SSACN Lifelines Event and Debate in Holyrood

The  Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network (SSACN - www.ssacn.org) has created a short video to  show how sea anglers provide a 'Lifeline' to the economies of many coastal  communities; this will be screened in one of the Holyrood Committee Rooms to an  audience of MSPs, sea anglers and individuals representing many bodies  associated with sea angling. Anyone interested in attending the Lifelines Event  should contact SSACN.

This will be followed by a  'Question Time' type panel consisting of  politicians and SSACN members which will allow the audience to ask questions  and/or highlight their areas of concern which may be taken forward into the  Debate on sea angling to be held in Holyrood's Main Chamber later that  afternoon.

The Debate follows on from a Motion (see below) put forward by John Scott which  received strong, cross-party support; SSACN are hoping that this enthusiasm  will motivate politicians sufficiently to create a strategy for the development  of sea angling.

Denis Kelly, SSACN's Secretary who coordinated the making of the video  was keen to point out

" We  set about creating the video to show that although politicians are always  identifying the need to preserve commercial fishing communities, the fact that  there are coastal communities whose survival is very much based on recreational  fishing always seems to be lost on them - they need to ensure funding for  support or development is considered fairly and not just restricted to the  commercial sectors."

"The  video was shot in Drummore, Dumfries and Galloway; we went round filming the  B&B’s, tackle shops, hoteliers, caravan parks and charter skippers, giving  them an opportunity to portray just what RSA means to their business - In a  village with a total population of 410 - 20 full time jobs and as many again  seasonal ones.!" 

"A strategy for the development of sea angling in Scotland is essential to  tourism economy and the long term survival of many of these communities.

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