Environmental commitment at fishing competition community event

The 4th edition of Sea Angling Classic’s Crabbies’ Competition and Shoreline Clean Up takes place at Portchester Sailing Club on the UK south coast, on 8 June 2024.

Organisers say the event, which will bring the ‘catch, photograph, and release’ fishing competition’s environmentally friendly message to the community, is inclusive and open to all children and families from the surrounding area.

The event, supported by headline sponsors Yamaha Motor UK and Extreme Boats, is free to enter on the day. The litter picks are scheduled to take place between the end of the competition and the prize-giving ceremony, giving participants the opportunity to complete a shoreline cleanup.

This will involve collecting litter along the shore around Portchester Castle and bringing the filled bags back to the event desk to receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win prizes. One ticket will be given for each filled bag returned. Bags will be provided during registration, and the cleanup is open to all, with no age restrictions.

So far, the event has received registration from over 200 children for the crabbing event, with more still expected.

The prize table for children is worth over £2,000. All equipment and bait for the Crabbies’ Competition will be provided free of charge, and when the competition ends at 2.30pm prizes will be awarded to those who have caught the most crabs. Every crab will be returned to its environment after being counted.

“Our Crabbies and Shoreside Clean Up event is always a big hit with the locals, with the main aim to educate children about conservation and respect for the marine environment,” says Ross Honey, managing director of Angling Spirit, and Sea Angling Classic founder.

“We also teach the children about the concept of ‘catch and release’ where they can enjoy the thrill of catching as many crabs as they can, and then seeing them released back into the sea afterwards.”

One of a number of events in the lead-up to the main Sea Angling Classic competition in June, last year’s event saw over 200 children and their families take part in the crabbing competition at the heritage site near Portsmouth.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with the Sea Angling Classic, in conjunction with our boat partner Extreme Boats, as its environmental endeavours perfectly align with Yamaha’s broader Clean the Sea initiative across Europe, inspiring individuals to nurture our oceans,” says Matt Taylerson, Yamaha’s divisional manager of marketing.

“Sea Angling Classic’s shore clean-up programme and “catch and release” ethos demonstrates its commitment to the environment as it continues to promote UK angling in a responsible and sustainable manner.”

The Sea Angling Classic event takes place between 20-23 June at the luxury waterside leisure hub of Port Solent.

First prize in the recreational boat angling category will be a fully equipped Extreme 646 Game King boat, powered by a 150hp Yamaha outboard engine, complete with rigging kit. The prize boat will also be equipped with a trailer and fishing system, including a unit for the centre console.

Those wishing to take place in the Sea Angling Classic’s Crabbies’ Competition and Shoreline Clean Up can register online.