RULES FOR CONDUCTING ANGLING COMPETITIONS UNDER THE CURRENT REGULATIONS · RELATED TO THE SARS-CoV-2 PANDEMIC
Following the publication on the website https://www.gov.pl/web/koronawirus/aktualne-zasady-i– detailing the current restrictions, orders and prohibitions in connection with the state of epidemic – it has been announced that, from 15 May, sporting events held in outdoor venues may take place with a maximum of 25 per cent of the usual audience capacity. Sports activities and events outside sports venues – limit of 150 people.
In view of the above, it is possible to organise fishing competitions, provided, of course, that health and safety measures are observed. All restrictions and the legal basis can be found via the link provided above.
The Regional Sports Authority recommends that organisers of fishing competitions at Club and Regional level adhere to the following rules when conducting competitions:
- all draws (for sectors, start numbers, fishing spot numbers, boat numbers) must be conducted remotely, and competitors must be notified of the draw results in such a way that, upon arriving at the competition venue, they can proceed directly to their fishing spot or boat. To ensure the continuity of this process, we propose that the draws be streamed online via social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp or others.
- Only the competitor concerned (or their representative) and the judging panel (maximum 2 judges) may be present during the weighing of fish;
- Only the competitors who have finished in the top three places (in team competitions – one representative per team) are to remain for the prize-giving ceremony;
- The judging panel should consist of the number required by the regulations, but only the chief judge and the recording judge may be present in the competition office. Sector and station judges should proceed immediately to their sectors and remain there until the end of the competition;
- hand sanitiser must be available to all competition participants in the competition office;
- during the competition, all participants are required to wear face coverings over their nose and mouth, if this is stipulated by generally applicable regulations on preventing the spread of COVID-19;
- whilst moving around, weighing (measuring) fish and during the prize-giving ceremony, participants must maintain a distance of at least 1.5 metres from one another. This requirement does not apply to those who cover their mouth and nose with a face covering;
- the width of the fishing stations must comply with the provisions of the Rules for the Organisation of Angling for the respective disciplines.
- During the competition, only meals prepared and supplied by a catering company may be consumed. During the pandemic, organisers are prohibited from preparing meals. Meals must be consumed in accordance with the binding restrictions on social distancing.
- The organiser shall either cancel the opening and closing ceremonies of the competition or conduct these ceremonies online;
The organiser must include the above rules and the manner of their implementation in the competition notice. Competitors registering for the competition accept the conditions set out in the competition notice, participate voluntarily and are aware of the potential risks involved, including the risk of infection with the SARS-CoV-2, and shall not make any claims against the organiser or the judging panel in the event of contracting the virus
The competition organiser bears full responsibility for ensuring that the competition is conducted in accordance with
the currently applicable restrictions relating to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and
the above-mentioned rules.
Chairman of the OKS at the Słupsk Regional Branch of the Polish Angling Association
Stanisław Szymański
