The Federation of Recreational Fishers convened for their annual assembly on Sunday, where many members complained about ongoing issues and a general lack of interest from the government.
Polluted rivers and creeks paired with a decreasing number of fishing areas were a cause for dismay at the annual assembly. There are close to 10,000 fishing permits in Luxembourg and yet, even despite this popularity, the government seems uninterested in their problems, officials lamented.
While the Water Management Authority was the main target of criticism last year, this time, fishers complained mostly about the Bridges and Roads Authority due to a construction site alongside the Moselle. President Jos Scheuer, who had trouble hiding his anger, labelled the recreational fishers as the "bad conscience of those who don't care for nature".
Claude Haagen, the new Minister of Agriculture, Viticulture and Rural Development, was at the assembly and tried his best to calm the fishermen down. He underlined that the government had no intention of discriminating against the Association and promised he would put forward a number of proposals to improve the situation. However, he also stressed that there is no miracle solution.
Minister Haagen explained that the new agriculture laws, which are expected to be presented in Spring 2023, will also regulate water access.
