Sea Anglers' Conservation Network

I have shore fished the Yorkshire coast for 55 years on and off. I would like to make the following comments on the Defra consultation paper. 1. There is a big distinction between shore and boat rsa's. It is a lot harder to catch fish shore fishing. A lot less fish are caught shore fishing and it is a lot less damaging to the environment. 2. In my first 20 years fishing 10 or more fish were common for a days fishing and sizes were often in double figures. 3. In the last 30 years it is common not to catch any fish and I would say 8 hours fishing averages 4 fish. 4. 30% of rsa's return fish. 30% will return if cleanly hooked. 40% take fish of the appropriate size limits. Of this 40% about a quarter would take below size. (Not like the French rsa who take everything for soup de poisson! I have fished the Med from the shore for the last 40 years) 5. Only a small % of rsa leave line and litter etc. About the same as litter louts in the general public. I have seen many anglers cleaning up beaches and taking line etc home if no bins. This is a general society litter education problem and I feel providing costly bins would not improve matters. 6. Over the years of plastic introduction both the North Sea and the Med have become full of plastic. I spear dive in the Med and always see plastic bags etc on every dive. I pull plastic out of the north sea and humber on every fishing trip - a lot coming from untreated sewerage - plastic panty liners. This is only since the 70's. I suggest an advertising regime 'Plastic in the sea will outlive you!' or similar. (I was on the East Coast on Wednesday and saw 5 washed up lobster pots. No one will move them) 7. To improve the present low shore catches, I would support the 1nm ban (the impact of shore fishing, as opposed to boat rsa, is minuscule), 8. I would leave shore anglers out of any regulation apart from what exists or numbers and therefore local revenue would decrease. (I'm not against an annual shore licence but as most of my colleagues would view this as a crude gathering of revenue, reminiscent of speed cameras, I fail to see how the revenue could be used to the rsa's advantage. There is plenty access and I have not seen any evidence of excessive danger to other beach users - dog walkers are probably a bigger danger as I have been bitten, had my tackle urinated on and trod in the doggie do's) I have also been stoned by yobs at the top of the cliff at Filey Brigg last summer! 9. I think another department of enforcers and admin would be counter productive and not cost effective. Comparing the negligible annual catch of shore anglers with the inshore trawlers and nets massive wasteful catches should convince most educated people that the latter are doing the damage to stocks. 10. The majority of rsa honour the code of protecting all wildlife and as with the litter comment above, I feel the same applies here and that the education process starts at school, the home and the present day irresponsible media. Kind regards Stewart Calligan

(Posted on January 28, 2008, 11:44 am stewart calligan)

SACN Response to the Marine Bill White Paper

Please enter the code you see in the image: