Scottish RSA irrelevant - official line

[Ian Burrett]

ian,

i will write to John scott.

 

Thanks Dale

 

Which constituency is that

[Ian Burrett]

Nigel Proctor has given me premission to air his excellent letter addressed to Mr Finnie. I have posted it in the hope it will give anglers ideas for formulating their own letter

 

From Nigel Proctor MIBiol CBiol

 

To Mr Ross Finnie MSP

Minister for Environment & Rural Development

Pentland House

47 Robb’s Loan

Edinburgh

EH14 1TY

 

 

 

4th May 2006

Dear Sir

 

It is in complete and utter stupefaction that I find myself writing to you in relation to your ignorance of the socio-economic benefits of Recreational Sea Angling (RSA) in Scotland. Recent comments attributed to you highlight your total ambivalence towards this sector and gives further credence to the notion held within the recreational sector and some segments of the tourism industry within Scotland, of your obvious bias towards maintaining the dominance of commercial exploiters at any cost. I find some of your comments offensive to say the least and they illustrate how such ideals held by a Minister of the State, however, ill informed he may be, perpetuate the notion that Scotland (in terms of its wealth, environment, biological and mineral resources) is being managed for the benefit of just a few.

 

You will note that I do not dwell in Scotland, nor am I a native, however, I do visit on a regular basis, and spent the Easter holidays this year in Scotland visiting family (in laws, sister’s in law and their families, etc.). I have been visiting my extended family, north of the border for the last 16 years on a multi-annual basis and spend over 15 days a year in Scotland visiting the aforementioned family throughout Dumfries and Galloway, Ayrshire, Inverclyde, Argyll and Stirlingshire, I also have occasion to visit Scotland on business each year. During this period I may spend as many as 10 days a year angling, mainly sea fishing but occasionally fly fishing. Whilst, the major part of my angling time is spent reasonably close to family homes, three or four days each year are spent further afield, which necessitates additional accommodation for my son and I. In addition to the family and fishing exploits, I also go diving in Scotland, predominantly around Mull and Skye, but also on the south west coast around Port Logan and on the east coast at St Abbs and Eyemouth, this has extended to over 10 days in the last three years. I therefore, consider that we as a family are net contributors to the economy of Scotland, especially the coastal regions where it is needed most.

 

You recently stated that “the inclusion of smaller sectors like RSA is inappropriate” (and by implication of low value (economically and socially)), could you please provide details of the report from which you make such a reference, I am unaware of any economic evaluation of RSA in Scotland, and obviously as a Minister of the Scottish parliament, you would not be given to making rash statements without the actual knowledge to which you refer. After all such a statement claiming that a particular sector was inconsequential without clear evidence that this was actually the case, would be extremely inappropriate for a Minister of the Scottish Assembly.

 

You state that the Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy (AGMACS) is comprised of a wide range of statutory and expert bodies, that the group are committed to improving the management of Scotland’s coastal and marine environment, including work on ICZM and MSP. You further declare that such management through strategic development will impact all those who utilise the coastal and inshore waters, although RSA in Scotland is of such low benefit that it does not require any further significant consideration. You indicate that the tourist board can account for such a low yield sector if the need arises, I would like to know on what basis VisitScotland are to represent sea angling business and anglers in general, what experience have they of the RSA sector? Perhaps given their knowledge of fishing, angling and the marine environment they could also represent the commercial sector as well.

 

In addition, why do you consider that the management of fish resources for single sector exploitation will not impact on RSA and even if it does, it is of no consequence? Is this a position you have discussed with those employed within the recreational sector in Scotland (tackle shop owners and staff, charter boat operators, International tackle retailers (Penn), Chandlers and specialist holiday companies)?

 

Can anglers in Scotland and their representative bodies (SFSA) expect to be included as a consultee when the Scottish Executive consults on the provision of coastal and marine national parks (CMNP)?

 

You state that the Executive’s Strategic Framework for Inshore Fisheries offers excellent opportunities, but by inference, the strategies overall concern is to ensure commercial fisheries take precedent over all other stakeholders. Can you therefore explain to me what these excellent opportunities are?

 

Finally, it is with dismay that I read the national tourist board, VisitScotland, do not consider angling and anglers to be of significant enough benefit to require further development to both enhance existing and encourage new growth within the sector. These then, are the people who you encourage to represent sea angling interests on the AGMACS, CMNP & IFGs.

 

My friends who go angling in Scotland on a more frequent basis than I and the wider angling public in general will be pleased to learn that they are not considered to be of high enough importance to warrant consideration. That they can expect no improvement of facilities, and that it is not worth travelling to Scotland to go fishing anymore, because the tourist board are not interested, but more importantly the Scottish Assembly no longer consider them as a valuable contributor to the Scottish economy, all that counts is more fish for commercial exploitation. What they can expect is further deterioration of facilities, fish availability and an overall poor experience.

 

I have no problem whatsoever with the commercial sector, they have a hard job to do under extremely difficult circumstances, however, for a minister to ignore all other stakeholders in order to maintain a declining and still over-capacity sector, borders on incompetence.

 

For what it is worth, and obviously not a lot according to you, I will not be taking any further holidays in Scotland (fishing or diving) other than short family visits, I would expect forward thinking from someone in your position, clearly that is something you have no capacity to do.

 

I await your response to my queries with anticipation.

__________________

 

 

And also a thank you to Mike Heylin from the Specialised Anglers Alliance

 

To

Mr Ross Finnie MSP

> Minister for Environment & Rural Development Pentland House

> 47 Robb's Loan

> Edinburgh

> EH14 1TY

>

> 5th May 2006

>

> Dear Mr Finnie

>

> We have recently been shown correspondence from you to an MSP who

> represents one of our members. In it you refer to the Strategic

> Framework for Inshore Fisheries and stress that the primary concern of

> the Strategy is commercial.

>

> It is right that commercial fishing interests should be represented in

> the development of inshore fisheries but it is also important that you

> understand that these fisheries are a commonly held resource with many

> stakeholders, not all of them commercial.

>

> If the management of Scotland's fisheries is to be left to the hands

> of commercial interests only then the future for those fisheries is

> poor indeed.

> I refer you to The End of The Line by Charles Clover, published by

> Ebury Press, ISBN 0-09-189780-7. You will see in there that around

> the world commonly held assets are reduced to below sustainability by

> the exploiters of those resources unless adequate controls and checks

> are put in place by non-commercial involvement in the development of

> management strategies.

>

> RSA is a legitimate stakeholder in the stocks available in our inshore

> waters and this fact is recognised in both Wales and England by their

> respective Governments. Is it only in Scotland that RSA has no claim

> to representation and input?

>

> We suggest that you talk with your colleagues in Defra Fish 2 and in

> the Welsh Assembly about the economic contribution RSA can make to

> local coastal communities with considerably less impact on overall

> fish stocks and with greater economic inputs than can be achieved by

> commercial exploitation only.

>

> An early statement from you that in future RSA will be consulted and

> included in the strategic development of Scotland's inshore fisheries

> would be most welcome.

>

> Yours sincerely

>

> Michael Heylin

> Secretary

Edited May 5, 2006 by Ian Burrett

[wurzel]

What I would like to know, is what commercial interference Nigel has experienced during his 10 days a year fishing in Scotland?

[blindog]

E-Mail sent to Richard Lochhead MSP for Moray

[Ian Burrett]

E-Mail sent to Richard Lochhead MSP for Moray

 

Thanks Blindog

[spanner]

Letter to Mike Rumbles, West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine.

[stavey]

hi ian, maybe if" and when" the commercial industry shrinks to the size of the rest of the uk like here in england they just might look more favourably at or on the rsa sector? i dunno mate but we will send a few email's to ruffle a few feathers if nothing else, whether they will take any notice of a sassanack (sorry for spelling) or not though is a different matter? cheers.............

[The doctor]

whether they will take any notice of a sassanack (sorry for spelling) or not though is a different matter? cheers.............

 

I might be wrong, but wasn't the original term sassanach applied to the lowland Scots, I remember it was a derogatory term used by the highlanders against the lowlanders during the times of William Wallace. I guess as integration in those parts proceeded apace, it became a term to describe anyone other than the highlanders and ultimately the English, as Scottish nationality surged to the fore again.

 

Wurzel;

 

for goodness sake. calm down, calm down alreet la.

 

I indicated no physical interferance from the commercial sector. The letter is solely directed at Ross Finnie and his complete and utter disregard for the social and economic importance of other stakeholders, in this case RSA. I state my concern for the commercial sector and their obvious plight, I appreciate that they have taken a bit hit in recent years, compared to other European nations, however, if we are to maintain recovery at a faster rate (over the next 4 or 5 yrs), as opposed to a trickle feed that may well peter out at present exploitation levels, finnie's present stance of all or nothing will impact not just the commercial sector.

 

I think you will find that together the commercial and recreational sectors would be quite vociferous allies against the continued maintenance (and in some cases expansion) of the european fleets. Unfortunately, bigots like Finnie, do nothing to bring the two sectors together to enable a united front against european expansion and dominance of fish stocks.

 

By maintaining the present status quo, he has widened the rift between the two sectors, not because they cannot get along or are unable to sit down at the table to discuss regional or national issues that affect both parties, but because he has increased the level of suspicion and accusations (from some in RSA) of profiteering. Closed shops never work, those on the outside don't trust those on the inside, and those on the inside are constantly worried about what those on the outside are doing. Trust built on open dialogue can be the only way forward, to belittle a sector, and work to suppress their value will in the longer term have a significant impact on some coastal communities that at certain times of the year may be heavily dependant on that activity.

 

What is he so afraid of; a few anglers sitting on committees dominated by commercial interests are never going to bring down the industry, unless of course those committees are riddled with malpractice.

 

Cheers

 

 

Doc.

[glennk]

Nigel does right exceedingly good letters though. Just like a literal Mr Kipling.

[glennk]

Just deviating slightly.

 

In June a large amount of Anglers from across the UK will decend on Scotland for the annual Fife Open. A lot of lads from the north east (me included baby sitter permitting) will be going up for the weekend. This will entail 2 nights B&B and quite a bit of cash going into the local community out of our pockets. I understand Scotland is also home to the UK's largest junior fishing competition again with entratnt from across the UK. People fromfar and wide visit Scotland for fishing holidays. To say RSA is irrelevent is quite absurd