New-look Angler magazine showcases landmark year for Angling Trust & Fish Legal

The new-look Angler magazine has been published – and highlights a remarkable year for the Angling Trust and Fish Legal.

Our annual impact report outlines the work delivered throughout 2025 to protect, promote and develop angling, and to fight for fish, fishing and clean water across England and Wales. From major policy wins to grassroots action, record-breaking citizen science to international medals, this year’s edition captures the breadth and impact of our work.

As Angling Trust and Fish legal CEO Jamie Cook writes in his foreword:
“We consistently punch above our weight. Every penny is reinvested in protecting and improving the sport, and none of this would be possible without the support of our members.”

Leading the fight for fish and fishing

In freshwater, 2025 brought significant advocacy and legal progress. Fish Legal continued to hold polluters and regulators to account, delivered important legal victories, and represented their members at the highest levels.

Together with the Angling Trust, they engaged extensively with the Independent Water Commission, submitting robust evidence which saw many of our recommendations adopted including the abolition of OFWAT and the creation of a new water super-regulator.

We opposed damaging poultry farm expansion in protected catchments, challenged catastrophic fish kills, defended rivers from proposals for unrestricted paddler access, and advanced action on cormorant predation and seal removal.

In the marine environment, the Angling Trust strengthened its reputation as a credible, evidence-led voice for recreational sea anglers.

We secured stronger recognition of sea angling within fisheries management, fought for sustainable outcomes for key species such as mackerel and bass, and resisted damaging proposals including a drift-net fishery for bass. Practical conservation measures moved forward too, including the rollout of pollack descending devices and co-designed best practice guidance for bass, bluefin tuna and pollack.

Citizen science that delivers results

Our Water Quality Monitoring Network reached a major milestone in 2025, with more than 12,000 samples tested by trained volunteers across England and Wales. This growing network is transforming how pollution is identified and evidenced, strengthening our Anglers Against Pollution campaign and supporting action.

Alongside this, more than 1,000 people have been trained to recognise and report fisheries and environmental crime – giving communities the tools to protect their own waters.

Jamie Cook said:
“Anglers are on the front line of our waterways every day. Through citizen science and our campaigns, we are turning concern into credible evidence and real action.”

Our Anglers Against Litter campaign also continued to grow, with hundreds of litter picks delivered nationwide and tens of thousands of bags of rubbish removed from rivers, lakes and coastlines.

Supporting clubs, fisheries and the wider community

This year marked a new era of support with the launch of the Clubs and Fisheries Support Service, providing free advice to anyone involved in the running and general management of clubs, fisheries and angling venues.

Already, our Fisheries Support Officers have handled over 700 enquiries covering a range of subjects including club development, funding opportunities, invasive species, litter picking and volunteering. Meanwhile, our Fisheries Management Advisors have dealt with nearly 1,000 predation-related enquiries.

We have also introduced new digital tools to modernise how the sport operates. FishNET, our new learning management system, is improving access to fisheries enforcement training, while the Event Marketplace provides a national platform connecting anglers with coaching and participation opportunities.

Growing participation and performance

Participation continues to grow. In 2025, nearly 30,000 people were introduced to fishing through our Get Fishing and Reel Education initiatives, while junior licence sales rose again.

Our competitions programme had its busiest and most exciting year to date with over 200 events organised. At international level, England teams achieved an outstanding 19 podium finishes, underlining the strength of our performance pathway from grassroots to elite competition.

Building for the future: the Fisheries Conservation Trust

The new Angler also outlines an important step forward. We are working towards securing charitable status for work that is already charitable in nature, through the creation of the Fisheries Conservation Trust.

This new structure will unlock additional funding opportunities and long-term resilience, building on a legacy that stretches back to the formation of the Anglers’ Co-operative Association in 1948.

Importantly, nothing changes day to day for the Angling Trust and Fish Legal. They remain the public-facing organisations delivering campaigns, legal action, competitions and member services.

As Jamie Cook explains:
“The Fisheries Conservation Trust will help protect fish, fisheries and clean water for future generations without changing the identity or role of the Angling Trust and Fish Legal. What it unlocks is the ability to do more and go further.”

From policy influence and legal action to citizen science, competitions and community engagement, 2025 has demonstrated the power of a united angling community. The Angling Trust and Fish Legal remain run for anglers, by anglers – and this year’s Angler magazine shows exactly what that collective commitment can achieve.

Read the full 2025 impact report below and see how your membership is making a difference. The Angler can also be shared and downloaded as a pdf: