FishNET Learning Hub
Fisheries National Enforcement Training
Thanks to Environment Agency funding through rod licence sales, the Angling Trust has produced FishNET – a completely free to use online Learning Management System (LMS) dedicated to educating our volunteers, club bailiffs, and those involved in law enforcement.
Who is FishNET aimed at?
It is aimed at supporting all users with an interest in fisheries enforcement and invasive non-native species (INNS) management in fisheries including:
- Anglers who may or may not be members of the Angling Trust.
- Angling Club Bailiffs and Club Committee members.
- Fishery owners and employees.
- Voluntary Bailiff Service members and those interested in applying to join.
- Police Wildlife Crime Officers and any other Police staff from Police service across England.
- Angling Trust staff and volunteers.
- Members of Governmental Organisations (GO’s) with an interest in freshwater fisheries enforcement issues, e.g. Environment Agency, Natural England, IFCAs, Marine Management Organisation etc.
- Members of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s) with a fisheries enforcement interest or working with anglers to manage invasive species, e.g. RSPCA, Rivers Trust, Canal & River Trust (CRT) etc.
- Water asset owners or managers who manage assets with angling activity, e.g. water companies, CRT, etc.
- Anyone intending upon applying via the Angling Trust for funding under the Fisheries Improvement Programme or Angling Improvement Fund.
An outline of the FishNET strategy
The FishNET strategy aims to help you to build knowledge of INNS issues and fisheries enforcement and providing pathways to do so. The strategy comprises three levels of delivery – foundation, intermediate and advanced.
Foundation – the FishNET Learning Management System
Foundation level learning is delivered via an online LMS, comprising a pathway for either the INNS-module or seven enforcement-related modules that you can work through at your own pace. You can do the modules whenever and wherever you want via a smartphone, tablet or personal computer if you have internet access.
Intermediate – Fishery Enforcement Webinars
Once you have completed your foundation training you can then book our Intermediate level via the online Fisheries Enforcement Webinars. These are 90-minute long online webinars set to take place every two months. You can register to attend one to suit you and they will be scenario-based focused on your Foundation training with the opportunity to interact through the webinar to ensure you get the most from the opportunity. The webinars will be run using expertise from the Angling Trust Fisheries Enforcement Support Service and Environment Agency Fisheries Enforcement Officers.
You will be asked when registering for a webinar to confirm that you have completed the FishNET LMS training. This is to ensure that those attending will have the Foundation level of training to get the most out of the events.
Fisheries Enforcement Webinars (all take place between 7pm-8:30pm)
(Click on the date to register)
Advanced – On the bank training for Police officers
This level will provide Advanced training based upon real life scenarios to Police officers dealing with fisheries-related offences and will arrange training and locations around fisheries and clubs to do this.
This training is aimed at Police officers who have ideally completed the FishNET Learning Management System and attended an online Fisheries Enforcement Webinar. It will build upon your learning and cover real-life situations that you may come across as a Police officer with suggestions as to actions you could consider taking.
The training will be delivered regionally by members of the Angling Trust Fisheries Enforcement Support Service and Environment Agency Fisheries Enforcement Officers. It will follow a standard programme to ensure consistency of delivery whilst allowing for regional perspectives to be covered as well.
To book a place on one of these events please contact your local Regional Enforcement Support Manager:
North-East kevin.woodcock@anglingtrust.net
North-West adam.wall@anglingtrust.net
Eastern England paul.thomas@anglingtrust.net
Midlands kevin.pearson@anglingtrust.net
South-West david.wilkins@anglingtrust.net
South-East tom.hopes@anglingtrust.net
Whichever pathway you choose and upon completion of the relevant module or modules, you will be supplied with a certificate of verification.
For those completing the INNS module for Angling Improvement Funding (AIF), this is also accessed through the FishNET portal. On completion, the certificate can be downloaded to support your application. For more information on INNS management and biosecurity please contact your local Fisheries Support Officer.
South-East andrew.chadwick@anglingtrust.net
South-West alex.vanwienen@anglingtrust.net
North ian.doyle@anglingtrust.net
Midlands & East Anglia mark.egerton@anglingtrust.net
For those completing the seven enforcement-related modules they will focus on:
- Angling and the law.
- The role of the Environment Agency.
- The Theft Act and the Police role.
- The club bailiff role.
- Crime prevention.
- The Building Bridges project working to educate and integrate migrant anglers.
- Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS).
Once you have completed the relevant modules you will be issued with an online certificate (for either the INNS module or all seven if you select that option), but you can still go back into the LMS if you would like to refresh your memory at any time. You will also be asked to complete a feedback survey. We ask that you give this serious consideration. It will be anonymous and only take a few minutes to do and will be vital for us to assess the effectiveness of the training provided and how we can develop future training.
Register for the FishNET Learning Management System
All participants wishing to take part in the FishNET Learning Management System training must register by completing the form below. You only need to register once. Once submitted, you will be given access to the modules.
Already registered? You can access FishNET here
If you have already registered you can access the FishNET Learning Management System here.
Online resources to support the Foundation level learning
You can download a comprehensive list of Learning Management System-linked online resources related to angling, including useful general links, regulatory bodies, and specific module links for learning about angling laws and practices.
Interested in joining the Voluntary Bailiff Service? Here is guidance on your journey
If you are considering applying to join the Voluntary Bailiff Service (VBS) you will need to take these actions:
- Apply to join the VBS here.
- Once application is received, you will be sent an email from the Volunteer Manager Gary Thomas with the link to the FishNET Learning Management System (LMS).
- Complete all 7 modules of the LMS and download your certificates.
- Advise the Volunteer Manager Gary Thomas you have completed all 7 modules via gary.thomas@anglingtrust.net
- The Regional Enforcement Support Manager for your area will contact you and provide access to the VBS secure website and advise you of the induction process.
- Register to attend a Fisheries Enforcement Webinar as detailed on this Learning Hub page.
- After 3 months of active patrols and use of the secure website you will be issued with branded clothing
