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BDAA Approved Fisheries Award Scheme

How does someone apply for recognition?

Any organisation within any of the four categories of Award, Public, Commercial, Club or Not-for-Profit can apply for formal recognition of a BDAA Approved Fisheries Award. The final consideration of the Award is of the whole evaluation, and not on individual aspects. Any formal review will offer a period of time to improve if the owner of the water wishes to raise standards for a higher Award.

Each fishery that wishes to be evaluated for an Approved Fisheries Award will be visited and objectively considered on a transparent grading system. Evaluation will be on the anticipated conditions whether dry or wet weather. In general, the more a fishing location has been designed with a positive outlook on welcoming disabled people and families, then the more likely the waters and facilities will meet a higher Award standard.

The criteria mean consideration must have been given to negotiable level surfaces for wheelchairs and less mobile participants, both on the car park and all access areas that visitors will encounter. Numbers of pegs/platforms/swims that will comfortably accommodate both disabled and family units would be a positive feature of a successful fishery. This means more than simply one platform out of a total 100 pegs. General access around a designated pool or lake would be viewed positively.

Lottery grants are available for Clubs who wish to improve standards. Public waters are also able to benefit from this type of funding, as well as local authority or possibly EA funding. Not-for-Profit organisations have a wide range of public and private funding opportunities. For the commercial sector it is a matter of encouraging future anglers for future business and widening the total base of potential angling visitors, a key investment consideration in forward budget planning.