Pikers urged to pen protest letters

PAC secretary Mark Barrett is urging pike anglers to put pen to paper, to let sponsors of a controversial pike fishing competition know why it's wrong to retain pike in barely enough water to cover their backs.

The club has tried negotiating with organisers of the Erne International Pike Fishing Festival.

But talks broke down when they refused to budge over the way fish were retained prior to weighing and stewarding arrangements at the event.

Since then organisers have said a respected fisheries scientist told them retaining pike in unearated barrels would not harm them.

But both of the event's main sponsors said they did not have a copy of this advice after the PAC mounted a legal bid to obtain documents using the Freedom Of Information Act.

Tonight Mark Barrett said pike anglers should write to the following to make their opinions known.

dcalangling@dcalni.gov.uk - the Department for Culture Arts and leisure

keith.collen@fermanagh.gov.uk - Organiser for Fermanagh District council

info@nitb.com - the Northern Ireland Tourist Board

Please copy you e-mail to secretary@pacgb.co.uk - and please forward any reply to the same address.