Advice

11 June 2024

New safety advice for anglers to avoid risk of illness from sewage in our rivers

With pollution in our rivers continuing to cause concern, the Angling Trust has issued new advice for freshwater anglers to help ensure safe fishing.

Our “Health & Safety Guidance for Freshwater Anglers” is a fully comprehensive guide to fishing safely and covers all aspects of freshwater angling including minimising the risk of becoming ill due to sewage in our waterways. It also outlines six simple steps every angler can follow to avoid contact with harmful bacteria, such as E. coli.

The six steps are:

  1. Never put wet lines in your mouth or any other items of tackle that have been in the water.
  2. Wash your hands with soap and water or use a sanitiser before eating and after fishing.
  3. Cover any cuts and grazes with waterproof plasters before fishing.
  4. Clean any wounds as soon as possible and wear protective clothing.
  5. If you do fall in, keep your mouth closed and avoid drinking water.
  6. Shower as soon as possible if you’ve been in potentially infected water.

Fishing is about the joy and benefits of being in beautiful places, if anglers follow our guide they can do this safely and continue to enjoy our wonderful sport.

“Illnesses caused by contact with sewage pollution in rivers are increasingly common and of great concern,” said Kris Kent, who runs the Water Quality Monitoring Network initiative which now tests samples from more than 200 rivers and forms a key part of the Angling Trust’s Anglers Against Pollution campaign.

“Anglers should not expect to become ill when they go fishing but water testing by clubs has revealed worryingly high levels of harmful bacteria and viruses which can present a significant risk to human health. Excessive nutrient levels also contribute to algal blooms which can be highly toxic. We need to end the discharge of untreated sewage into our rivers and seas and adhere to the Farming Rules for Water to stop the inappropriate spreading of slurry, both of which put anglers’ health at risk.”

The Health & Safety Guidance also provides information for anglers to familiarise themselves with the symptoms of gastrointestinal illnesses such as Hepatitis A, Salmonella, E. coli and Giardiasis. It also includes advice on avoiding risks when fishing, such as taking extra care on steep banks, avoiding fishing near power lines and only wading when it is safe to do so.

Click here to download a copy of Health & Safety Guidance for Freshwater Anglers.

Safety advice for sea anglers can be found here.

Share

You might also like




Competitions
19 November 2024

Angling Trust 2024 National Coarse Competitions Overview

Angling Trust Head of Competitions Steve Fitzpatrick reveals the highs and lows of the National Cham…
Read more
Marine
15 November 2024

Anglers represented at inaugural Bass Fisheries Management Group meeting…

On Friday 8th November the Angling Trust joined other bass fishery stakeholders for the first Bass F…
Read more
Competitions
05 November 2024

TEAM SAUL PAGE TACKLE WIN ANGLING TRUST TEAMS OF…

    Saul Page Tackle have scooped sea angling’s biggest team match event – the Ang…
Read more
Fighting for Fishing
04 November 2024

The Mighty Trent: A love letter to Britain’s greatest…

Like many anglers I’ve long been an admirer of Doncaster all-rounder Bob Roberts whose no nonsense w…
Read more
Get Fishing | Get Fishing Fund PR
Get Fishing News
04 November 2024

The Environment Agency and Angling Trust Get Fishing Fund…

Monday 4th November launch date £150k of funding will get even more people fishing, more often Grant…
Read more
Club Focus
29 October 2024

New Fisheries Support Service launched to help clubs and…

The Angling Trust has joined forces with the Environment Agency to launch a new service to provide a…
Read more
Anglers Against Pollution
25 October 2024

March for Clean Water – join us on Sunday,…

The Angling Trust is calling on all anglers and supporters to stand with us at the March for Clean W…
Read more
Anglers Against Pollution
23 October 2024

Angling Trust welcomes largest review of water companies since…

The announcement by the government of an independent commission to look at the largest review of the…
Read more
Competitions
21 October 2024

ENGLAND WIN SILVER, RINGER TAKES GOLD, AND MASTERS FINISH…

  The European Feeder Cup is a fledgling international event, but it is one that the Angling Tr…
Read more
Get Fishing News
16 October 2024

‘Lady of the Stream’ photographer Amber Banks Brumby captures…

Amber Banks Brumby is an angler, photographer and educator based in rural Staffordshire, West Midlan…
Read more
Competitions
14 October 2024

ANGLING TRUST APPOINT NEW MANAGER FOR ENGLAND DISABLED TEAM

The Angling Trust is delighted to confirm the appointment of Paul Etherington as manager of the Engl…
Read more
Competitions
14 October 2024

SILVER FOR ENGLAND IN MASTERS FEEDER WORLD CHAMPS

Match fishing at international level can be the proverbial game of two halves as World Champs are fi…
Read more