A timely and interesting Sunday article from friends and anglers alike who contributed to “On for a Catch”.
Come day or night, all seasons are game for anglers. Getting up from bed in an ungodly hour, anglers have been described as unfortunate souls suffering from a passion for angling. Unfazed by the weather or criticism(s) and raising many a wife’s eyebrows, they sometimes return empty handed with tall tales, an almost but soothing balm to the occasion.
Whether you are 5, 35 or over 50 years old, once you are afflicted by the fishing bug, there is no known cure (hooked for life). Though the aim is to catch a fish, it is an excuse to be out in the beautiful spot marvelling at the wildlife, scenery and wondering if the fish will take the bait.
Many people would think angling is a bit odd, “a worm on one end and a fool on the other” and cannot understand what turns them on but it is no doubt a popular pastime with long periods of contemplation broken by a sudden increased heart rate, perspiration, loss of control which happens in split seconds and all it takes is a quiver in the float, line or the rod tip. The experience can best be explained as “being jerked out of bed by a grapnel from an aeroplane”.
However, there is a serious side to angling. A stress buster or a remedy for patience, peace of mind and focus, many friends have had a fantastic effect and a positive outcome and outlook in life due to angling.
For over 30 years, an established independent and innovative social agency in the United Kingdom, took children from deprived backgrounds camping and fishing. Using the medium of angling to establish links and lines of communication between the youngsters and the volunteer adults gave the children a sense of achievement, confidence and a social understanding. The children come from poor background and have been abused, sexually, physically or mentally, and have learning difficulties. The agency works with the sole purpose to give a second chance in life.
Different angling associations of North East India have striven forward towards promoting tourism through the sport of angling, creating public awareness and education (fish clinics) through protection and conservation of the river system and upholding the state fisheries act and voluntary services to the state government and NGOs. Thus it will be necessary to acquire a fishing licence in certain areas of these states. Our anglers and the state government have to start shifting focus on these lines.
Revenue earnings from angling in the UK generated more than 20 million pounds (2016-2017) from rod licence alone. Ireland, a country known for its scenic beauty and golfing destination, surprisingly generated a higher revenue of 280 million Euros (2012) from visiting anglers sustaining thousands of jobs in the angling community.
An estimated number of more than 2 million anglers exist in the UK and Wales. They form a powerful lobby that voice campaigns and legal legislations pass in Parliament. To put it simply — they are a powerful electorate.
All angling competitions in the United Kingdom are professional and well organised, with big prize money, giving the winners a career in angling and giving an opportunity for anglers to give back something to the society.
This method has been replicated in some states of India with success.
Organising a fishing competition requires strenuous planning. A simple basic rule in a fishing competition is using a league system or qualifiers, with winners receiving points for section or pegwins.
The top 20 or 50 anglers (depending on the number of participants) compete for the finals with one winner. Such a competition would stretch for a few months or a year.
Champion anglers are given an opportunity to qualify for National Events and even representing the country in Asian, European and World Angling Championships.
Kudos to the Fisheries Department and the state government for promoting the recent catch and release angling competition at Wards Lake. We have miles ahead to strive towards the goal of creating awareness and commitment as citizens and the role that we play as custodians of our natural resources in ensuring they are appropriately managed.
In many states of our country and in the world, anglers are becoming increasingly involved in monitoring programmes to track the ongoing health of waterways, and projects to help arrest and reverse environmental decline. They also perform an important function in aiding or lobbying the government for improved management of fish and water resources, including offering a voice of caution regarding potentially harmful development proposals, and aiding researchers in understanding the fish population and species.
Thanking you
Hezekiah Kharkongor
Thanks for the nostalgic article “On For A Catch” (November 11) highlighting the joy of angling in Meghalaya. It is indeed an ancient sport and has been associated with human civilisations around the planet from time immemorial. It has always been a pure joy of being intimately associated with nature and fresh air and enjoying the sun on the back. Recreational fishing is an important and emergent industry not just in Meghalaya but across India rich in various kind of freshwater bodies like ponds, pools, lakes, swamps, bogs, ditches, rivulets, streams to enjoy fishing. It also has a huge tourism potential since local, regional, national and foreign tourists enthusiastic about angling will not only come and visit well-known water bodies to catch their desired species of fishes but will also serve as tourists helping in supporting and building local economy.
Many of these professional and amateur anglers would also visit local tourist attraction spots, eat in the restaurants and stay in local hotels bringing in employment opportunities for local inhabitants.
But at the same time we need to be environmentally aware and sensitive and be careful about not exposing our water bodies and wild fish species to high level of exploitation and over harvest to boost tourism.
India being a mega-biodiverse nation is reported to have a wide diversity of indigenous and endemic fish species many of which are threatened due to several anthropogenic factors like water pollution, over harvesting, eutrophication in freshwater bodies, release of toxic agri-chemicals in the water bodies, accidental introduction of fish diseases, fish parasites and exotic predatory fish species which are threatening many indigenous species.
If a comprehensive fish conservation policy is legislated and enacted properly, exposing edible commercial fishes raised in designated ponds to angling and recreational fishing this could lead to valuable economic contribution. Ecology and economy can go side by side if we take responsibility and contribute judiciously towards exploiting our natural resources with long term sustainability and minimizing the impact on our fragile local ecosystems and environment.
Thanking you
Saikat Kumar Basu