Environment Agency angling for a long-term partnership‏

The Environment Agency is looking for an organisation to help it deliver the National Angling Strategy for the next 4 years.

The Environment Agency is looking for an organisation to help it encourage more people to give fishing a go, improve fisheries and crack down on illegal fishing for the next 4 years.

Key elements of the contract include:

• providing expert advice to clubs and fishery owners on how to identify and secure additional funding;
  improving fisheries’ facilities for anglers;
  encouraging take-up among junior anglers and in so doing address the recent decline in this age group;
  retaining and recruiting more anglers to participate in fishing;
  developing the volunteer bailiff scheme; and
  working with enforcement partners and fishery owners to clamp down on rural crime and poaching.

Sarah Chare, Environment Agency head of fisheries, biodiversity and geomorphology, said:

These are challenging yet exciting times. Protecting and recovering income to fund our fisheries service is one of our highest priorities. We received more than £21.5 million from rod licence sales last year. But we want to see this figure grow and new people picking up a rod.

Our goal is for angling to be recognised for its role in improving the nation’s health and wellbeing, increasing educational attainment and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour. We look forward to receiving applications for this ambitious contract.

The contract, to deliver the broad aims of the ‘National Angling Strategy’, will run for up to 4 years and is currently worth £600,000 per year, although the value of the future contract may increase over time.

Advertised through the Official Journal of the European Union, interested organisations have until 9 March 2015 to express an interest. These applicants will then be asked to complete a pre-qualification form to ensure they are suitable to be formally invited to tender for the work.

It is expected the new contract will be in place with the successful organisation(s) by July.

Currently this work is being carried out by The Angling Trust.

More details on the contract and how to apply are on the Official Journal of the European Union

Interesting one this, as they are looking for a partner and the Angling Trust have to re-tender for it. I don't know who else could do it, but interesting all the same

Probably government regulations/bureaucracy, everything has to go out to tender, otherwise it looks suspicious.

After tonight's shenanigans I won't be amused if South West Trains win it.

Ed Randall wrote:

After tonight's shenanigans I won't be amused if South West Trains win it.

Ha ha how I miss the commute

Ed Randall wrote:

Probably government regulations/bureaucracy, everything has to go out to tender, otherwise it looks suspicious.

After tonight's shenanigans I won't be amused if South West Trains win it.

They are required to tender under European Union procurement rules. In many cases it is just a formality, but any decision is open to challenge in the courts, for example after an objection from a rival organisation whose tender has been unsuccessful.

I don't know whether there are any other plausible candidate organisations other than the Angling Trust?

Perhaps the Crab could put in an application

you bet me to it James, I was just going to put me name in the hat