North Wales and North west tope byelaw

[Ian Burrett]

SOS has been asked by Gethyn Owen to make anglers aware of the following

 

Over recent months I have been in contact with Mr Martyn Boyce, The Principal Fisheries Officer with the North West and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee regarding a proposal for a new Byelaw to prohibit the retention of tope in the NW&NWSFC jurisdiction. Where as not currently commercially fished for, this Byelaw will effectively stop any potential commercial fishing for tope in the future.

 

 

 

Mr Boyce has confirmed to me that tope stocks have been a topic of general discussion within the North West and North Wales district, however following on from my formal request will now take on an official agenda topic during their next meeting on 19th of this month, May.

 

Mr Boyce has asked local Fishery Officers to canvass opinions from local anglers regarding this issue, to help form part of a report to the committee for the 19th May meeting.

 

 

 

It was reported in the angling press only last year that some commercial anglers on the South East English coast have been exploring the possibility of commercially fishing for tope. Tope is our largest most plentiful sporting fish, and its protection must be guaranteed if we are to safeguard our fishery here on the North West coast for the future.

 

I urge that all NorthWest Angler readers write to Mr Boyce, detailing their support for such a byelaw. The address to write to is

 

Principal Fisheries Officer

 

Mr Martin Boyce

 

North Western & North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee

 

Lancaster University

 

Bailrigg

 

Lancaster

 

LA14YY

 

 

 

Alternatively an already prepared letter can be downloaded and printed from my website at www.goangling.co.uk/topebyelaw.htm

Edited March 15, 2006 by Ian Burrett

[Brian Carragher]

The way things are going Ian it could well be that tope become Englands first officially recognised sport fish

[Ian Burrett]

The way things are going Ian it could well be that tope become Englands first officially recognised sport fish

 

Fingers crossed Brian

[Snatcher]

Will write off a letter Ian. Cannot have the tope becoming extinct before I catch and release one