Sea Anglers' Conservation Network

I cannot believe wag actions of late. Despite overwhelming advice first they do not join with the rest of the uk on what is an important improvement of the bass stocks for all. Then they have the gaul to write to defra and complain that there is more dammage being done by black selling of the stock by anyone other than the commercial fisheries sector. This is without ANY facts and figures what so ever. The outcome of this is the local sfc's have been advised by defra to look at restricting the recreational sea angler. One sfc has now gone down that road and has stated that they will bring in a bylaw to that effect. The day before this meeting Defra on mass turned up to advise the committee members, that is not usuall. What coersion went on i wonder. It appears that the beam trawlers around the channel isles are landing record catches of bass, while the rsa are being restricted due to black selling of this stock. Apparently the only facts and figures avalible come from the newly released pan europeon 2006 study were it clearly states that there is NOT a problem with black selling based on the amount landed by both the rsa and commercial. This is contary to the pub talk issed by the welsh assembly. This therefore stinks in my mind. there is no discussion on gill tagging which would get rid of any precieved black selling immediatly at little cost to the rate payer, so the men in suits appear to want control over the rsa, at what ever the cost to the rate payer. Is this how defra wants to engage with the rsa community in future. All they will do is cause massive resentment, criminalise the rsa for taking any fish home over the limit and creating bylaws that will be impossible and costly to police. This is the start of the rsa fishing experiance going down the pan, purly on pub talk by the men in suits. Enjoy.

(Posted on February 8, 2007, 8:09 am barry luxton)

Of course the WAG are in a different position to other UK legislatures as they have a statutary duty to promote sustainable development. I am sure that if enough AMs were made aware of this they could make life very difficult for the minister, as these size limits would appear to fly in the face of this duty. Phil

(Posted on October 18, 2006, 11:04 am Phil Hollington)

Welsh Disappointment

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