I thought that it would be worth starting a new thread for this issue, rather than having it popping up at different places on other threads.


Unlike bass where there is currently no quota (although pair trawlers are limmited to landing 5 tonne per week per boat - but there is no limit on the number of boats), the main protection for cod comes from limiting the number legally taken, and limiting the fishing effort by days at sea and closed areas etc.

(Illegal landings and bycatch undermine the quota restrictions, which is why there is a move to limiting the fishing effort and places that can be fished for cod)

Pair trawling is a very efficient method of killing cod, but if that was banned tomorrow, fishermen would then turn to less efficient methods and still kill as many cod as they are allowed to.

So, whether they are killing fish using pair trawls or any other method, the net result would still be the same. Stopping pair trawling would make very little difference to the number of cod we would have left for us to catch.

If you want there to be more cod in the seas, then you have to campaign on a much broader front than simply banning just one method of catching them!

SACN members should be aware that Tom Pinbporough is the SACN Campaign Director for Cod Recovery, and if members have suggestions that would improve the effectiveness of SACN campaigning on the Cod Recovery issue, or feel that they can help out, they should email SACN at FishSense@aol.com, marked for the attention of Tom, and with 'Cod Recovery' in the subject.

When SACN first become involved in supporting Fischler's Cod Recvovery programme, around 3 years ago, (which led to many of the measures in place today) we were heavily criticised by the fishing industry, talking of detroying people's livelihoods, and from anglers and angling organisations who felt that we were undermining relationships that had previously been built up with fishery managers etc, leading to other possible conservation measures around our shores.

What should be borne in mind is that the restrictions for this year, and agreement limiting fishing for cod in future years has now been agreed by the Council of Ministers for this year.

Next year, the position will be reviewed again, taking into account the needs of the fishing industry and available science, but dominated by political considerations.

By the middle of next year, the election will be out of the way, and perhaps the UK government will not be so worried about upsetting the fishing communities and more worried by a general public unease about how our fish stocks (including cod) are being managed, and thus prepared to move more toward conservation of fish, rather than being seen to preserve unsustainable jobs in the netting sector.

SACN can help to change that balance of concern a little.

IMO, that is a far better way of working to preserve cod stocks, rather than trying to ban one method, that will simply be replaced by another with no net reduction in the number of fish being killed.

Tight Lines - leon

Quote from Leon taken from pair trawling for bass topic.

"Big Cod, you write "iwould like to point out that pair trawling for cod kills many dolpins and porpoices this is fact as iknow quite a few lads who work on these pair trawlers and they have told what goes on "

That may be very true, but is just hearsay. What is needed is hard evidence.

Would any of the lads be prepared to sign affidavits?

Can you get someone to film the cetaceans coming up in the nets?

Can someone follow the boats and collect carcasses for post mortem?

All this and more is needed to turn hearsay into hard evidence that could be used for effective campaigning, after all sailors and fishermen have tales of mermaids and other fantastic stories from the sea, that they tell of in the pubs.

If you want to destroy an industry and the jobs and community that depend upon that, you need a lot more to go on than fishermens tales [Frown]"


Ive seen dead porpoise on our shores. Should I be photographing them and sending the pics to sacn?
Only time a saw a mermaid was when I had them dodgy mushrooms for me tea.

Unfortunately not Winter, there can be many reasons why porpoises wash up dead, and 'wounds' can be made by crustaceans etc feeding from the body.

What is needed is for fresh carcasses to be picked up and taken for post-mortem to officially and authoritively establish the cause of death and explain any wounds.

Many animals die from being caught in fixed nets, and it is depressingly common for bodies killed in nets to be washed up.

see http://www.eurocbc.org/page29.html
(Don't look if you are squemish!)

(SACN have good relationships with the European Cetacean Bycatch Campaign, exchanging information. If you do get some good photos, they may like to have them for their campaign use)

What is needed to prompt action is for attention to be drawn to something out of the ordinary.

A larger number of bodies coming ashore whenever their is pair trawler activity in the area, and supporting evidence that they are responsible.

If you feel that there is evidence to be gained, then have a word with your local Wildlife Trust who may be prepared to get involved.

see http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/index.php?se...ion=localtrusts

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/index.php?se...rine:difference


Tight Lines - leon

[ 25. December 2004, 01:13 PM: Message edited by: Leon Roskilly ]

Leon, I'd suggest that the fishing industry methods are ultimately detroying their own livelihoods by efficient depredation, aided and abetted by politicians who seem to be terrified of taking the hard decisions.

For those reasons, the SACN deserves support rather than condemnation.

If you want to destroy an industry and the jobs and community that depend upon that, you need a lot more to go on than fishermens tales [Frown]"

we already have a lot more to go on than a fishermans tale. The scientific eveidence is clear Leon, it says this species is about extinct, continue as we are now and cod will be no more.

Leon I see it as saving an industry or industries. Why should the trawlers be allowed to ruin the livlihoods of charter skippers, small coble owners who employ sustainable methods, tackle shop owners and anyone else who makes a living dependent on fish stocks.

The ancillary industries of commercial fishing will survive, Im sure there are stats available showing how these industries are already more dependent on imported fish than that caught and landed in this country.

hi guys happy christmas frosty re pair trawlers
there are a couple of things i would like to point out on this one,first pair trawling for cod kills dolphins-i very much doubt that as cod in the uk waters are caught with demersal trawls,they are heavey nets that skim the seafloor,at the most they will catch fish less than 10 meters off the seabed.when they haul the gear the net closes thus stops fish getting out and getting in.Pelagic nets on the other hand do
kill dolphins,the bigger class of pelagic trawlers net will have a diameter of upto 1500mt,a single diamond mesh at the mouth will be 35 40 meters,the idea is they herd the shoals in gettng tighter and tighter till the time they want to get out the mesh size is to small thus holding them in,with what ever else swims/feeds with them.i know what is caught in these nets as i used to work on these boats.in the north there is not as big a problem as the sw channel area.
:mad:

Hiya,

Winter you are forgetting one thing: the scientists are lier's, they don't nave a clue what's going on out at sea, only the commercial fishermen know the true story.

Lol.

Yes Davey there are loads of fish. i wish the commercials would tell me where they are though as I keep blanking.

A lot of anglers just think that because they blank a commercial fisherman must have taken all thier fish. The reasons a lot of anglers dont catch fish isnt because theres no fish.
Iv fished spots close to my home next to 10 anglers catsting 5oz leads to the horizon with 30lb line moaning about the ruddy gill netters. Ive come along with my carp rod 8lb line and banged four fish out in half hour.Its knowing how where, when and what bait that will help.

noy sugesting this is why any one on hear blanks,
i blanked the day before yesterday.