Is our sport really under threat ??

[Maddison_Twatter]

Over the past year or so I have read many angling publications which keep reminding us our sport is under threat and its very worrying. These threats come in many forms, the " eastern Europeans" plundering our waters for food, otters mauling prize barbel and chub, cormorants decimating our silver fish stocks and now recently it has been said many fish are under threat due to the driest spring/ summer in 70 years. (oh not to mention KHV too)
Are things really this bad? Are these magazines and newspapers just exaggerating to sell copies or are we on the brink of witnessing the demise of our sport ?
What do you guys think ?

[barbelblanker]

After returning to the sport after a self imposed break (seemed to make sense at the time).

I have to say NO.

I think demise is far too strong a word for it.

What I personally observed is -

the rivers and lakes have a lot less silver fish in them (cormorants are definately to blame here ).

the same mindless minority leave litter

I've not yet seen any evidence of eastern europeans taking fish but no doubt in areas where there are more of them they no doubt do.

Sea fishing from the shore has declined.

Carp and barbel dominate to a much greater degree.

There seem to be far more venues to catch huge bags of carp from.

People seem more brand obsessed than ever.

Decline in some ways YES demise NO.

I remember the days of the lead kills swan debate. That was the biggest danger to the sport at the time.

No doubt the threats are out there.

Biggest problem still seems to be people who nothing about angling making decisions about the future of our sport.

[Maddison_Twatter]

Thanks for the reply, in hind sight demise was quite a strong word.