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 2015.

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