A new president for the European Anglers Alliance

The General Meeting of The European Anglers Alliance (EAA) took place from 7th to 10th April 2005 in Vejle, Denmark. It was decided to intensify efforts and adopt new means. Bernard Breton from France has become the new president of this European organization.

Speaking on general policy, Bernard Breton, the new president of the European Anglers Alliance (EAA) paid homage to his predecessors Martin Openeer and Harm Minekus. He stated that the rules set up at the creation of the EAA appear unsuited to the functioning of an organization which has expanded (16 members currently make up the EAA but it is expected to expand in the coming years). The president emphasized: "During this General Meeting we have decided to equip ourselves with new tools and means to achieve our aims". The EAA is not repudiating past practices, lessons have been learnt and now it is turning resolutely towards the future.

He called to mind the aims and missions of the Alliance: "we must do all we can to enable anglers, whether in the sea or in freshwater, using any lawful means (boat, bank, fly, spinning, groundbait, etc.) to continue to practise their sport for a long time to come, in clean well-stocked waters".
"Angling is not prejudicial to other activities. It contributes – this is an incontestable fact - to the safeguard of biodiversity, to maintaining biological balance, to the conservation of the earth and clean water for future generations. Angling is not in conflict with the protection of the environment, it often has an integral active role within it. Without anglers' management of nature we would be faced with a total collapse of interest on the part of authorities for rivers, water and fish.

The EAA unites well-intentioned people. Each person works earnestly in his country, with determination and care within the framework of his national organization. Far from separating us, our differences must bring us together and enhance the reasoning of each one of us. The EAA must play a central role in the renewal of ideas and provide each one of us with the means to progress and evolve.

The EAA must debate all these issues, make proposals, and be a driving force in angling in Europe. From this moment it will become a force to be reckoned with and the natural partner for all European authorities. The Alliance has also confirmed its protocol agreement with the CIPS (International Confederation of Sport Fishing). The EAA decided during the general meeting to devote itself over the coming years to various issues for which work groups have been set up, in particular:

invasive species (including cormorants),
hydroelectric plants, reduction of their impact,
protection of the eel
artificial lakes and ponds and their evolution,
the fight against illegal sea fishing
the promotion of recreational fishing, etc.

The Alliance will base its actions on a scientific committee and will develop a communications policy. And of course, it will continue lobbying European authorities."