With confinement, outdoor activities have been reduced for more than a month. However, one was to attract several hundred thousand people in recent weeks: fishing. With over a million and a half licensees, the National Fishing Federation in France is the largest behind that of football. Like the crampons, canes and landing nets have been stored since March 17. But if football is stopped for the season, the national fishing authorities hope to be able to extend the authorized period.
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"I really have ants in my legs"
Because without trout or pike perch fishing, time begins to become long for many amateurs. "I really have ants in my legs," admits Cédric, 35 years of practice behind him. "I want to take a cane and go tickle the stud as they say".
His boat is still at the quay, while the Saône passes just behind his window. An unfair feeling that he saw as a punishment. "I am very unhappy," he said, explaining that with several of his friends, they "often send fishing videos to each other". "I absolutely did not understand why we had prohibited fishing," admits Cédric, who suggests that, alone, at the water's edge, there is "no risk for anyone".
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Fishing, an ecological issue
But since Edouard Philippe's speech at the National Assembly and the announcement of freer travel in certain departments from May 11, hope is allowed. Because the recovery is urgent, and not only for leisure, said the president of the Ille-et-Vilaine Fishing Federation.
"Today's fishermen are veritable sentries," explains Jérémy Grandière. "When they are no longer at the water's edge, there is an increase in pollution. There are people who allow themselves to dump different products to clean, drain, lots of things so it is extremely harmful", he judges at the microphone of Europe 1.
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Thus, the National Fishing Federation in France requested an extension of the fishing period, which started at the same time as the containment. To satisfy amateurs, but also so that the Federation does not also suffer the economic crisis. This year, a third of the fishermen have not yet paid a subscription for the season.