From the Marine & Countryside Guide Certificate course

1. Mark.H.V.Corps
IFI Angling Advisor
Marine & Countryside Guiding
FETAC Level 6

3. Rules of conduct
List 10 rules you would
impart to your clients

4. Fishing Ethics
Ethics are an innate set of principles &
practices that recognise respect & order in
the human race. Most sports & outdoor
activities have their own ethics & principles
• Supporting conservation efforts - supports
local resource management to preserve
fishing for generations to come
• Practice C&R – knows how / when to fight &
release fish in a manner that gives the fish
(especially little ones) a fighting chance at
survival

5. • Appreciates the importance of a clean
environment - a good angler avoids littering
at all times
• Pollution kills fish
• The practice of proper recycling & trash
disposal is crucial it prevents pollution &
keeps our environment clean
• Practice safe angling & boating – understand /
observes safe boating practices. An angler can
have more fun knowing that everyone is safe.
Safety should be the number one priority

6. • Follow Fishing & boating regulations
Observe the rules / regulations
implemented in the bodies of water to
ensure safety & order
• Respect other anglers' rights – this
means being courteous to others & not
intruding other people's spaces.
Anglers will have more fun fishing
when they respect each other

8. EA - Golden Rules
• Angling benefits our environment in many
ways. If you spend hours by the water, you
learn to appreciate the natural world. This
often leads to an interest in protecting it. But
the places you fish are important for wildlife
too
• Inexperience or a little carelessness with your
gear can easily harm wildlife – and the good
image of angling
• Always take your litter & equipment away
with you

9. • Discarded nylon line is dangerous for birds &
animals
• Take line home, burn / cut it into short
lengths before disposing of
• Rigs get caught in vegetation, branches or
other snags. If you can, remove caught rigs
immediately, but don’t put yourself at risk
• If you can’t recover a rig / lose terminal
tackle, tell the club bailiffs / fishery owner,
they can arrange to remove it
• Use tackle that is the right size for the fish
you are planning to catch

10. • Choose your swim with care
• Be careful not to disturb nesting birds
• Avoid places where people feed waterfowl
• Once you have set up your equipment for
angling, always stay with your rods. It is illegal
to leave setup rods unattended
• If you need to leave your swim, stop angling,
gather together your lines /secure hooks to
the rod

11. • Try to lose as little line as possible in the
event of snagging. Use a hook length with a
lower breaking strain line than the reel line
• Remember weaknesses occurs at knots where
line is joined / tied to swivels / where shot are
pinched onto the line
• Check line for signs of wear & damage.
Remove damaged line

12. • Where possible, use barbless hooks or
reduced barb hooks
• Lead weights are illegal in most sizes. Non-
toxic weights are widely available & used
whenever possible
• Help new anglers if you see beginners using
unsuitable tackle
• If a swan, large bird / animal, is caught cut the
line immediately. Never hold onto the line, as
this may cause severe injury & distress.
Report the incident to the Swan Sanctuary.
Their hotline is 01932 240790

14. DRAFT
IFI Code of conduct
Angling Code - Freshwater

15. Principals of the code
• Environment - all anglers should be actively
concerned with protecting the environment
• Conservation - angling & management of
fisheries, should be conducted so healthy fish
populations are maintained
• Behaviour - moderation, courtesy &
consideration for others are the marks of a
sporting angler
• The Sport - there is more to fishing than
catching fish

16. • Anglers are the watchdogs of the water &
environment
• Any sign of deterioration, poaching, pollution
or other areas of concern must be reported
immediately to IFI on the 24 hr hot line –
1890347424
• The report should include:
'What' - has been noted
'Where'- the occurrence was seen
'When' - the event was noticed
'The Extent' - of any pollution

17. • Anglers should take care to avoid damage to
the waterside or disturbance to wildlife. No
tackle / litter must be discarded. Anglers need
to be aware of the hazards to wildlife from
monofilament nylon

18. Fish
• Anglers should familiarise themselves with
relevant legislation in relation to their target
fish
• Anglers should consider the sustainability of
stocks above their need to take fish
• Fish retained should be promptly & efficiently
despatched, others released as quickly as
possible

19. • Tackle should be appropriate to the target
species
• Fish should be played out quickly
• Fish handled only with wetted hands
• Kept in the water as far as possible
• Held facing upstream in running water /
upright in still water until they swim free
• Where 'Catch and Release' is practised
barbless / single hooks are recommended

20. • Do not move fish from one site to another
• Fishing Conduct - angling as a sport & recreation
is a fragile & personal experience, which can so
easily be disrupted by external interference
• Water space is in great demand from anglers &
other activities, therefore its enjoyment has to
be shared. The following should be observed by
anglers

21. • Ensure you have permission to fish; do you
have the appropriate licence & permits?
• Observe the bounds of any beat to which you
have been assigned
• Be prepared to give way after you have fished
a drift or pool & never fish too long in one
place
• Never crowd or obstruct an angler near you
on the bank or in a boat

22. • Avoid unnecessary wading
• Give consideration to anglers on the opposite
bank
• Make sure you can distinguish between
takeable & non takeable fish
• Where there are no bag limits, exercise
restraint in the number of fish taken
particularly when fish are easily caught
• 'Blank days' are part of the experience of
fishing

23. • Acknowledge considerate behaviour by other
legitimate water users
• Follow the Country Code
• Wear unobtrusive clothing & respect the
peace of the countryside
• Do not park vehicles so that they obstruct
gateways or cause a hazard on the road
• Support the organisations which safeguard
your sport

24. • Salmon & Sea Trout - all immature salmon &
sea trout (parr & smolts) must be returned to
the water, this also applies to kelts
• The law regarding 'unseasonable' fish
approaching spawning is less specific. Heavily
coloured fish, both cock & hen, are of no
culinary value & should be returned as quickly
as possible. The rule is 'If in doubt - return
immediately'

25. • Anglers are urged to keep only those fish that
they can personally use because overkill
endangers future sport
• Wild Brown Trout - a policy of restraint is
requested regarding the number of fish killed.
Never kill more than can be used and return
others carefully

26. Pike
• Are easily damaged if subjected to excessive
angling pressure / poor angling practice /
delayed striking / poor handling / unhooking.
Inexperienced anglers should seek help before
taking up pike fishing & purchase the correct
equipment. This should include
• Forceps (8 inch min)
Pliers
Unhooking mat

27. Health & Safety
You should
• Wear head & eye protection
• Look behind before casting
• Keep rods & lines away from overhead
electric power lines
• In an electric storm cease fishing, put the rod
down & move well away
• Wash hands before eating

28. • Carry a small first aid kit with plasters &
antiseptic cream
• Inform friends / family where you intend to
fish & what time you will return
• Consider carrying a charged mobile phone
• When wading in difficult conditions use a
wading stick & always have one foot firmly on
the riverbed

29. • Wear protective buoyancy aids wherever
appropriate & be familiar with the locations &
use of any other buoyancy or life saving
equipment provided by fishery owners
• Be prepared to help anyone in difficulty

31. Countryside Code
Respect - Protect – Enjoy
• Be safe - plan ahead & follow any signs
• Leave gates & property as you find them
• Protect plants & animals & take your litter
home
• Keep dogs under close control
• Consider other people
• ‘Follow the Countryside Code wherever you
go. You will get the best out of the
countryside & help to maintain it now & for
the future’

32. Questions?