Shimano renews sponsorship of Anglers Against Litter campaign

The Angling Trust is delighted to announce that Shimano has renewed its sponsorship of the Anglers Against Litter (AAL) campaign – an initiative that encourages and empowers anglers to tackle litter in and around our waterways and coastline.

Since its launch in 2020, Anglers Against Litter has gone from strength to strength. With Shimano’s continued support, the campaign has now funded 200 angling clubs across the country, each committed to carrying out at least two litter picks per year.

Already, over 600 organised litter picks have been undertaken by the angling community – with nearly 2,000 volunteers rolling up their sleeves to clean up their local areas. In reality, the number of volunteers is likely much higher, as clubs regularly report above-average turnouts for their events and are joined by paddlers, swimmers and local community groups.

The partnership between the Angling Trust and Shimano has been widely recognised, winning the prestigious ‘Best in Business’ award from Keep Britain Tidy. It shows a great example of what can be achieved when grassroots organisations are supported by commercial backers to tackle local environmental challenges.

To thank the most dedicated volunteers and clubs taking part, the Angling Trust and Shimano have created exclusive AAL-Shimano caps, presented to participants who have contributed the most time, energy and enthusiasm as recognition of their volunteering excellence.

Thanks to additional support, the campaign has also contributed to funding 160 line recycling bins as part of the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme, helping to reduce the environmental harm caused by discarded fishing line.

Dr. Emily Smith, Head of Environment, Angling Trust, said:

“We’ve been blown away by the passion and energy that the angling community has brought to Anglers Against Litter. It really is heartwarming to see how anglers take care of their local environment and how volunteers coming together can make such a huge diference and provide a nicer, cleaner waterside experience for the whole community. Shimano’s continued backing allows us to grow that momentum – not just in freshwater, but increasingly in the marine environment too, which so often bears the brunt of plastic and litter pollution.”

Richard Maude, Shimano UK, commented:

“At Shimano, we believe that protecting the environment starts with supporting the people who care about it most — and anglers are often the first to step up. That’s why we’re proud to back Anglers Against Litter and the broader work of the Angling Trust. This campaign is a brilliant example of how ordinary anglers, when given the right support, can make an extraordinary impact. Whether it’s clearing litter from riverbanks or raising awareness of the issues facing our waters, we’re committed to standing alongside the angling community every step of the way.”

Looking ahead, the Angling Trust is committed to empowering even more clubs, fisheries, and individual anglers to take environmental action. With Shimano’s renewed support, the campaign will expand its focus on marine litter and continue driving community-led clean-up efforts that help protect our rivers, lakes, canals and coastline for future generations.

Read more about Anglers Against Litter

Click here for Shimano UK information