Bass Limits 2017

[Steve S]

Found the document on the EU site about who is allowed to fish for Bass in 2017 and what the limits are:

 

In summary:

 

On 13 December the Council adopted the following measures for 2017:

 

No fishing for sea bass by commercial vessels targeting sea bass, except for long lines, pole and lines who will have a closure of two months in February and March 2017 and a maximum catch limit of 10 tonnes per year;

 

A monthly limit of 250 kg for vessels deploying fixed gillnets and traps to cover unavoidable by-catches;

 

A small by-catch allowance of 3% and a maximum of 400 kg is envisaged for demersal trawlers and seiners.

 

The decision of the Council takes into account that artisanal hooks and line fisheries depend on sea bass to a greater extent and may not have other alternatives to catch.

 

Recreational anglers are asked to practise a catch and release fishery in the first half of the year and to limit their catches to one fish per day in the second half of 2017.

 

So seems like it is rod and line only, but 250kg per month for gill netters as by catch is a lot of by catch. 

 

The Recreational angler 'asked' does that mean it is just a request? 

 

Here is the full document.

 

 

QA sea bass Dec 2016.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jerry.shutter]

Slightly better for us recreational to be given a "choice" but not a lot better for the poor old Bass as Gill nets still got carte blanche if allowed 250kg as "by" catch

 

Thanks for downloading Steve

[Stuie]

Here's the reply I had from DEFRA after signing the petition - Interesting to read that the Govt. was disappointed they couldn't get a better deal for RSA's!!!!

 

Dear Stuart Cooper,

The Government has responded to the petition you signed – “Save our Bass: do not water down the proposal to ban nets.”.

Government responded:

The UK secured emergency measures to conserve bass in 2015. For 2017 we sought a package to reduce commercial catches, minimise discards and argued for proportionate allowance for recreational angling

At this year’s December Council negotiation the UK sought a balanced package on sea bass that further protected the stock, while respecting the need to account for discards and allow some continued recreational angling. We pressed for a better deal for angling, recognising its importance to local economies. In particular, we agreed that there should be a 1 or 2 fish bag limit for 10 months of the year and argued for lower commercial catch limits. We were disappointed we could not move beyond the current scheme and agree a fairer package for anglers.

Bass measures agreed at December Council included:

• The limit tightened for bass catches by fixed gill nets from 1.3 tonnes to 250kg per vessel per month, with a closed season of February-March, representing an 80% cut from this year's provision, and for all forms of netting at UK level an estimated 88% cut from the former 2011-2013 baseline annual average; 

• No provision for other forms of netting than fixed gill net; 

• Setting the limit for hook and line fisheries at 10 tonnes per annum (spread across ten months of the year), reducing the catch potential by 23%; 

• Setting the by-catch provision for trawlers and seines at 3% per day. This is an increase from 1% per trip for this year to minimise bass discards, but with a new cap introduced of 400kg per month. At UK level the provision is estimated to result in a 57% decrease from the former 2011-13 baseline average. 

• The provision for recreational angling remains unchanged, with only catch and release allowed in the first six months, followed by a daily limit of one fish per fisher.

We are making progress in reducing bass catches at EU level and are heading in the right direction in terms of stock recovery. We will continue to seek the right balance between the legitimate interests of the recreational and commercial sectors while achieving sustainable fisheries for bass.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

[Newboy]

So is the recreational quota voluntary or not?

Also I know anglers get round this quota by jumping on commercial boats so they are not restricted.