominated by male adults but I would like to see more young people, senior citizens, women and disabled people getting involved. I have agreed that once again there should be no increase in the cost of concessionary permits in 2009 which stand at £15. And for £2 the young people can have a full season’s enjoyment.

Angling provides considerable benefits to health and well being which has been highlighted recently by reports that fly fishing offers proven benefits for women recovering from breast cancer.”

The Minister concluded: Angling also makes a significant contribution to the Northern Ireland economy through tourism and rural regeneration and I have also decided that, in order to continue to attract more visitors and tourists, there is to be no increase in the cost of three day and 14-day game and coarse angling permits. The cost of other angling permits has been increased in line with inflation.”

The Department continues to publish its Angling Guide in two parts to provide separate information on the Game and Coarse Fisheries in the Public Angling Estate. A new angling guide has also being produced in time for the 2009 season which will provide detailed information on all the Public Angling Estate fisheries with facilities for anglers with disabilities. A copy of the appropriate Guides will be available free of charge to everyone who buys a DCAL permit and may be obtained either through our authorised distributors or directly from the Department.

Notes to Editors:

1. The 2009 permit prices, including VAT, are as follows:

General Season Game Permit £63.00

Juvenile Season Game Permit £2.00

Local Season Game Permit £47.50

14-Day General Game Permit £15.00

3-Day General Game Permit £5.00

14-Day Coarse Permit (2 rods) £9.00

3-Day Coarse Permit (2 rods) £4.50

Annual Coarse Fishing Permit £23.50

Concessionary Game/Coarse Permit (Disabled/Pensioners) £15.00

2. The cost of all Angling Permits has increased by the current rate of inflation of 4%, rounded to the nearest 50p. The prices have further been revised due to the reduction in the rate of vat from 17.5% to 15%. Prices relating to permits for Juveniles and Concessionary Game and Coarse are held at the same price annually to encourage greater participation from these groups. The three day and 14 day game angling permit prices remain the same to encourage tourist anglers to N. Ireland. Other permits have not increased due to the process of rounding the increase to the nearest 50p.

3 The cost of River Bush day tickets for a the full day non-DCAL permit holder ticket is also increased by the current rate of inflation and the cost of all other River Bush day tickets are set relative to these prices.

4. The 64 fisheries in the Department’s Public Angling Estate offer a wide variety of fishing, including wild salmon and trout angling, stocked brown and rainbow trout fisheries and a variety of coarse fisheries. It consists of:

Forty seven game fisheries; Fourteen coarse fisheries; One mixed fishery; and The renowned brown trout and coarse fishing on Upper and Lower Lough Erne

5. Further information on all permit prices is available from Inland Fisheries, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, 3rd floor, Interpoint, 20-24 York Street, Belfast Bt151AQ. Telephone 02890 258985, Fax 02890 258898 or e-mail: michael.mcanallen@dcalni.gov.uk or www.dcal-fishingni.gov.uk

6. Further information on issues regarding the Public Angling Estate or to purchase angling permits and River Day Tickets visit www.dcal-fishingni.gov.uk

Press enquiries should be made to DCAL Press Office, Tel: 028 9025 8901 or by email to: press.office@dcalni.gov.uk. Out of hours, please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.