Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2005 12:00 am Posts: 4802 Location: London
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No Call for Cull from Angling Trust Contrary to the story in today's Times newspaper, the Angling Trust has not called for a cull of otters. This part of the story is completely untrue and we wish to reassure anglers and the general public about this urgently. The person quoted as being an Angling Trust spokesman is not an employee or spokesman of the organisation, and says that he has never spoken to The Times. The journalist did not contact the Trust to verify the 'story'.
The Angling Trust office has received many e-mails and telephone calls about this subject today, all of which have expressed dismay at these reports. The comments on the Times web site and from members of the public demonstrate the strength of public feeling about this issue, and the damage that would be done to angling if anglers were ever to call for a cull.
Mike Heylin, Chairman of the Angling Trust, has written to the paper's editor demanding a retraction and apology.
Angling Trust is campaigning vigorously on behalf of all anglers to ensure that our rivers are healthy enough to support populations of both otters and fish. We have also lobbied the Environment Agency to release funds to help fisheries to fence their waters, and otherwise deter otters, if practicable.
Angling Trust is the national governing body for all angling in England. It represents its membership of more than 1,300 angling clubs and 13,500 anglers.
Chris Burt, of the Angling Trust, which represents 1.4million anglers, says otters can empty a lake of large fish in a matter of days. "People think otters are warm and cuddly looking... but any fishery in Britain that does not have protection is at severe risk. Otters have been reintroduced into rivers that cannot support themselves, let alone otters. They have cleared out the rivers of their main diet of eel and have been looking elsewhere for their food. They aren't stupid and if you have a lake within five miles from a river they will find it and empty the place."
Who's Chris Burt Rich? The name rings a bell
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crackoff
Post subject: Re: No Call for Cull from Angling Trust
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:32 pm
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Joined: Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:00 am Posts: 2927 Location: Now on a small, water near you?
The biggest issue, is that the fur loving general population will have read the piece say that angling trust want to kill all furry things and with the retraction being put as far down the pecking order of news as it will be, they will not note the small single paragraph stuck inbetween some crap stating that the angling trust have said no such thing...
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Richard
Post subject: Re: No Call for Cull from Angling Trust
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 6:45 pm
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Joined: Tue Aug 23, 2005 12:00 am Posts: 4802 Location: London
Thomo wrote:
Who's Chris Burt Rich? The name rings a bell
Ex Vice President of the SAA (Specialist Anglers Alliance) Rob, now absorbed into the Angling Trust.
Richard
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robhale
Post subject: Re: No Call for Cull from Angling Trust
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 7:48 pm
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Joined: Fri Dec 02, 2005 1:00 am Posts: 3176 Location: Hampshire
From reading the story, it's a simple editorial cock up as the headline bears no resemblence to he story. The call to cull seems to have been made by Mark Simmonds, not by the AT or te clubs mentioned.
This really is make or break for the AT as if that is allowed to run or a tiny little retraction is run, it will take years for the AT to recover the PR image.
Thomo
Post subject: Re: No Call for Cull from Angling Trust
This really is make or break for the AT as if that is allowed to run or a tiny little retraction is run, it will take years for the AT to recover the PR image.
I think you may be right mate, they need to hit this one like a ton of bricks.
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Monkey
Post subject: Re: No Call for Cull from Angling Trust
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:14 pm
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Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2005 12:00 am Posts: 879 Location: London
Very strong case for defamation for the Angling Trust
Post subject: Re: No Call for Cull from Angling Trust
Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 8:39 pm
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Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:00 am Posts: 1236
Whilst this is obviously bad PR for the trust, I can't help but think that had it been true many anglers (particularly carpers) would have joined on the strength of it. The proverbial double edged sword......
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