Angling could boost UK tourism - claims Nigel Farage

• 16th Jun 2014

Gloucestershire could be a world-class angling destination - at least if controversial UKIP leader Nigel Farage has his way.

Farage has been outlining his wider policies in a bid to get his party recognised as a legitimate force in British politics. This has included his stance on tourism, with one of the key policies involving Gloucestershire and its potential to be a haven for fishermen from across Britain and - somewhat ironically - Europe.

The UKIP leader is a keen fisherman himself and so believes Britain is 'missing a trick' when it comes to the sport, as there is huge potential. He noted a scheme in Florida where artificial reefs have been created to provide a thriving underwater ecosystem. Anglers are then able to fish the area for a rich catch, gloucestercitizen.co.uk reports.

With angling being named as the second most popular participation support - behind only football - and a firm favourite of those who holiday in the UK, Farage claimed there was huge potential for his idea.

He made the comments in an interview with industry magazine TTG, in which he said: "I think the UK is missing a trick in a huge way.

"We should be doing the same as Florida - three miles off the shore we should place some old car tyres and concrete bits on the sea bed and we would have a whole ecosystem thing with lots of fish. We could do it in the West Country and South Wales - it would be the most incredible boost to tourism."