Join the new Sea Angling Diary Steering Group

Recreational sea anglers play a vital role in improving how fisheries are understood. That is why the Angling Trust is inviting expressions of interest from across the angling community to join a new Sea Angling Diary Steering Group.

This new group will give anglers and the wider sea angling sector a genuine voice in how the Sea Angling Diary develops, helping to build trust, improve participation, and ensure the system works for anglers as well as for science.

Why the Sea Angling Diary matters

The Sea Angling Diary is one of the most important tools we have for demonstrating the scale and value of recreational sea angling in England and Wales. The data collected through the Diary helps inform fisheries science and, in turn, the management decisions that affect the species we fish for and the places we fish. Research from the Sea Angling Diary has also demonstrated the social and economic value of recreational sea angling.

But for data to be meaningful, anglers need confidence in how it is collected, interpreted, and used.

That is exactly what the new Steering Group is designed to support.

What is the Steering Group?

The Sea Angling Diary Steering Group will be a constructive, advisory forum bringing together:

• recreational sea anglers,
• charter skippers,
• the tackle trade,
• researchers and academics,
• and non-governmental organisations.

The group will work alongside the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), which remains the scientific lead and data controller for the Sea Angling Diary, and Substance, which provides technical support. The Secretariat for the group will be provided by the Angling Trust.

Its purpose is to strengthen:

• co-design with anglers and the wider sector,
• transparency around how data is handled and used,
• confidence in the credibility of recreational sea angling data,
• and shared ownership of the Diary’s long-term future.

Importantly, the Steering Group will act as a trusted sounding board, helping to improve the design, operation, engagement and communication around the Sea Angling Diary.

What will members actually do?

Members of the Steering Group will:

• provide practical insight into how the Sea Angling Diary works in the real world for anglers and skippers,
• support the co-design of participation and engagement approaches,
• advise on how trust, transparency and communication with anglers can be improved,
• and contribute to discussions about future developments and changes to the Diary.

The group will meet two to three times per year, primarily online, and will be supported and chaired by the Angling Trust.

While the group will aim to reach consensus and provide collective recommendations, final decisions on scientific methods, data use and operation of the Diary will remain with Cefas and Substance.

Who are we looking for?

We are keen to hear from people who can bring credible, constructive and practical perspectives from across recreational sea angling and the wider fisheries sector.

The Steering Group will include around 10–14 members, drawn from:

• recreational sea anglers (both shore and boat, and from different disciplines),
• the charter sector (skippers or representative bodies),
• the tackle trade (manufacturers or retailers),
• fisheries or social science researchers,
• alongside the Angling Trust, Cefas and Substance.

We are particularly keen to achieve a good balance of experience, fishing methods and, where possible, geographic spread across England and Wales.

Members will be expected to engage openly, declare any conflicts of interest and act in the wider interests of the Sea Angling Diary, rather than as representatives of a single organisation or position.

A transparent and open application process

Membership of the Steering Group will be selected through an open Expression of Interest process.

The application is short and accessible and will ask for:

• your name, role and affiliation,
• the sector you represent,
• a short summary of your relevant experience or perspective,
• why you would like to be involved,
• and any potential conflicts of interest.

Applications will be reviewed jointly by the Angling Trust, Cefas and Substance, with selection based on sector balance, diversity of experience and the ability to engage constructively and collaboratively.

You can download an application form here. 

Applications should be submitted to the Angling Trust by email to [email protected] by Thursday 12th March 2026.

Hannah Rudd, Head of Marine at the Angling Trust, said:

“For too long, many recreational sea anglers have felt disconnected from how their data is used – and from the decisions being made about our fisheries. The new Sea Angling Diary Steering Group is about changing that. It will create a genuine, collaborative space for anglers, skippers and the wider sector to help shape how recreational data is collected, interpreted and communicated.

As recognised stakeholders under the Fisheries Act 2020, it is vital that robust, credible data is available to reflect the true value of the recreational sea angling sector, and to demonstrate which species matter most to anglers when shaping policy and management, such as through Fisheries Management Plans. The Sea Angling Diary is a key source of that data and the Angling Trust encourages the sea angling community to get involved.

If you care about the future of sea angling and want to play a practical role in rebuilding trust between anglers and science, I would strongly encourage you to put yourself forward.”

Zachary Radford, Senior Recreational Fisheries Scientist at Cefas said:

“It has been a privilege to work with the data generated through the Sea Angling Diary survey. The programme has created a unique evidence base for marine recreational fisheries, supporting stock assessments, enabling world-leading analyses, and helping ensure recreational sea angling is increasingly recognised within fisheries management. As a result, anglers are more clearly acknowledged as important stakeholders whose knowledge and perspectives help shape decisions.

We are now entering an exciting next phase, one focused on partnership. Our ambition is to work collaboratively with the angling community to ensure the survey delivers meaningful value back to those who make it possible. The Sea Angling Diary should be co-developed with anglers, supporting their interests while continuing to meet key scientific and management needs. Establishing a steering group is central to this approach. It will create a space for shared leadership, open dialogue, and practical collaboration, helping guide the future direction of the programme so it remains trusted, relevant, and useful.

I am genuinely looking forward to working with everyone who applies. By bringing together experience from across the sea angling community, we can build a survey that is not only scientifically robust, but one that anglers feel a strong sense of ownership in.”

Get involved

If you are a recreational sea angler, skipper, tackle trade professional or researcher with an interest in improving the future of recreational sea angling data, we would welcome your interest in joining the Steering Group.

Details of how to submit your Expression of Interest, along with the application window, are available here.

This is a real opportunity for anglers to help shape a system that supports both better fisheries science and a stronger future for recreational sea fishing in England and Wales.