A growing worldwide fish welfare and conservation movement aimed at phasing-out multiple point hooks across recreational angling.......whose time has come

Our Campaign: as a life-long angler, passionate about fish welfare and conservation, I have started a petition to ask the UK Government to change legislation to introduce a phased ban on multiple-point fishing hooks across all angling pursuits. Many thanks to Change.org for the support they have provided to our campaign to date and in the future.

Please contact:

George Eustice MP Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Send him a message asking the UK Government to change rod fishing rules, restricting anglers to using single point fishing hooks.

Charles Walker MP Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Angling. Send a message to Charles Walker MP, asking him to encourage George Eustice MP to support this important proposal.

Overview: angling remains one of our biggest pastimes. In recent years, various UK controls have been to protect native fish species and other wildlife. These include a ban on lead weights and use of knotless mesh in landing and keep nets. Phasing out multiple-point hooks for all angling pursuits will continue this trend, helping to strengthen fish welfare and native species conservation for future generations.

Whist there is no UK legal definition for successful catch and release, where there is either a requirement and/or preference to do so, all returned fish should have the maximum survival opportunity to successfully breed and/or grow bigger. However, UK rod fishing rules currently exclude any controls on hook types. From a fish welfare and conservation standpoint, the common use of multiple-point fishing hooks remains angling’s Achilles heel.

This campaign will help strengthen fish welfare and angling’s conservation credentials. It also provides an excellent opportunity to harmonise UK-wide rod fishing controls on hook use across all angling pursuits.

Why this matters

Fish welfare and conservation should be of utmost importance to all anglers. When good practice ‘catch and release’ – including use of one single hook – is followed, returned fish have the maximum survival opportunity to spawn and grow bigger. Conversely, removing one or more multiple point fishing hook(s) increases air exposure and handling time, and the likelihood of fish stress and physical harm. Artificial spinning baits (e.g. for predator fish species) often include two or even three treble hooks (or ‘trebles’), each containing three individual hook points. In addition to the above concerns, this can additionally lead to the unintended foul-hooking of fish by trailing hooks.
On the available evidence, there are no grounds where the continued use of multiple point hooks can be defended for any angling pursuit on fish welfare and conservation grounds.

For more information and a downloadable briefing note and FAQs, please visit us