§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on sea angling. [140463]
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§ Mr. BradshawThe Government recognise sea anglers as parties with an interest in fish stocks, and consult angling interests on a wide range of fisheries management issues to ensure that their views are taken into account. Sea angling is a selective, environmentally friendly and low impact fishing activity. We fully recognise the important contribution that recreational angling and associated activity can make to the coastal economy. To help to quantify this contribution, a Defra-funded study into the commercial value of angling to local economies in England and Wales is currently underway.