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This picture, taken at Slapton Sands nr Dartmouth in Devon in mid June 2008

Showing a trawler working just yards from the shore. With another two fishing a little further out.

We question the ethics of such an operation as this is surly the area in which most fish are still juvenile and the cost of landing the scallop catch will be at the expense of so many young fish and the destruction of there habitat.

While this is not illegal is it no wonder we need the much talked about golden mile.

Come on you SFC you have the power to act!!!

 

5th November 2008

Report by Bob Shotter

 

Latest info from the PBA (Professional Boatman's Association) in Weymouth is that Solicitors working on behalf of the PBA have written to the SSFC Chairman (Mr K Lynham) and the CFO (Mr Ian Carrier) asking that an amendment to the byelaw be made to allow RSA boats of grater length than the twelve meters currently permitted providing that they carry no more than twelve anglers which is the same as is allowed on smaller boats, or that they offer an alternative compromise solution.

If they do not respond then it is the intention of the PBA to push for a judicial review of byelaw 16.

 

If successful that could result in the law being revoked and thus allowing any boat of any size RSA or commercial to fish the SSF stock right up to the shore line a potential disaster.

 

I spoke to Mr Carrier during the last few days to ask if he had any comment and he was of the view that the matter had been dealt with back in January when a request to change the law was rejected by the committee.

 

I would therefore like to make a suggestion in that we make an application to have an amendment of the byelaw to bring it in line with that of Devon where the limit is 15.240mtrs and the fish stock is every bit as healthy as that in the SSFC district judging by the reports carried on this site over the last two years.

 

I have posted my views on the message board of the Deep Sea Directory web site ( http://deepsea.co.uk/forum/fishy/fishy_forum.htm ) and if it receives support then we shall make a formal approach to the committee for an amendment.

 

Update 28th November 2008

 

I have sent an official request to the SSFC to look at making a change to this bylaw to match that of DSFC

The SSFC have responded saying that the bylaw sub committee have referred the matter to the next quarterly meeting of the full SSF subject to legal consultation with there lawyers. This is a significant move and may provide some light at the end of the tunnel in this long running bitter dispute.

 

Update 5th December 2008

 

PBA (Professional Boatman's Association) Who were taking judicial review action in relation to bylaw 16 have announced that they have suspended there action to allow a fair hearing of the above request. I would like to thank them for supporting me with this proposal and in making the way clear for the idea to get a chance of success.

Meanwhile, and this is unofficial, I am lead to understand that the SSFC are in contact with Southampton University with regard the areas that they have helped DEFRA establish as those that will require protection. This will enable the SSFC to designate areas of sea bed that require protection from destructive beam trawling should the bylaw get changed to that requested by us.

 

Watch this space for further developments.

 

This page was last updated on 28th November 2008

Interesting developments as the new marine bill gets the green light to go to Royal assent in the next session of parliament with the minister and DEFRA referring the idea of introducing bag limits for the RSA back to local SFC’s

One of the sub committees of the Southern Sea Fisheries (SSFC) is to meet this week to discuss the possibility of introducing a new bylaw with bag limits for Cod (2) and Bass (4) per angler.

The idea is that this will close the door to the illegal sale of fish caught by RSA’s

However in the case of Bass for example there is currently no quota so any saving would result in the commercial boys gearing up to fill the gap in demand which would remain the same.

In fact, during just the past few days I have received reports of huge nets some ten miles in length being deployed in the Lyme Bay area, hardly a good conservational move for the targeted Bass let alone the other species that will be killed by this method of fishing. Surly the SSFC would be better off looking at putting some restriction on this activity rather than concentrating on the small proportion of illegal sale of black market fish by a few rouge hobby anglers. By this I am not suggesting that the practice of back door selling should not be dealt with but it is another example of not getting the priorities of the stock conservation right.

These fish are about to be discarded because of size and quota restrictions, while they are all good enough to eat.

It happens every day on many trawlers around the UK and it is in our view complete madness.

Meanwhile SSFC think it more important to stop a few RSA boats from fishing there area because of the boats size it doesn't matter that they don't take any more fish than the smaller boats, even when other SFC have made provision, and now they are talking about brining in bag limits for the RSA  to stop the back door sale of fish when they could simply introduce carcass-tagging as described in the Bass anglers sport fishing societies Bass management plan.

(see http://ukbass.com/bassmanagementplan/bmp/index.html )

 

I should stress that the current talks are preliminary and any new bylaw is some way off however it is right that they know that we are watching.

Update 4th December 2008

 

News today from Mr Leionrosk of new rules from the EU that could become law by 2010 requiring bag limits for RSA and that these limits will be a part of the commercial take for the country concerned. For more info please read Mr Leionrosk letter and the relevant linked information.

I understand that DEFRA will be contacting stakeholders within the next few days to consult on these EU proposals.

If enacted this could have profound consequences for the Angling Charter Boat sector, as well as private angling boats.

Monitoring of Recreational Fisheries Article 47

a, Recreational fisheries on a vessel in Community waters on a stock subject to a multiannual plan shall be subject to an authorisation for that vessel issued by the flag Member State.

b, Catches in recreational fisheries on stocks subject to a multiannual plan shall be registered by the flag Member State.

c, Catches of species subject to a multiannual plan by recreational fisheries shall be counted against the relevant quotas of the flag Member State. The Member States concerned shall establish a share from such quotas to be used exclusively for the purpose of recreational fisheries.

d, The marketing of catches from a recreational fishery shall be prohibited except for philanthropic purposes.

A copy of the draft regulation can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/1061/0073688.pdf

In a message dated 03/12/2008 18:53:50 GMT Standard Time, LEONROSK writes: