Angling Improvement Fund

This fund is now open for applications from March 11th 2022 for clubs and fisheries that are planning projects to install protection from predation by mammals and fish eating birds on their waters.

There will be a second round opening in mid May 2022 for schemes tackling Invasive Non Native Species. For further details on this subject take a look at the information on our website Invasive Non-Native Species

What is the Angling Improvement Fund?

The Angling Improvement Fund (AIF) is a way of reinvesting income from fishing licence sales in projects which benefit anglers across England.

Since its launch in 2015, the AIF has made over 600 separate awards totalling over £2.4m to clubs and fisheries that aimed to improve the infrastructure of angling facilities all of which support the National Angling Strategy. Recent Projects included ways to help tackle the predation of fish stocks, improve biosecurity, encourage more people to go fishing and provided bursaries for over 200 new coaching licences.

The AIF is administered by the Angling Trust on behalf of the Environment Agency who provide the funding through the sale of the non-migratory trout and coarse fishing licences. The total value of the programme, taking into account match-funding, is an estimated £7.5 million. This has created and safeguarded tens of thousands of angling opportunities throughout England through more sustainable habitats and enabled clubs, fisheries and other angling organisations to flourish and attract more anglers.

The Environment Agency (EA) also runs the Fisheries Improvement Programme (FIP), another excellent way to reinvest licence income into positive outcomes for anglers. This is currently closed but will reopen later this year. To find out more about FIP, contact your local EA Officer. You can locate them by calling 03708 506 506.