Issue 153 FEBRUARY 2008
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A QUESTION OF TRUST
"Labour is on course to lose the Angling Vote"
That is the conclusion that many are coming to in the aftermath of the recent decision by Jonathan Shaw to abandon previous government policy to protect the UK's important and valuable Recreational Bass Fishery.
With local fishermen's organisations protesting that reduced fish quotas for 2008 are likely to drive some smaller inshore boats out of business, it is becoming clearer why Jonathan Shaw, the newly appointed Fisheries Minister, has overturned previous Government promises and sacrificed the opportunity for building a first class UK saltwater sports fishery, providing many more business opportunities and livelihoods in the Recreational Sea Angling sector, by abandoning the previous Fishery Minister's decision to increase the minimum landing size for bass.
Bass are a slow growing and late maturing species, capable of growing to over 20lbs, living some 25 years and capable of spawning up to 15 times. But they are now harvested as baby fish at just 36cm (around just 1lb in weight) and before they have ever had the opportunity to spawn. Bass have historically been a recreational species especially prized by anglers and second only to salmon in their status and value as a premier sportsfish.
The value of the Recreational Sea Fishery for bass is worth considerably more than the commercial fishery, supporting many businesses and livelihoods. However, increased inshore netting, as well as the development of the controversial method of pair-trawling for spawning congregations, means that anglers now rarely encounter fish of the stamp and quality which anglers most prize. The problem is that there is no commercial quota for bass, and only a meaningless 5 tonne per week per boat landing limit (an unimaginable number of fish) to 'restrict' catches. The danger is that with falling quotas for other species, and no cap on the number of boats that can fish for bass, or the amount of gear that each boat can deploy, fishing effort on bass will increase significantly, as boats turn to bass to maintain their profits as the reduced quota for other species is used up. It is now almost certain that bass of any size will soon become a much rarer catch for UK anglers and inshore fishermen alike.
No doubt Jonathan Shaw has followed the advice of his DEFRA fishery officials in the light of the problems of the inshore fishing fleet but unfamiliar with the opportunities and economic importance of the Recreational Sea Angling sector, it is likely that he has made a grave political and economic miscalculation which will cost his party dear when the Angling Vote is next cast at the polls.
John Leballeur, chairman of BASS said "what he has done by handing bass, the most valuable recreational species, to the commercial sector for unrestrained exploitation, is to tear up the assurances given in the past by the Labour Party that "Angling is safe in Labour's hands", and ripped the heart from Labour's 'Angling Charter'.
That is unless Jonathan Shaw has other plans to restore the damage that his decision has bought about. But it would appear that time is not now on his side to gain the trust of Britain's millions of anglers, whether they fish for bass or not".
Bass Anglers Sportfishing Society (BASS)
SCOTT CALLS FOR SUPPORT ON RECREATIONAL ANGLING
The Scottish Conservatives have this week lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament in support of recreational sea angling in Scotland. John Scott, Scottish Conservative MSP for Ayr and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs & the Environment, has already seen his motion attract significant cross party support and hopes to secure parliamentary debating time for the motion in the coming weeks.
Commenting after lodging his motion, John said: "There can be few more overlooked sectors of our economy than recreational sea angling. As my motion explains, the sport is still very popular and generates significant investment in coastal communities such as the Firth of Clyde. It is also important in terms of activity tourism with Scottish waters being famous for fine sporting species such as the enormous but endangered Common Skate. "Sea angling also leads the way in the promotion of sustainable fishing methods with next to no impact on the environment and the sector deserves credit for their proactive efforts to avoid taking fish yet to reach breeding size."
Steve Bastiman of the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network added: "The fact remains that vast swathes of sea around Scotland's shores, which once provided rich pickings for anglers, are now bereft of fish due to poor management of our seas. I therefore urge all relevant agencies, and especially our politicians, to work together towards conserving the many species of interest to anglers so that angling and all the industries associated with it can thrive."
Our Shakespeare Ugly Boat reel winner this month goes to Alun Jones for this magnificent 18lb 8oz bass. Alun was fishing in Poole’s annual cod competition from his own boat “Gastronaught”.
Our Shakespeare Shore Prize winner is Alderney angler Steve Ace with a fish of a lifetime, a cracking mullet that scaled 10lb 4oz.
He has also recently enjoyed a harbour caught Eel at 43lb (which wasn't the only one!) and a cracking Tope at 38lb. What a holiday he had!
SUNDRIDGE COMPETITION WINNER
The winner of the Sundridge Marine-Pro Flotation Suit was Mr John Goodwin from Cleethorpes. Congratulations to John and many thanks to Sundridge for supplying the suit. This was the best ever competition entry we’ve had, with multiple entries arriving every day that mail was delivered. Obviously a much desired prize. The draw was made by Ian Golds. Full SAN competition details here
THANKS TO PLANO
A 2lb lead cracked the top of my Plano 777 tackle box and although I tried to track down a new top I couldn’t find anywhere for their spares. I emailed their website in the USA asking for the address of a dealer in the UK where I could buy or order a new top. I received an email by return asking for my address. I sent my address and just over a week later I received a new top, free of charge, sent from the USA by airmail. Now that’s what I call service. It transpired from my email that the UK agent for Plano is Shimano in Holland but it doesn’t show up on any web searches. I suppose I could have asked Torbay Angling who supplied the box to order a new top but I thought that would take too long so used the internet. It’s the way ahead.
Norman Berry
