Scottish RSA irrelevant - official line

[seaside]

Just to move on, The SFSA and Scottish SACN would like to develop a clear list of what actions anglers would like to see taken to benefit sea angling in Scotland. The idea is simple, practical bullet points which can be easily communicated to politicians, journalists etc.

 

As this is specifically for Scottish RSA, but all are welcome to contribute, this discussion is on the SFSAs forum at http://www.fishscotland.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=173

[Ian Burrett]

Just to move on, The SFSA and Scottish SACN would like to develop a clear list of what actions anglers would like to see taken to benefit sea angling in Scotland. The idea is simple, practical bullet points which can be easily communicated to politicians, journalists etc.

 

As this is specifically for Scottish RSA, but all are welcome to contribute, this discussion is on the SFSAs forum at http://www.fishscotland.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=173

 

Can i stress these are just a few ideas we are banding about. If and when, we get the ear of the government we need to be ready with a list of proposals the RSA would like implemented

 

These are some of the ideas up for discussion and that is all it is at the moment.

 

*Special protection for the West coast Scottish lochs allowing creel fishing and angling only,

 

* The same protection for the Firth of Lorne and Sound of Mull and any other recovering Skate area.

 

* To have all finned sharks designated as recreational fish only and making it illegal to kill one in Scottish waters.

 

* Closed seasons on Rays and Spurdogs during breeding times.

 

* Increasing the MLS on Rays and Spurdog

 

* powers made available to have localised take home limits on angling hotspots like the south west Scotland Pollack

 

* Implementing the Bass management plan

 

* Ban on clam dredging to within a set distance from shore. One SFC in England have banned them to within 6 miles off the shore

 

We have some very special angling experiences in Scotland and we need to keep hold of them. I am sure there will be many many more issues to be discussed. Please get involved by answering on the link on the fishscotland forum

[glennk]

I have written seperate letters to both Andrew Arbuckle and Ross finnie. Ill let you know if I get a reply.

[Ian Burrett]

I have written seperate letters to both Andrew Arbuckle and Ross finnie. Ill let you know if I get a reply.

Thanks for your support.

[glennk]

Finally got a reply.

 

 

Dear Mr Kilpatrick

 

Thank you for your email of 30 May 2006 to the Minister for Environment and Rural Development, Ross Finnie, about recreational sea angling in Scotland. I have been asked to reply on his behalf.

 

Mr Finnie has noted your concerns about the recreational sea angling sector, and would like to reassure you that VisitScotland and Scottish Ministers recognise its importance and are continuing to work to promote and develop sea angling in Scotland. Although information on how much revenue recreational sea angling contributes to the Scottish economy is not collected centrally, we do know that on average, 50,000 UK visitors to Scotland took part in sea angling each year over the last five years, representing just under 1% of all UK visits. VisitScotland therefore has a section dedicated to sea angling on its website along with two pages about the sport in its Fishing in Scotland brochure. VisitScotland also sits on and part-funds the Angling Development Tourism Group which has been instrumental in the development of the FishScotland webpage. In addition, the development team at VisitScotland contributes towards the funding of the Country Sports Tourism Group which is looking at a number of projects to further develop angling in Scotland. VisitScotland is therefore content that its work is maximising the potential of sea angling to Scotland’s tourism economy, which is why, as Mr Finnie had said, there are no plans for further sector development at this time.

 

Sportscotland, the national agency for sport, also clearly recognises that sea angling is a popular recreational activity in Scotland, and has recently given £12,500 funding to the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers. For further information on this funding, you may wish to contact sportscotland at Caledonia House, South Gyle, Edinburgh, EH12 9DQ, telephone 0131 317 7200.

 

You will be pleased to hear that John Brown, head of the tourism division within the Scottish Executive, has agreed to meet with some of the key representatives of RSA, to allow for further discussion and clarification of the issues you raise.

 

I hope this is helpful.

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

PENNY GEORGE

Tourism Unit

[seaside]

Finally got a reply.

Dear Mr Kilpatrick

 

Thank you for your email of 30 May 2006 to the Minister for Environment and Rural Development, Ross Finnie, about recreational sea angling in Scotland. I have been asked to reply on his behalf.

 

Mr Finnie has noted your concerns about the recreational sea angling sector, and would like to reassure you that VisitScotland and Scottish Ministers recognise its importance and are continuing to work to promote and develop sea angling in Scotland. Although information on how much revenue recreational sea angling contributes to the Scottish economy is not collected centrally, we do know that on average, 50,000 UK visitors to Scotland took part in sea angling each year over the last five years, representing just under 1% of all UK visits. VisitScotland therefore has a section dedicated to sea angling on its website along with two pages about the sport in its Fishing in Scotland brochure. VisitScotland also sits on and part-funds the Angling Development Tourism Group which has been instrumental in the development of the FishScotland webpage. In addition, the development team at VisitScotland contributes towards the funding of the Country Sports Tourism Group which is looking at a number of projects to further develop angling in Scotland. VisitScotland is therefore content that its work is maximising the potential of sea angling to Scotland’s tourism economy, which is why, as Mr Finnie had said, there are no plans for further sector development at this time.

 

Sportscotland, the national agency for sport, also clearly recognises that sea angling is a popular recreational activity in Scotland, and has recently given £12,500 funding to the Scottish Federation of Sea Anglers. For further information on this funding, you may wish to contact sportscotland at Caledonia House, South Gyle, Edinburgh, EH12 9DQ, telephone 0131 317 7200.

 

You will be pleased to hear that John Brown, head of the tourism division within the Scottish Executive, has agreed to meet with some of the key representatives of RSA, to allow for further discussion and clarification of the issues you raise.

 

I hope this is helpful.

 

Yours sincerely

PENNY GEORGE

Tourism Unit

 

The responses have really started to come flooding in, most are in the same vein as the one you got Glen and I've got to say he just doesn't get it - trying to fob RSA off to tourism rather than upset his pals. What makes it even more irksome is that it was he who said that the tourist guys didn't think we were worth considering. You can be sure that the pressure will be kept on.

 

Have a look at this months Sea Angler P16 - pretty good write up of the situation.

 

BTW, he's in deep doo doo because of another of his pals,

 

Quote "ROSS Finnie, the Scottish environment minister, was at the centre of a conflict-of-interest row last night after it emerged that he is close friends with the head of a shipbuilding company that has benefited from key decisions he has made." Unquote - regarding cancelling the contract for a Fisheries Protection Vessel that should have gone to an English yard.

 

see http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=884132006

[Davy Holt]

Hiya,

 

got this in from Des McNulty, my local MSP today

 

Dear Des,

 

Thank you for your letter of 9 may regarding recreational sea angling (RSA).

 

Please do assure your constituent that I am keenly aware of sea anglers great enthusiasm for their sport and their understandable wish to see RSA develop and thrive. Officials from a range of Scottish Executive policy areas, Tourism, Sports, Enterprise and Fisheries are working to identify the best way forward for RSA in Scotland and I’m aware that, amongst other things, plans are being drawn up for a meeting between officials and key RSA representatives. I look forward with interest to the outcomes of that meeting.

 

Whilst the Scottish Executive’s Strategic Framework for Inshore Fisheries is concerned primarily with commercial, not recreational sea fisheries, I believe that the framework offers significant opportunities for sea angling interests to contribute to the development and management of our inshore fisheries. Guided throughout by key overarching objectives, biological, environmental, economic, social, improved governance, the framework delegates at the heart of the decision making process. The framework establishes twelve Inshore Fisheries groups (IFGs) around the coast, tasked with the development of fisheries management plans for their perspective areas. Given the commercial emphasis of the Strategy, an IFG’s Executive Committee comprises exclusively of commercial fishing representatives. Please be reassured though that the work of the Executive Committees must take place in liaison and dialog with expert advisors and with the wider local stakeholder community. Indeed, to create robust and well supported management plans, it is vitally important to secure input from all relevant interests, which would of course include the local RSA sector. This is recognised by all those involved in the process and there is a high expectation that management plans will take account of, and could very well enhance, local sea angling interests.

 

Of course, as with all Scottish Executive fisheries policy, the framework is committed absolutely to developing fisheries that are both sustainable and commercially viable. Indeed, I would dispute your constituents suggestion that Scotland’s inshore commercial sector is guilty of over exploitation. The industry is quite rightly strictly regulated and, whilst not suggesting that there is no further room for improvement, the major part of the industry is clear that the long term viability of fishing and the communities that it supports depends on the coherent, environmentally responsible, strategically minded and very careful management.

 

Ross Finnie

[Norrie]

"Indeed, I would dispute your constituents suggestion that Scotland’s inshore commercial sector is guilty of over exploitation."

 

Does this guy live on another planet ???????

[seaside]

"Indeed, I would dispute your constituents suggestion that Scotland’s inshore commercial sector is guilty of over exploitation."

 

Does this guy live on another planet ???????

 

Of course - particularily as the investigations which were instigated into overfishing of mackerel saw the North East fleet called back to port in January and the fishery closed.

[seaside]

Update on the lobbying effort across all forums

 

Emails / Letters to MSPs -- was 54 line-- now 68

 

Letters direct to Finnie -- was 08 line-- now 15

 

MSP letters to Finnie -- was 10 line-- now 18

 

Plus articles in Press and Journal, Western Daily Press and Sea Angler.

 

Plus terrific supporting letters from Penn.

 

Plus questions tabled at Holyrood.

 

See Ian Burretts' thread --- the SFSA and SACN have been invited to meet with The Head of Inshore Fisheries and the Head of Tourism to discuss our aims. This is no doubt as a result of all the mails, letters etc that you and your MSPs have generated line thanks to all that have contributed.

 

OK, probably not earth shattering, but it is a step forward and we'll keep plugging away raising the issues and trying to get some results.

 

But we need support, so if YOU haven't had a go, you're not too late, join in and get your voice heard.!!

 

You can find your MSPs email / snailmail details at

 

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/

 

Support contributions from outside Scotland line-- was 09 -- now 10

 

For those outwith Scotland line if you fish up here, help us try and get a direct voice to help preserve the great fishing you come for, plenty of good ideas in the thread for content, contact Mr Finnie direct

 

Ross.Finnie.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

 

Please update this thread with any contact details