Leave no Trace

The Ulster Angling Federation (UAF) fully supports the Leave No Trace principles and encourages all anglers to fish responsibly, protecting our rivers, lakes, and countryside for future generations. Leave No Trace is about enjoying our sport while ensuring our presence has minimal impact on wildlife, habitats, landowners, and other water users.
Anglers are often among the most frequent users of freshwater environments. With that privilege comes a responsibility to act as stewards of the water.

The 7 Leave No Trace Principles for Anglers

These internationally recognised principles can be applied to every angling trip, whether you are fishing a riverbank, Stillwater, canal, or from a boat.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

Know the local angling regulations, seasons, bag limits, and access permissions before you go.
Ensure you have the correct licence and club or fishery permit.
Prepare for weather conditions and pack appropriate clothing and safety gear.
Bring suitable bags to take all waste home, including food packaging and fishing line.

2. Be Considerate of Others

Share the water respectfully with other anglers and recreation users such as walkers, paddlers, and swimmers.
Keep noise to a minimum, particularly near homes and livestock.
Park vehicles responsibly without blocking gateways, tracks, or access points.

3. Respect Farm Animals and Wildlife

Leave gates as you find them and avoid disturbing livestock or crops.
Observe wildlife from a distance and avoid sensitive areas during breeding seasons.
If wildlife is disturbed by your presence, move to another location.
Take extra care around nesting birds, spawning fish, and marginal vegetation.

4. Travel and Fish on Durable Ground

Use established paths, access points, swims, and hard-standing areas where possible.
Avoid trampling fragile riverbanks, spawning gravels, and reed margins.
Do not drive or park vehicles on soft ground, grass verges, or floodplains.

5. Dispose of Waste Properly

Pack it in, pack it out – take home everything you bring with you.
Remove all fishing line, bait containers, hooks, and tackle packaging.
Never discard litter, bait, or fish waste on banks or in car parks.
Use suitable disposal methods for fish waste where permitted, following local guidance.

6. Leave What You Find

Do not remove plants, stones, or natural features from the water or banks.
Avoid introducing or spreading invasive species – check, clean, and dry equipment before moving between waters.
Respect historic and cultural features such as bridges, weirs, and old structures.

7. Minimise Environmental Impact

Use appropriate tackle to land fish quickly and reduce exhaustion.
Handle fish with wet hands or unhooking mats, keeping them in the water where possible.
Consider barbless hooks for easier and safer catch-and-release.
Avoid unnecessary bank-side fires and never leave fire remains behind.

Biosecurity – Protecting Our Waters

Anglers play a vital role in preventing the spread of invasive species and fish diseases.

Always Check, Clean and Dry your boots, nets, boats, and equipment between fisheries.

Remove weed, mud, and debris before leaving the water.

Allow equipment to dry fully where possible before fishing another venue.

Ulster Angling Federation Commitment

The Ulster Angling Federation actively promotes responsible angling, environmental protection, and positive relationships with landowners and statutory bodies. By following Leave No Trace principles, anglers help:

Protect fisheries and fish stocks
Improve access and public perception of angling
Support conservation and enforcement efforts
Ensure sustainable angling opportunities for future generations

Learn More

For further guidance on responsible angling and environmental stewardship, visit:

Leave No Trace Ireland – https://www.leavenotraceireland.org/

Fishing in Ireland – Leave No Trace for Anglers – https://fishinginireland.info/enjoy-irelands-fisheries-leave-no-trace/

Anglers are guardians of our waters – leave nothing behind but footprints, and take nothing away but memories.

Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme (ANLRS)

Discarded fishing line is one of the most harmful forms of angling litter. It can cause serious injury or death to fish, birds, mammals, and other wildlife, and it can remain in the environment for many years if not managed correctly.

The Ulster Angling Federation (UAF) supports the Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme (ANLRS) and encourages all affiliated clubs and individual anglers to take part wherever facilities are available.

ANLRS provides a safe and responsible way for anglers to dispose of used fishing line, helping to protect wildlife while promoting good environmental practice within the angling community.

What Is the ANLRS?

The Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme is a UK‑wide environmental initiative that provides dedicated line recycling bins at fisheries and angling venues. These bins allow anglers to responsibly dispose of:

Spent monofilament line
Braid and fluorocarbon line
Line removed during tackle changes, break‑offs, or bird’s nest tangles
Collected line is then recycled or safely processed, preventing it from entering the natural environment.

Why Fishing Line Is a Serious Environmental Issue

Improperly discarded fishing line can:

Entangle birds, fish, otters, and other wildlife
Cause severe injury, restricted movement, starvation, or drowning
Persist in the environment for decades
Create negative perceptions of angling among the public and landowners
Responsible line disposal is one of the simplest and most effective actions anglers can take to reduce their environmental impact.

What Anglers Should Do

UAF encourages all anglers to:

Always retain used or damaged fishing line while fishing
Use an ANLRS bin where one is provided at a venue
Take line home and dispose of it responsibly if no bin is available
Never leave line on banks, in vegetation, or in trees or fences
Remove and responsibly dispose of any discarded line encountered while fishing, where safe to do so. If in doubt: take it home.

What Clubs Can Do

Angling clubs play a vital role in reducing line-related harm. UAF encourages affiliated clubs to:

Install ANLRS line recycling bins at club waters where possible
Promote correct line disposal through signage and match briefings
Include line management and litter responsibility in club rules
Monitor areas where line accumulation is likely (snags, pegs, car parks)
Clubs interested in installing a bin should engage directly with the ANLRS coordinator or relevant national body.

Supporting Leave No Trace and Biosecurity

Proper line disposal complements the Leave No Trace ethos and wider environmental stewardship:

Reduces litter and wildlife risk
Improves relations with landowners and local communities
Demonstrates that anglers are responsible custodians of the environment
Line recycling should always be combined with good biosecurity practice, including checking, cleaning, and drying equipment between waters.

Ulster Angling Federation Position

The Ulster Angling Federation believes that participation in schemes such as ANLRS is a clear demonstration of anglers taking responsibility for the waters they fish.
Responsible line disposal:

Protects wildlife and habitats
Strengthens the reputation of angling
Supports sustainable access to fisheries
Aligns with best practice promoted by environmental and fisheries bodies

Learn More

Anglers National Line Recycling Scheme (ANLRS) – https://www.anglers-nlrs.co.uk/