Compromise

[Ian Burrett]

I would like to ask members of the forum what compromise they are prepared to make for the benefit of their sport.

 

If I were a big wheel in RSA circles I would want to back the Cod Crusaders to the hilt. I would also encourage all UK commercials to do the same.

 

Clearly, withdrawing from the CFP and managing our own fishery would be beneficial to all. And RSA should have a say in the management.

 

My impression is that there are a few on this forum that believe the politicians are on the side of RSA. However, I think that there are even more, like myself, who are sceptical.

JB

 

Hi John

 

Sorry if you felt i hadn't answered your question.

 

You state Clearly, withdrawing from the CFP and managing our own fishery would be beneficial to all I would be interested to know Why?

 

Although it's only my personal opinion. but because the state of the seas I think the situation needs tackling on a continental if not worldwide scale and i don't think either backing the Cod Crusaders or calls to withdraw from the cfp would help in anyway.

 

Your sceptism regards polititians may be unfounded. I have been to surgeries with both of my MP's. (we have 2 in Scotland MP's and MSP's) Both are clued up and have become actively involved in lobbying their ministers on RSA issues.

 

Policians in rural coastal areas are aware of the fantastic job opportunities and income that sea angling can generate. My main regret is not enough people bother contacting their MP to find their opinions. I suspect many would be suprised at the reaction. The more politicians we can get on board, the quicker RSA proposals will happen.

 

As for the compromises anglers will probably end up agreeing to, I suspect many area will have bag limits similar to Florida Keys and other places round the world that have got their acts together. These limits are changed on a regular basis depending on stock levels

Edited November 28, 2005 by Ian Burrett

[Steve Coppolo]

May I ask you to indulge me by re–reading my first post and giving your opinions on the possible political advantage to anglers of supporting the cod crusaders.

 

Hello John and Michele

In my opinion it'll never happen. Firstly, I can't see any political advantage to be gained for anglers by backing the Cod crusaders. Second, it is obvious that the commercial sector have never been, and still aren't, the slightest bit interested in anglers needs. It would be seen by those in positions of power that the Cod crusaders were just trying to jump on the back of the huge number of sea anglers out there to add weight to their own campaign. I know they already have a petition with 250,000 names on it, and well done to them for achieving that, but there is a difference in their agenda and that of 2 million sea anglers. In an ideal world it might do some good, but sea angling organisations have had to work too hard for too long for some sort of recognition to start worrying about fighting someone elses campaign too.

[JB]

Hi John

 

Sorry if you felt i hadn't answered your question.

 

You state Clearly, withdrawing from the CFP and managing our own fishery would be beneficial to all I would be interested to know Why?

 

Although it's only my personal opinion. but because the state of the seas I think the situation needs tackling on a continental if not worldwide scale and i don't think either backing the Cod Crusaders or calls to withdraw from the cfp would help in anyway.

 

Your sceptism regards polititians may be unfounded. I have been to surgeries with both of my MP's. (we have 2 in Scotland MP's and MSP's) Both are clued up and have become actively involved in lobbying their ministers on RSA issues.

 

Policians in rural coastal areas are aware of the fantastic job opportunities and income that sea angling can generate. My main regret is not enough people bother contacting their MP to find their opinions. I suspect many would be suprised at the reaction. The more politicians we can get on board, the quicker RSA proposals will happen.

 

As for the compromises anglers will probably end up agreeing to, I suspect many area will have bag limits similar to Florida Keys and other places round the world that have got their acts together. These limits are changed on a regular basis depending on stock levels

 

 

Hi Ian,

You are correct; I did state “clearly, withdrawing from the CFP and managing our own fishery would be beneficial to all”. On reflection, maybe I should not have included it in the post as it has clouded the issue. I apologise.

 

You asked for my opinion as to why I said this. It seems that since we joined the CFP, fish stock management has consisted of one long debate as to which member country gets the greatest advantage out of it, instead of correctly treating it as a natural resource that should be managed properly. I don’t see this attitude changing. As fish seem more important to most of our EU partners than it does to our government, we will always lose out - and that will impact on RSA as well. It is difficult to say whether it would make any difference in the Channel, as there is no great distance between countries. In the North Sea the dividing line should be the oil line. This would give northern England and east Scotland a similar exclusive zone to southern Norway. We should take a leaf out of their book, as they manage their fishery so much better than any of the EU countries.

 

As for my scepticism regarding politicians, for the sake of fish stocks I hope I am wrong, and that leopards can change their spots. However, I definitely agree that all concerned anglers should regularly write to their politicians.

 

JB

[Toerag]

One thing to add - even if we withdraw from the CFP, that would not stop French & Belgian vessels coming in as close as the 6 mile limit. This is due to the 1951 treaty negotiated many years ago with no 'get out clause', ie. unless another treaty is made it cannot be rescinded. More info in here:-

http://www.edd.gov.je/site.asp?NavID=286&S...geID=558&bhcp=1

[JB]

The type of dislike and/or distrust of commercial fisherman exhibited by some members on this forum seems illogical to me. I could perfectly understand a rational dislike or distrust based on logical thinking, but, judging by some of the posts, this hostility towards commercial fishermen seems to be emotional. It’s as if some posters dislike everything commercials do, on principle, and consider them totally stupid and untrustworthy. The idea of working together with commercials appears to be almost repulsive to some on this forum. Yet it would appear that many posters feel politicians are trustworthy and have the anglers’ interests at heart.

 

If two people, one an angler and the other a commercial fisherman, were to go to a political surgery and individually see a politician, that politician would tell each of them exactly what they wanted to hear. That is his job - to encourage you to vote for him. However, when he has to vote in Parliament between conservation of fish stocks or a trade off, 99% of the time he would vote the way the whips told him to. Most politicians are ambitious, that’s why they are in the job. If they want to get anywhere in politics, they toe the party line. Rebels never get anywhere.

 

I have observed that the forum members who have had some experience of commercial fishing are far less scathing. I have done both jobs – commercial and chartering – and I also enjoy angling. If it came to a choice between trusting a commercial fisherman and a politician I know which I would choose. Every single time.

 

JB

Edited December 1, 2005 by John and Michele

[Brian Carragher]

John and Michelle

 

Hi John

 

Quick question for you

 

Have you ever met a commercial fisherman involved in politics?

[JB]

John and Michelle

 

Hi John

 

Quick question for you

 

Have you ever met a commercial fisherman involved in politics?

 

No, Brian, I haven't - well, no-one I can bring to mind.

John

[Guest binatone]

John and Michelle

 

Hi John

 

Quick question for you

 

Have you ever met a commercial fisherman involved in politics?

Hi brain depends what you mean by involved in politics?

Do you mean politically active as in being a member of a political party? Or just going to the poling station to vote?

The cod war like the miners strike brought a lot of political awareness to the fishing community, the same way as it brought awareness to the mining communities and them that get involved within them community’s.

Great proportions of fishermen that I have worked with have been politically aware and have a good understanding of politics, regardless of what ever party they favour.

Looking back to my teens I was an active and fully paid up member of the young socialist, have attended many political rallies’s and even stood on a picket line.

But knot for long as I was chased of by a large amount of very menacing riot police.

I would not say that all commercials have been as political as me over the years, but I have not met many that I would class as politically ignorant.

If that’s any help brain

[Jaffa]

Any of you read the wonderful (IMHO) history book "Living the Fishing" by Paul Thompson, Tony Wailey and Trevor Lummis ? It looks at the different ports, from Shetland down to East Anglia, and tries to work out why they went they way they did. A lot of politics in there; maybe few fishermen who end up politicians (spending most your life at sea is a wee bit of a handicap i guess! ) but according to that book many of them have always been political. Its certainly my experience; though i have never noticed a party political thread to it.

 

John Goodlad of Shetland is a pretty political animal, and a damn sight more farsighted than most people i have ever encountered. He had the true motives of the green movement sussed, and the meaning of the end of fishing, a decade before many understood.

 

I'd be happy to send "Living the fishing" on to anyone i trusted to pass it on again.

 

Chris.

[dale]

why do i dislike commercial people.

 

controlled by GPS so they fish 15 days a month... easy just disconnect it then work all month.

 

when sunday was banned just ignore it!

 

trawl so far up the beach get stuch as the tide has receded further than you think.

 

land your full quota of fish. then be seen back at a small harbour loading fish into unmarked vans! sell direct to hotels for cash only!

 

worst of all. haul in 1000's of codling(& other species) 1-2lbs and dump them a few hours later because you have heard the market price has bottomed out. then go and target more codling hoping to get bigger ones where the price is better.