Seems that a new trade body has elected itself as regulators of our tackle! Perhaps you have read about it in Anglers Mail.

Initially it appears to be an excellent idea, our new nets will have to meet a standard of fish friendliness if they are to achieve a new, but unofficial kitemark.

It seems that some fisheries will only allow anglers to fish their waters provided their nets carry this unofficial kitemark. Oh, and old nets that pass muster will also be allowed, but who will judge them?

It is easy to see it as a marketing ploy to up the sales of new landing nets? Only time will tell!

Had this scheme been organised by such as the EA, NFA, the NAA or the SAA then I believe it could be seen as rather more creditable. But coming from a trade body? Not so sure.

In the first place the 'trade' was keen to sell us these nets that the 'trade' no longer sees as acceptable, in their judgement.

Is this trade body now telling us that we can only fish so and so fishery provided we have bought a new net with this new kitemark?

Its a fair arguement that someone needs to take the lead, but it is easy, for cynical suspicious buggers like me, to see it as a money grasping scheme, albeit with all the best of declared intentions.

I read that Bruno is in favour, perhaps he will come forward and present the positive case as he sees it, and shoot me down in flames!

But lets be generous, it has been done with all the very best of intentions. But lets also be careful about where we go from here. Lets just see how these admissions of unacceptable standards are seen by our enemies.

Just what comes next on this new body's hit list, and why? You can't use that, we insist that you to buy a new one, with our kitemark on it.

An undeservedly negative reaction perhaps? Or a justifiably cautious one? Do we need a trade body to force its rules upon us?

Is it a good idea, but has it been carried out as well as it might? Should we, as anglers accept this new dictatorship without comment? Should we accept it as a darn good idea, which it probably is, and throw our support behind it, without question?

One things for sure, Chesters new landing net won't make the grade!!!!!!

By the way, I am all for improving angling methods where conservation is the issue, I'm just wary about the way it has been done in this case.

[ 23. January 2003, 12:54 AM: Message edited by: Peter Waller ]

Peter
I could be wrong but I thought I read about this on the E.A. site some time ago, August or there about.

What are the odds that the "acceptable" type of mesh will be totally inappropriate for lure fishing?

Read this for more info:

http://www.total-fishing.com/News.asp?Acti...17D8666604C05FE

BTW I'm not advertising other sites, but ths is the clearaest statement I've read about the topic.

Its mostly the commercial fisheries that are bothered and they are trying to get rid of knotted or harsh nylon nets, also "ghost" nets. To be honest I couldn't tell you if my net is nylon or "ghost" but the tests that have ben done so far seem to indicate that a lot of nets out there will be ok, water-lily logo or not. I've also heard that fisheries enforcing the standard will not kick you off if you turn up with an outlawed net, but lend you one on the condition that on your next visit you have a net that complies.

As far as I understand the reason for creating this new standard is because of the dorsal fins of carp getting stuck in ghost nets and the abrasive effects of knotted nets. If anyone knows more/different lets here it as I dont think ANY of the info I've read so far gives a true definition of what nets are/aren't ok!

Paul

Paul,

Knotted mesh nets have been taboo, if not illegal since the 80's mate ;-)

From what I've seen there's no doubt in my mind that the modern standards for nets will be very fish friendly. With that said, there's a huge amount of 'pre modern standard according to the new thinking' nets that are equally fish friendly.

It's a move in the right direction, for sure, but let's not get too carried away with the logo aspect, it's the design and manufacture that's critical, not the logo it carries.

Cheers,

I also notice that most trout and salmon nets are made from knotted mesh, as are most cheapo match and "pan" nets.

None that I've seen on sale for a very long time! Where have you seen them Apache? Name and shame mate so we can avoid buying from the vendors!

Paul Holt makes the interesting point that the reason for this 'change' is because of carp getting their dorsal fins caught in the mesh.

For heavens sakes, does every thing have to revolve solely round carp fishing, especially commercial carp fisheries?

I use a pike friendly net for pike, and am quite happy that I now have a carp friendly net for my planned onslaught on Oulton Broad's carp population next summer. But to be told that my net must be suitable for carp, irrespective of other species is, well, annoying.

Tim's point is well made, especially in the light of Pauls posting. Oh well, we shall see.

The big problem with all of this is angler awareness. Its only through the fishing forums that i've heard about the net standard and i bet a lot of non-internet browsing anglers know nothing about it.

Also the tackle shops are as in the dark as we are and still selling nets that may or may not meet the standards requried at the anglers chosen fishery.

The only fisheries I am aware of enforcing the new lily-mark is the Premier Fisheries group which includes The Glebe here in Leicestershire and I think its in force as of January this year (dont hold me to that). It certainly will be when I am there in May for the Total fishing match and this is why its been discused a lot on the TF boards. Apart from Premier Fisheries I dont think many other places are enforcing it and maybe they never will. If the net change is for the welfare of carp and designed primarily to stop this species catching it's dorsal then you can imagine that maybe its only the comercials that will adopt the standard.

Its the angler who loses here though as I bought a new net recently and havent a clue whether it meets the standards and I probably wont find out until I have it checked at a fishery.

To be honest though I fish a lot of commercials and if its better for the fish then so be it but its a shame we're not better informed as there must be a lot of anglers who've bought nets that may be no good for the places they visit.

As you see Peter, we'll have to wait and see.

Wet (lily marked) Nets!

I have no idea who made them as I didnt buy one, and they were in a tackle shop in surrey somewhere. Sorry.