Competitions

17 April 2025

NEW FRESHWATER SPECIES HUNT LAUNCHES

The Angling Trust are pleased to announce the launch of a new freshwater species hunt in the North West, in partnership with Mersey Rivers Trust.

The Mersey Basin Species Hunt is a free-to-enter competition that aims to encourage anglers of all abilities to get out and explore their local rivers, and in doing so, gather important data for our understanding of fish populations in the catchment.

Dr Keith Hendry, Chairman of Mersey Rivers Trust said:

“The Mersey Rivers Trust has launched an ambitious target to restore the Mersey to its pre-industrial state by 2050. As part of this overall objective we have agreed with partners to work towards restoring the fish community in the river to include all the fish species that were present in 1820, before the pollution from the Industrial Revolution wiped them out from virtually the entire system.

“This Species Hunt by the Angling Trust is an essential step on the road to that recovery, helping us understand what fish species we have now and where they are living in our rivers. With the help of anglers, by identifying the current status of our fish community we can better plan and manage the restoration efforts required to achieve our goals.”

Alex Clegg, Competitions Development Manager at the Angling Trust said:

“This is an event with massive potential. Not least because it’s a great excuse for people to get outside and go fishing, but because it offers anglers a real opportunity to help advance our understanding of fish in the catchment.

“As a lifelong angler who has grown up fishing the River Mersey and its tributaries, I can’t wait to see what this competition reveals. Not only is it free to enter, but there are some fantastic prizes on offer including trophies, tackle vouchers, certificates and caps. It’s sure to be a popular event and I’d encourage anyone who fishes in the North West to consider taking part!”

The Mersey Basin Species Hunt will take place between the 16th of June and 30th of September 2025.

For further information and to sign up, click here or email [email protected]

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