Ian Burrett

Deffo snatcher Give me a ring

Hi Norrie They are thinning out but we are still picking up fish every day about 400 yards of the shore. When are you considering coming down?

Drivings old hat. everybody is doing it these days. Except me that is Ther's still some nice tope about BTW

I would just leave it as Anti Representataive Sea Anglers or ARSE for short, becuase it my opinion that's what most of the antis are talking out off.

Hi fishings fine I agree with you; to do nothing isn't an option, We are going to end up with bag limits on some species, licenses etc. anyway without anything back in return. if some on here have their say. If those who don't approve of what the NFSA, SACN, SOS are trying to do, and really want to stop these things happening, then they had better get them selves organised and quickly before it is to late. The article in the Independent may be just hot air but more worrying is the labour loony left that will emerge if Gordon Brown becomes PM This article appeared in the papers a few months ago How soon before fishing is banned, too? Last week, Margaret Beckett appeared on radio and made a statement that has, thanks to Jowellgate, gone unreported - until now. To millions of British fishermen and thousands of shooting enthusiasts, however, it comes as the latest signal that the government is far from ready to let their sports continue unchecked. 'Many Labour opinion-formers, particularly those favoured by Gordon Brown, saw foxhunting as the first step. There are ongoing private discussions about how to stop the fishing and shooting,' says a lobby source. 'They're terrified, though, of losing four million fishermen's votes in one fell swoop, so are proceeding with great caution.' All, it seems, apart from Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for the Environment, who is directly in charge of countryside (and country sports) policies. When she appeared on the Today programme, she announced, unchecked: 'When we get rid of all the other blood sports, there will still be the House of Commons.' A Defra spokesman is quick off the mark with damage-limitation. 'It was just a figure of speech,' I am told. 'Fishing is a very popular sport.' This has done little to allay the fears of those who take it very seriously, such as Jonathan Young, editor of the Field, who counters: 'Whatever the context, for the countryside's top minister to talk about Labour "getting rid of all other blood sports" reveals an attitude that will worry millions.' Meanwhile, my lobby source adds: 'We fear that Beckett's off-the-cuff remark is a true representation of her government's intent, waiting to manifest itself as policy once Brown takes over from Blair.' Perhaps it needs a threat to RSA on this scale to unite anglers

The tope consultation date has now passed and we face a long wait for the outcome. Many thanks to all those that responded. Lets hope we have done enough

I can't imagine Ben Bradshaw or Trevor Hutchins from defra are members, so views expressed make no difference whats so ever. As Leon has said many times If you have a RSA problem then tell defra about it.

Defra have asked Cefas to prepare a scientific case for introducing a maximum landing size and on long-term management needs for these species. For full details http://www.save-our-sharks.org/e107_plugin...topic.php?662.0 SPURDOG The primary objective of a maximum length limit (MLL) would be to deter directed fisheries targeting aggregations of mature females. 3. Spurdog are a long-lived, slow growing dogfish shark occurring on the continental shelf. They have a low fecundity (2–21 pups per litter) and protracted gestation period (~ 2 years). They are known to aggregate by sex and size, and directed fisheries such as those off south-western Ireland and in the Irish Sea have targeted aggregations of mature and gravid females. 4. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) list spurdog as vulnerable globally, with North-east and North-west Atlantic stocks listed as critically endangered and endangered, respectively. Objective and scientific rationale for a maximum length limit Demographic studies on elasmobranches indicate that low fishing mortality on mature females will most benefit population growth rates. Hence, measures that afford protection to mature females may be an important element of a management plan for the species. For many elasmobranches, females attain a larger size than males, and larger females are more fecund. Reducing fishing mortality on the mature female component of the stock is considered an appropriate goal for arresting further declines in the short-term, and allowing the stock to recover in the medium- to long-term.

Hi Wurzel I thought of you today. I had a farmer out fishing with me and he said "For every farmer there are 10 xxxxxxx Defra officials" I thought I have heard that story somewhere before

Hi Scotty It's open to anybody. Contact Ken Collins at http://www.ukshark.co.uk

Sorry to keep pestering but this is the last chance to respond to the tope consultation See http://www.save-our-sharks.org

A bit of super glue and the engine should be up and running The credit for the site goes to Elton and his colleague Julian and to SACN member Simon Bennett who has updated the site and will maintain it..

The SACN has shown huge growth in recent years and to reflect this, the home countries have developed their own sites. Latest on line is http://www.sacnscotland.co.uk There's not much content on their yet but I am sure the sight will grow quickly to show the development of RSA in Scotland

Apparently the SWSFC was in favor of the 45 cm limit and the chief officer had no idea where the decision came from

Hi Glen I have been talking with a skipper recently who shall be nameless. He spoke out for the tope consultation in his local newspaper. The commercials changed the locks for the co-operative diesel and car park he had been using for years, whilst he was away on holiday. I have had to steam off with anchor and fishing lines down when a dredger came straight at my boat. It's all bully boy tactics.

--> QUOTE(Norm B @ Oct 11 2006, 09:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Can't access it, not a member. Bass Minimum Landing Size Standardisation The minimum landing size (MLS) for sea bass is to be standardised in Welsh waters out to 12 nautical miles at 37.5cm, with a minimum mesh size (MMS) of 100mm, Carwyn Jones, Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside announced today. These measures have been in place out to 6 nautical miles in the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee district since 1997, with a MLS of 36cm applying to the rest of Welsh Waters out to 12 nautical miles. These measures will become standard across Wales, allowing more consistent enforcement, through a Statutory Instrument which will come into force in 2007. Sea Fisheries Committees will also be encouraged to introduce limits to the number of bass individuals from non commercially-licensed fishing boats can take and land. Carwyn Jones said: “Commercial fishermen and recreational anglers have stressed that the biggest threat to bass stocks comes from the illegal sale of bass by non commercially-licensed fishing boats. That is why I am encouraging Sea Fisheries Committees to introduce limits to the number of bass non commercially-licensed fishing boats can take and land.” “This, along with the Registration of Fish Buyers and Sellers Regulations, will protect bass stocks by targeting the black sector, which, according to the Bass Anglers’ Sportfishing Society, takes at least 35% of all bass landings in Wales. These measures will, it is felt, have a greater impact on stocks than increasing the MLS in excess of 37.5cm, whilst at the same time minimising both the economic impact on the commercial sector and the level of discards of undersized fish.” The effectiveness of the measures will be kept under review with further changes made if necessary. These measures are the first in a wider package being considered by the Welsh Assembly Government in relation to sea angling. Work is currently underway with anglers, commercial fishermen and other interested parties in developing an overarching Welsh Fisheries Strategy and this will inform provisions to be considered for inclusion in the Marine Bill in relation to sea fisheries. The Minister’s decision follows a period of consultation, meetings with stakeholders and an evaluation of the evidence and the costs and benefits of the options. Notes to Editors 1. The consultation, which closed on 14 February, sought views on a number of options including an increase from 36cm to 45cm in the minimum landing size (MLS) of bass and a corresponding increase in the minimum mesh size (MMS) for fixed gear. Approximately 230 responses were received. A summary of these responses and a Regulatory Appraisal, which evaluates the costs and benefits of the proposals are available from Fisheries, Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ. 2. The Minister also met with representatives from the Bass Anglers’ Sportfishing Society; the Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers; the South West Wales Association of Sea Angling Clubs; the Welsh Federation of Fishermen’s Associations; and the South & West Wales Fishing Communities Ltd., before making a decision. 3. Evidence from the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) is that bass stocks are currently healthy and fished sustainably. 4. The new MLS and MMS will apply to English, Northern Irish, Scottish and Welsh fishing vessels when in the Welsh part of UK fishery limits. The MMS applies to all enmeshing nets (such as gill, tangle, drift, trammel and seine nets), but only to those vessels whose catches compose over 10% bass. 5. The MLS will not apply to other member states’ vessels. However, fewer than 10% of bass tagged within the UK inshore fishery and reported as recaptured were taken by other countries' vessels. This suggests that the main benefits of these measures would accrue chiefly to fisheries operating within the UK 6-mile zone. 6. The MLS will also apply to sea anglers, whether fishing from the shore or from a vessel. These measures will be implemented through a Statutory Instrument. 7. Defra conducted a parallel consultation in relation to the English territorial sea and announced, on 10th August, that they will be introducing a 40cm MLS and a 100mm MMS. 8. The overarching Welsh Fisheries Strategy which is being developed may include elements such as management of key stocks of interest to anglers, improving access, controls on anglers, as well as other sea angling development opportunities. 9. The South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee (SWSFC) district covers the sea out to six nautical miles from the coast between Cemaes Head in Pembrokeshire and the Rhymney River in Cardiff, except in the Severn Estuary, where the district extends to the mid-point between Wales and England. __________________

http://www.worldseafishing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40866

http://www.bite-back.com/news/story7.htm

Although Defra preferred option is a personal responses for the tope consultation, many folks have indicated they would like to respond but don’t know where to start. With that in mind SOS has generated an online consultation response. Even if you don’t fish for tope then you could still do your bit for this endangered species (IUCN Red List) on conservation grounds This is a unique opportunity to have a say in the way are stocks are managed. Please respond before the 20th of October by looking at www.save-our-sharks.org

I tried them for tope. They probably reduced the hook up rate two to one compared with J hooks. A gut hooked tope is usaully down to bad angling practise. If you strike early J hooks are not a problem. They are also more difficult to release with a T bar at the side of the boat as the t bar pulls in the wrong place

Hi Elton Does that mean one or two regular posting names will dissapear

See http://www.sharktrust.org/content.asp?did=...06&toptab=4 There's hope yet

Hi Les Look for the fire engine

Hi Steve I did say earlier, I personally support C&R but would defend my right to take one for the pot on any species other than those that are endangered. That is a personal thing. Each species and region must be taken on its individual merits when considering any stock management. Regards the 12 mile limit defra have already said that if option 2 or 3 are successful they will take the fight to Europe As far as SOS is concerned the battle has just begun.