Marine

29 June 2023

CHART 2023 Confirmed

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today (Thursday 29th June 2023) confirmed to the Angling Trust and The UK Bluefin Tuna Association (UKBFTA) that the funding for the English CHART (Catch and Release Tagging) programme in 2023 has been signed off and the programme has been given the green light.

Given the severe funding constraints we – the Angling Trust and the UKBFTA – have highlighted previously, the process for approval took longer than we would have liked. Throughout the spring we continued to push hard for CHART to continue into 2023, including writing to the Minister and raising the matter with politicians directly. We are pleased the Minister recognised the importance of ensuring CHART will continue this year in England.

Those funding constraints have required some streamlining of costs and one way in which that is being done is via removing the workshop and training element of the programme this year. This means that for 2023 only those skippers who have previously completed the training element and operated in CHART beforehand will be eligible to apply. It is anticipated that up to 25 vessels will again be authorised from the pool of “CHART graduates”.

Fish welfare is of the utmost importance to many skippers and anglers, who fought hard for the workshop and training element to be included in order to pass on this crucial knowledge to new entrants, so the lack of funding for this prior element of CHART is disappointing.

We understand that there will be some disappointment from those who wished to join the programme this year for the first time. DEFRA has indicated that the only way in which CHART could go ahead within the funds available was to adopt this approach. More information will be provided by CEFAS in the coming days to the “CHART graduate” pool and more widely via social media platforms. Specific questions regarding the operational protocols etc should be directed to CEFAS once they go live.

England joins Wales and Northern Ireland now in approving programmes for 2023 which will result in up to 40 charter vessels being authorised to legally fish for Atlantic Bluefin across the UK’s western waters.

We are very grateful to those skippers, crew members and anglers who have supported our efforts to ensure some form of legal fishing continued in England this year. We continue to work with Defra on the introduction of a world-class recreational catch and release fishery in 2024. We are hoping a public consultation on this will take place before the autumn.

Good luck to the anglers and skippers participating in CHART 2023. Thank you for your continued support and tight lines.

Get Fishing | river chub — Get Fishing News

20 June 2025

What to do if fish are gasping or spawning.…

Please help look out for fish in distress or spawning fish We’ve had lots of nice warm sunny w…

Competitions

20 June 2025

WORLD CHAMPS GOLD FIRMLY IN THE SIGHTS OF ENGLAND…

If you think we’re having it bad with the current heatwave, spare a thought for the three England te…

19 June 2025

We Fish as One supports Pride Month 2025

June is Pride Month – and the Angling Trust is proud to support the LGBTQ+ community to achiev…

19 June 2025

Sunglasses giant backs Angling Trust

Revo have been making top quality polarised sunglasses for 40 years. They are a celebrated brand nam…

Get Fishing | Check Clean Dry PNG 2025 — Get Fishing News

19 June 2025

Join in with the Check, Clean, Dry campaign this…

Ready to start your summer fishing adventures? This weekend is the perfect time to show your gear so…

Get Fishing | Reel Ed 2 - 1200 x 800 — Get Fishing News

18 June 2025

From TikTok to the classroom – Orchard School follows…

After students saw a Reel Education TikTok Orchard School in Bristol has launched an in-school Angli…

16 June 2025

DRENNAN ENGLAND FEEDER TEAM WIN WORLD CHAMPS!

The Angling Trust Drennan England Feeder team are the 2025 World Champions! After two superb perform…

Get Fishing | Aston Park fisheries cropped — Get Fishing News

15 June 2025

Family fishing at Aston Park Fisheries where have a…

180 people took part in the event at Sheffield’s Aston Park Fisheries with a busy day of fishi…

Competitions

13 June 2025

FOURTEEN SIDES ALREADY THROUGH TO SUPERCUP ROUND 2!

With almost half of the 30 first round ties in the Angling Trust Ringerbaits Supercup 2025…

13 June 2025

SIXTH FOR ENGLAND AT FLY WORLD CHAMPS

‘What might have been’ was probably the overriding thought of the England Men’s Fly Fishing s…

13 June 2025

Much needed new European Management Plan for Cormorants moves…

The Angling Trust has welcomed news of an emerging new European Management Plan for Cormorants. The…

12 June 2025

A Turning Tide: Why Ending Bottom Trawling in MPAs…

This week has felt like a swell of real momentum for our seas – and for the millions of us who…

20 June 2025

What to do if fish are gasping or spawning.…

Please help look out for fish in distress or spawning fish We’ve had lots of nice warm sunny w…

Competitions

20 June 2025

WORLD CHAMPS GOLD FIRMLY IN THE SIGHTS OF ENGLAND…

If you think we’re having it bad with the current heatwave, spare a thought for the three England te…

19 June 2025

We Fish as One supports Pride Month 2025

June is Pride Month – and the Angling Trust is proud to support the LGBTQ+ community to achiev…

19 June 2025

Sunglasses giant backs Angling Trust

Revo have been making top quality polarised sunglasses for 40 years. They are a celebrated brand nam…

19 June 2025

Join in with the Check, Clean, Dry campaign this…

Ready to start your summer fishing adventures? This weekend is the perfect time to show your gear so…

18 June 2025

From TikTok to the classroom – Orchard School follows…

After students saw a Reel Education TikTok Orchard School in Bristol has launched an in-school Angli…

16 June 2025

DRENNAN ENGLAND FEEDER TEAM WIN WORLD CHAMPS!

The Angling Trust Drennan England Feeder team are the 2025 World Champions! After two superb perform…

15 June 2025

Family fishing at Aston Park Fisheries where have a…

180 people took part in the event at Sheffield’s Aston Park Fisheries with a busy day of fishi…

Competitions

13 June 2025

FOURTEEN SIDES ALREADY THROUGH TO SUPERCUP ROUND 2!

With almost half of the 30 first round ties in the Angling Trust Ringerbaits Supercup 2025…

13 June 2025

SIXTH FOR ENGLAND AT FLY WORLD CHAMPS

‘What might have been’ was probably the overriding thought of the England Men’s Fly Fishing s…

13 June 2025

Much needed new European Management Plan for Cormorants moves…

The Angling Trust has welcomed news of an emerging new European Management Plan for Cormorants. The…

12 June 2025

A Turning Tide: Why Ending Bottom Trawling in MPAs…

This week has felt like a swell of real momentum for our seas – and for the millions of us who…

20 June 2025

What to do if fish are gasping or spawning.…

Please help look out for fish in distress or spawning fish We’ve had lots of nice warm sunny w…

Competitions

20 June 2025

WORLD CHAMPS GOLD FIRMLY IN THE SIGHTS OF ENGLAND…

If you think we’re having it bad with the current heatwave, spare a thought for the three England te…

19 June 2025

We Fish as One supports Pride Month 2025

June is Pride Month – and the Angling Trust is proud to support the LGBTQ+ community to achiev…

19 June 2025

Sunglasses giant backs Angling Trust

Revo have been making top quality polarised sunglasses for 40 years. They are a celebrated brand nam…

19 June 2025

Join in with the Check, Clean, Dry campaign this…

Ready to start your summer fishing adventures? This weekend is the perfect time to show your gear so…

18 June 2025

From TikTok to the classroom – Orchard School follows…

After students saw a Reel Education TikTok Orchard School in Bristol has launched an in-school Angli…

16 June 2025

DRENNAN ENGLAND FEEDER TEAM WIN WORLD CHAMPS!

The Angling Trust Drennan England Feeder team are the 2025 World Champions! After two superb perform…

15 June 2025

Family fishing at Aston Park Fisheries where have a…

180 people took part in the event at Sheffield’s Aston Park Fisheries with a busy day of fishi…

Competitions

13 June 2025

FOURTEEN SIDES ALREADY THROUGH TO SUPERCUP ROUND 2!

With almost half of the 30 first round ties in the Angling Trust Ringerbaits Supercup 2025…

13 June 2025

SIXTH FOR ENGLAND AT FLY WORLD CHAMPS

‘What might have been’ was probably the overriding thought of the England Men’s Fly Fishing s…

13 June 2025

Much needed new European Management Plan for Cormorants moves…

The Angling Trust has welcomed news of an emerging new European Management Plan for Cormorants. The…

12 June 2025

A Turning Tide: Why Ending Bottom Trawling in MPAs…

This week has felt like a swell of real momentum for our seas – and for the millions of us who…

You might also like