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New bass limits 2016


lady jane
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The Government has responded to the petition you signed – “The decision to water down the recent European decision on the bass stocks”.

Government responded:

The petition title misrepresents the EU process. UK Government successfully ensured anglers could fish for sport and the derogation for gillnets excluded driftnets that take most UK netting catches.

The UK Government has not sought to water down the EU decision to protect bass stocks agreed in the EU fisheries Council on 15 December 2015, as suggested in the petition title. The terms of the petition are either a misrepresentation or misunderstanding of the EU process and the UK Government’s approach.

It is actually the UK Government that has consistently pressed for EU action to address the decline of the stock, and we secured emergency action in 2015. We were not the authors of the recent proposal for 2016, however – this was a Commission proposal – nor indeed of the derogations offered in the compromise deal tabled at Council. However the agreement for 2016 is tougher on most sectors than that for 2015.

The UK Government did manage to achieve some key outcomes to adjust both the proposal and the related compromise deal. These help to protect the EU bass stock’s progress to sustainable fishing and the interests of both recreational and small scale commercial fishermen as EU bass fisheries move towards that goal, as follows.

We fought for and secured continuation of a recreational catch and release fishery for recreational sea anglers during the 6 month moratorium on bass catches, which was under threat in the Commission proposal wording. This means that anglers and charter vessels can continue sport-fishing activity throughout the year, subject to the ban proposed by the Commission on keeping bass during the first six months, coupled with a single fish daily bag limit per person in the second half of the year.

While accepting the principle of the proposed 6 month moratorium and a subsequent catch limit of 1 tonne per vessel per month for most commercial fisheries, we aimed to avoid disproportionate impacts on the lower impact, small-scale inshore hook and line and inshore fixed gillnet fisheries during the first 6 months. But as the UK Government position was for a more modest derogation than that offered on the day, we sought to reduce the impact of this on bass stocks.

Our negotiating position was based on different fisheries’ relative impacts and reflected several factors. Hook and line has the highest degree of selectivity for the right size of bass taken – though gillnets also perform well compared with other fishing methods. We also needed to consider the proportion of the bass catch taken by UK vessels using these methods: although the nets gear group has previously accounted for half of the annual UK bass total landings (46% average from 2011-2013), drift-netting is estimated to account for up to 90% of this, as the Commission are aware, and drift-netting was not agreed for inclusion in the derogation.

In the final compromise these two commercial fisheries (hook and line and fixed gillnets) were given identical derogations for all Member States fishing for bass (February-March moratorium and 1.3 tonne catch limit all year). The UK Government negotiating position in advance of the Council decision had been to press for lower – and differentiated – catch limits for derogations to apply for these two EU fisheries (excluding drift-netting) during the moratorium. But while the compromise offered higher monthly catch limits for netting, matching the limits for hook and line, these are not applicable to the majority of UK netting activity and are combined with the complete closure for two months.

It was necessary to agree EU-level measures for bass in this way because we share the fishery with other Member States who need to be fully signed up if we are to achieve stock recovery. We now at least have a firm timetable with Member States’ and Commission agreement, to achieve sustainable fishing of bass by 2018, and the EU’s interim management package will increasingly be complemented by regional measures, including in the context of multi-annual management plans driven by the Member States concerned, as well as national ones.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Click this link to view the response online:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/116747?reveal_response=yes

The Petitions Committee will take a look at this petition and its response. They can press the government for action and gather evidence. If this petition reaches 100,000 signatures, the Committee will consider it for a debate.

The Committee is made up of 11 MPs, from political parties in government and in opposition. It is entirely independent of the Government. Find out more about the Committee: https://petition.parliament.uk/help#petitions-committee

Thanks,

The Petitions team

UK Government and Parliament

 

Just read this properly and note this part:

 

We were not the authors of the recent proposal for 2016, however – this was a Commission proposal – nor indeed of the derogations offered in the compromise deal tabled at Council.

 

If this is the case then why did George Useless try to claim he had gained a great deal for the uk? from where I am standing it couldn't have been much worse, selective fishing can have nothing with commercials having a party with their increased allowance.

Typical politician trying to dress up a victory out of a total sham.  You would think that the threat of losing 1 million votes from the recreational sector would focus their minds but they know we have short memories

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Hi Dave

 

Where do those answers come from?

 

Are they from the local SIFCA and if so are they legally binding and in writing to give us evidence to carry on-board?

 

Not that I am about to change my fishing habits and start killing more fish, its just nice to know the correct information when away from base port for a few days. IE Alderney trips.

 

Hi Charlie

 

Yes indeed they do come from Southern IFCA

 

I asked the question about being out for a number of days and they confirmed that if you had the same number of fish as people on the boat for each day, then there would not be a problem

 

Following on from the PDSAA meeting last night, it was confirmed that fishing around Alderney and Guernsey will follow the same restrictions as laid down by the EU even within the 12, 6 & 3 mile limits.

 

We were also advised that there were 7 officials from the commercial sector who accompanied the Minister to the meeting in Brussels, whilst they are not allowed to be in the same room or building as the discussions were conducted they did send messages to the Minister on suggested options and requirements as the discussions were ongoing! These people are paid by the commercial fleet to advise and coerce the Minister to their way of thinking. 

It seems the French may well have saved the RSA's to allow catching Bass after 6 months as the original idea was to ban it for 12 months.

 

It was generally agreed that 2017 amendments to be discussed later this year may well be harsher for the RSA's.

If the Angling fraternity can get its act together and stop a lot of infighting we need to put massive pressure on those who can help and influence including MP's EMP's DEFRA and so on.

 

My personal feeling is that the majority of Sea Angling RSA's are too apathetic and so nothing of any consequence will happen over the next 10 months!

By then it will be too late.

 

Perhaps we need to invite someone like Nigel Farage to an open club meeting, forget party politics, but as he likes Sea fishing, enjoys a pint and a smoke he could well be an ideal spokesperson as the Press seem to love it when he makes public statements. He would also know who we, as an angling group, should target to make our points heard.

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Done

 

6 auto replies back within first 5 minutes of sending then all seems quiet.

 

Re Ol Nige's speech.....I was very impressed ......a straight talking plain speaking effort ...No one was under any illusion or misinterpretation of his position.

 

 

Wish all politicians could take note and learn how to deliver a point without all the "polispeak"

 

I am becoming more and more cynical in my old age and am becoming ultra-irritated by what passes for a democratic process in this country of late.

 

 

I need to go fishing  :(

 

Fogs just lifting here in Easttleigh but its too late to make a day of it :angry:

 

Ah Well there will always be next weekend .........If I wasn't off to Wales that is :huh:

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