Sustainable Fishing Feature: Not Poole but certainly of concern

[Topher]

Just came across this feature which was posted on Facebook this evening which may interest fellow members

 

Sea Fishing Magazine shared The CFSA - Cornish Federation of Sea Anglers's post.

41 mins · 

 

 

The CFSA - Cornish Federation of Sea Anglers added 5 new photos.

Sustainable fishing? These mullet were seine netted last night at Sennen. The mullet have aggregated for spawning and have been wiped out at their most vulnerable and during the most important phase of their life cycle. The phase when they contribute to the future stock. This scenario is not dissimilar from the pelagic trawlers targeting spawning bass aggregations in the Channel.

These fish will fetch pennies on the market, maybe less than 50p a fish - perhaps those in the know will be able to inform us of the price these fish fetch. Some of these fish will may well be over 10 years old and at their reproductive prime.

Whilst it must be recognised that local fisherman need to earn a living, the targeting of fish when they aggregate to spawn is not allowing for a sustainable fishery for future generations! What would you think of a farmer who sent his sheep to the slaughterhouse a week before they lambed?

Some recreational sea angling clubs have introduced catch and release measures into their club structure to promote conservation of fish stocks, but when faced with such photos the number of mullet one club may save in a year seems insignificant....

These photos will no doubt cause the expression of strong views from both anglers and commercial fisherman alike. Please refrain from swearing and any comments with such will be deleted. Perhaps the commercial fisherman could give some insight as to why they target spawning aggregations?

Should the netting of spawning aggregations be a thing of the past in an age when sustainable fisheries are needed for long term stability of the fishing industry?