In reply to Post #279
I've joined the angling trust today and parted with my £29
As some of us have said angling needs one voice and unless an alternative emerges the angling trust looks the only hope currently
the only way to have a voice in the angling trust is to join it

Rob Hughes has been appointed angling trust carp consultant & i think he has credibility
see his announcement on following link
https://youtu.be/UV_keLApBPo

they have helped secure a 3 rod licence, cormorant legislation and now campaigning for control of unregulated release of rehabilitated otters

the other thing i wanted to mention was twitter as I've started following groups both for and against otters, angling etc.
this has meant i have already exchanged tweets with nature lovers who love their otters...its really important we anglers maintain empathy with these people and what I've found (apart from the odd anti I've come across) is most people will listen to your opinion. what we dont need is an aggressive approach that does nothing but turn more people against angling. I believe that over time more people will be persuaded that in certain areas otters need to be controlled.

In reply to Post #292
Well let's all put the carp gear on eBay now then !
This is old news I am a massive fan of John Wilson the mans a legend but this is 2018 and a new band of anglers are in the spotlight ie Jeremy Wade Ali Hamidi & social media means every angler has a voice

The point I originally made was the AT rhetoric towards otter predatation has changed for the better
I was merely stating that that for me was enough to warrant joining and the more people we can encourage to join the better

In reply to Post #288
I agree they do good work for all anglers. I was just making the point that IF all carp anglers were members carp Angling would be their number 1 priority based on fact carp Angling is the most popular genre.

I would never accept that anglers can't be persuaded to join the AT for cost of a bag of pellets or a packet of hooks per month. Neither will I accept that the public can't be persuaded to understand the otter problem.
It won't be easy it will need a strategy and the best brains in Angling inc the best media stars to deliver our message. In order to do that we need one voice and the funds to do it. Birdwatchers have managed to get unilaterally behind the RSPB it's time anglers followed suit and stood up for Angling

In reply to Post #279
Couldn't agree more 👍🏻. The Angling Trust appears the only option for one voice and once we join we then have a voice. I respect their stance on cormorants and think they are at least starting to see the otter menace fir what it is...I'm only 1 noddy carp angler but I will pester the hell out of Angling Times Korda Nash etc on social media to encourage them to speak out and ensure we try and drive up the membership. If all carp anglers were members of the angling trust their agenda would be carp Angling s agenda. I don't see any other solution.

In reply to Post #261
Now the Angling Trust have responded do you think all UK carp anglers should join the angling trust?
i am not a member but may now join following their statement about otters plus the work they are doing on behalf of carp anglers. Angling needs a single voice and whilst there are many smaller organisations doing great work anglers need to lobby in numbers which today isn't happening
For example twitter, the angling trust has 16k followers on twitter RSPB has nearly 300k
The AT posted following statement earlier this week
Angling Trust‏ @AnglingTrust Feb 27
The @UKParliament has dismissed the recent petition for 'non-lethal' control of #otters. However, the @AnglingTrust is pressing @NaturalEngland for regulation of the release of rehabilitated otters: http://bit.ly/2ozGTPO

In reply to Post #259
Not posted before so hello & just like to say great forum
Given govt has rejected otter petition what should the members of this forum do?
Join the anglingtrust? Im not currently a member but may now join
their otter policy isn't in line with our thinking but the only way you change policy is to lobby and best way to do that maybe as a member
I support PAG not sure what if any other platform is out there
This is a complex issue which will take time but angling needs one voice if there is to be any change