History
The European Fishing Tackle Trade Association (EFTTA) was established in London in 1981 with a clear purpose: to support the European sportfishing tackle sector – the manufacturers and wholesalers, the importers and exporters. The EFTTA support includes promotion and protection of the sportfishing activities, to grow the tackle business and influence policies and legislation of importance to the sector, the sportfishers (also named ‘recreational anglers’) and the environment. To do so effectively EFTTA has registered as an official lobbying association in Brussels.
Work scheme
EFTTA is directly involved with European policies and legislation related to, among other things, small hydropower stations, cormorants, chemicals and a number of fisheries management plans concerning sea bass, tuna, Atlantic and Baltic cod and salmon and more. Only recently EU has included sportfishing in the fisheries management plans explicitly, namely sea bass (since year 2015) and Baltic cod (since year 2016). EFTTA expects more of that to come.
Objectives
EFTTA's objective is to promote the interests of the European Fishing Tackle trade and to make it more effective in the international market place. To this end, close relations have been established with the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) and the Japanese Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association (JAFTMA). EFTTA has negotiated agreements with these associations for reciprocal exhibiting rights so members can break into world-wide markets.
Community
EFTTA membership is open to manufacturers, wholesalers, agents, press and related organisation in the tackle industry. Applications for membership are subject to approval by the EFTTA Board, which comprises 12 elected European members and a President who is elected every three years.
EFTTA members are mainly manufacturers, wholesalers, agents and press from the Fishing Tackle industry. They all meet at EFTTEX, the leading European Fishing Tackle Trade Exhibition, that's celebrated every year in a different capital of Europe.
Events
In 1982 the first European Fishing Tackle Trade Exhibition (EFTTEX) was initiated by EFTTA. This has developed over the years into the premier trade show for the industry. EFTTEX attracts some of the most well-known names in the industry and is also a place to meet new and emerging companies within the trade. The location of EFTTEX changes annually, and previous host countries include Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, Poland and the UK.