Safe and isolated on our islands, in the UK we often make the mistake of failing to keep a close eye on what is happening regarding Recreational Sea Angling within our neighbour states within the EU.
That can be a mistake as UK fishery managers, and commercial fishing leaders, often attend EU meetings where news and ideas are exchanged (for instance sea angling licences and bag limits are already a feature of recreational fisheries management in a number of states, and the EU is driving forward proposals for networks of Marine Protected Areas etc).
Today we had this email from our friend Jan Kappel at the European Anglers Alliance (to which the NFSA is affiliated).
Today the Danish Parliament adopted a new law on recreational fisheries, which increases the minimum level of fines from 1000 DKR to 2,500 DKR (ca. 150 euro to 375 euro).
The aim is first and foremost to bring down the illegal netting along the coasts but anglers, too, are focused on with the increase in fines and a new obligation for charter boat operators to control the anglers license before bringing them at sea.
Finally, if somebody continuously breaks the law he can be banned from fishing for a time up to one year.
The law takes effect as from 1 June this year.
Ps. Danish angling and leisure fishing licenses covers both fresh and saltwater.
Jan Kappel
http://www.fvm.dk/Default.asp?ID=11058&M=News&PID=159615&NewsID=4097