The AAPPMAs have two missions in their statutes. The protection of the aquatic environment and the development of fishing leisure activities, in the same way as the Fédération de Pêche Départementale. Let's see what this means in terms of their actions.
Each AAPPMA, depending on its president and board members, votes on the actions it wishes to carry out within its territory.
They all vary in size, both in terms of the length of watercourses and bodies of water, and in the number of anglers or members.
What they all have in common, however, are the same missions, which they are often required to carry out in conjunction with their members.
Protecting the aquatic environment
The role of the AAPPMAs is to maintain and protect the aquatic environment at local level, i.e. on the fishing leases (= territory) they own.
These fishing leases belong to the riparian owners, who transfer their leases in exchange for a fishing card, a symbolic Euro or by renting the lease for amounts that depend on the riparian and the piscicultural and halieutic interest of the section of river or body of water. In return, the AAPPMA must maintain the corresponding course.
They take part in actions managed and centralized at departmental level by the Fédération de Pêche Départementale or FDPPMA (Fédération Départementale de Pêche et de Protection du Milieu Aquatique), set up by employees who respond to the expectations and wishes of board members elected by anglers.
As part of this mission, the AAPPMAs carry out a wide range of actions, such as electric fishing to monitor and count fish populations, river and lake management (stocking, monitoring, etc.), river and lake maintenance, setting up management plans and preparing grant applications, to name but a few.
Fishing Leisure Development
The development of fishing leisure activities includes all actions designed to enhance the AAPPMA's fishing potential, as well as setting up activities to train new anglers and retain existing members.
Once again, each AAPPMA chooses whether or not to set up one-off or longer-term initiatives to promote the sport of fishing. These take the form of local and/or departmental events, the creation of a fishing school or APN (Atelier Pêche et Nature), the organization of events such as fishing contests, friendly competitions, national fishing day, etc.
Fish enhancement can also be achieved through the creation of specific courses, such as fly courses or night carp, and in recent years through the creation of labelled courses (discovery, family, passion).
These initiatives help to train new anglers, build loyalty and promote a positive image of fishing to the general public.
Participate in general meetings and special events
All anglers must be members of an AAPPMA to obtain a fishing licence and enjoy their hobby.
You can choose the association where you take your card, but you are under no obligation to take it in the commune where you live. This card may be departmental or belong to a group of departments such as the CHI (Club Halieutique Interdépartemental) or the EH (Entente halieutique) or the URNE (Union régionale du Nord-est) or the three groups that make up the EHGO (Entente Halieutique du Grand Ouest), which allows fishing in 91 departments.
By joining, you become a member of an association. In principle, anglers are expected to take part in voluntary activities, although this is not an obligation. They are also expected to attend general meetings to take part in the life of the association to which they belong.
In reality, anglers are more consumers than actors. Voluntary work is dying out, and the AAPPMAs are running out of hands and people to help them carry out their missions, whether it's to take part in maintenance projects, which represent a colossal amount of work, or to accompany young people and supervise events, or to lend a hand with electrofishing, and so on.
Without wishing to give lessons, it would be interesting and coherent to help our AAPPMAs as much as possible to keep these associations alive and enable them to develop as many actions as possible for the future of our leisure activities and our aquatic environments.
Don't hesitate to contact your AAPPMA to volunteer. We look forward to welcoming you!
