Licenses

[davem2005]

Well put hedley.

The whole issue is about stakeholders in our seas.

So what is a stakeholder...the simple answer is you who are reading this.

You catch fish (hopefully) and have done so for many years...that qualifies you as a stakeholder...with as much rights as the commercial netting your beach...aledgedly...but not in current policy.

Unfortunately for centuries the commercials have been the only "stakeholders" who the government have recognised for the simple reason they are the ones who spoke up ...we just took what we could of what was left.

So how can we change this...simple...

If every club committee member reading this emailed defra to say they want to be included as stakeholders in the future of our seas the club would recieve any future consultation documents issued by defra. The number of members of that club would be taken into account on any responses by that club and if they didn't happen to want to comment on any particular proposal affecting us it would still be taken into account as to actually how many of us there are!

This approach does not exclude individuals...you can do the same...ask defra to send you anything relating to what may affect our/your fshing rights...

Let the government know we exist and maybe then they will listen.

I will edit this tomorrow to include a defa link for those intrested enough to register as stakeholders.

Cheers
Dave

[loopy]

I have written to Mr Beith my local MP (Liberal Democrat) several weeks ago for his stand on the Marine Bill specifically with regard to giving this government the power to introduce a licence for recreational anglers. To date I have had no reply. Will post as and when.

I am going to a meeting of my local club tonight and I am sure we will take up your suggestion of becoming a stakeholder, a link would be great.

If we are going to have a licence let us try and influence its term's. Not sure how we are represented regionally by the NFSA and what communication with grass roots members has taken place, this is all new to me as I have only been up here six months and my background has been on the freshwater front having served on several committees and consultation groups and have first hand knowledge of European directives with regard coarse and game fishery action plans along with huge amount of bureaucracy that comes with the EA,
Perhaps reps from all north east clubs forming a pressure group , maybe it could be done electronically through this forum?
In unity you find strength.
Ignorance is dangerous but knowledge is lethal.

[Jaguar]

It’s simple you’re not all whining about the fuel price so you know you will pay the licence. You all spend too much on your fishing kit to risk it being lost. At the end of the day where English we just do it and whine on about the weather.

[Glenn Kilpatrick]

LICENSE CONSULTATION RELEASED THIS MORNING

RSA STRATEGY CONSULTATION DOCUMENT

[davem2005]

Recieved this from the SACN which attempts to explain what the consultation is all about and some advice as to how anglers should respond so that we get the best benefits from this consultation.

To all SACN members,
Today DEFRA have finally launched the public consultation on the strategy for the development and management of Recreational Sea Angling in England.
The draft strategy has been put together by a wide range of marine stakeholder interest organisations, including anglers, commercial fishermen, Sea Fisheries Committees, marine scientists, environmental NGOs and DEFRA officials.
Now everybody has the opportunity to criticise and contribute to the draft proposals.
Undoubtedly there will be issues which sea anglers need to be wary of, and some will question the ability of the Government to deliver the benefits which Sea Anglers expect, particularly in a 'consensus' environment where all stakeholders will be seeking to protect their own interests foremost.
But there are other issues, such as the management of some species for recreational purpose, aiming to ensure access to more and bigger fish, and the 'Golden Mile' which anglers will need to enthusiastically back.
And maybe individuals and organisations will want to see some other things included.
It is important that anglers don't just concentrate on the negatives, but also support those things which they see of benefit, and which could usefully be included, otherwise there is a possibility that DEFRA will assume that there isn't sufficient level of support from the angling community for some of the benefits that we would all like to see included in the final strategy.
It's important also to understand that the consultation, which ends on 31st March 2008, isn't simply a referendum.
As well giving support to some issues, and questioning the need for other proposals and perhaps introducing new ideas, the Government will particularly be looking for detailed arguments being put forward, supported by evidence that can be substantiated.
Whatever your initial views on the strategy, SACN strongly urges that anglers and angling organisations should take some time studying the proposals, and respond to the consultation, in particular supporting the positive proposals.
For you can bet that others with different agendas will certainly be doing so.
As well as recieving written responses, the DEFRA team will be visiting various areas of the country to canvass as wide a selection of views as possible, so keep your ear to the ground for any such visits to your area, and try to make other local anglers aware.
DEFRA will also be pleased to hear of any opportunities to address large numbers of anglers, at angling events or meetings, so if your local club or division etc can assure a good attendance, please get in contact with DEFRA who may be able to arrange such a visit.
Once the consultation period closes, the responses will be examined and a final strategy (which you now have the opportunity of influencing) will be adopted by DEFRA for implementation.
And that final strategy will undoubtedly fundamentally shape the future of our Recreational Sea Fisheries for some considerable time to come.
The consultation documents can be accessed at:
Defra, UK - Consultations - Consultation on a Recreational Sea Angling Strategy for England

Cheers
Dave

[davem2005]

A quick run through the document confirms one thing to me...its full of baffling gobbledegook that very people understand completely.

But if it helps here is a breakdown of the questions being asked of anglers in a far easier to understand format along with links to the relevant section in the document.

1
Section 1
Page 4
What are your overall views on the Strategy? Does it miss anything? Which part would you change and how?

2
Section 1
Page 4
How often do you go angling?
Where do you mostly go angling? Do you go on angling holidays?
What sort of angling – shore, own boat or charter vessels?

3
Section 2
Page 5
Why do you go sea angling? What are the key reasons for your participation in the sport? What is the biggest issue for you affecting your angling?

4
Section 2
Page 5
Do you agree with the aim and objectives of the Strategy? Which objective do you think is most important?

5
Section 3
Page 7
How do you think angling needs can be reflected in fisheries management decisions and policy? What do you think is the best way to achieve this?

6
Section 4
Page 8
Which species do you value most? What action would you like to see taken to improve these stocks?

7
Section 5
Page 12
If a sea angling licence were introduced and the revenue spent to provide benefits for sea anglers, would you be willing to pay and how much?

8
Section 5
Page 12
Would you support a bag limit for certain species where there is a conservation need and there are controls on commercial exploitation of the same species?

9
Section 7
Page 15
What would you spend money on to improve your enjoyment of sea angling?

10
Section 9
Page 18
What new sources of information are you aware of that are available to build an evidence base? E.g. data on catches, social studies, angling business turnovers, numbers of people going on charter vessels year on year etc

Replies to those questions can be from individuals or clubs/organisations.

If you do reply on behalf of a club please ensure you make it clear as to the number of members you have.

If you need any help just PM me.

Cheers
Dave

[Lowrider]

And would the licence limit how many rod you fished with?
If not then a group of 7 anglers,one lad has the licence,"they are all my rods,these are just mates come down to keep me company".

[loopy]

Recreational Sea Angling Licence
5.4 All fisheries stakeholders have a responsibility to share the cost of science
and fisheries management. A combined mechanism that would raise money
for the benefit of sea anglers, provide an effective communication tool,
gather information to better understand anglers’ needs, promote fuller
participation in management fora, and enable effective monitoring and
enforcement would underpin other elements of the RSA Strategy. A sea
angling licence (operating in a similar way to the freshwater angling licence)
could meet these needs. The costs and benefits must be transparent,
justifiable and clearly understood. Additional revenue would need to be
returned to the angling sector through a range of projects and programmes
that would enhance the angling experience.

Freshwater guys 2 rods per licence you then pay more per rod.

[Lowrider]

Could still apply,two guys fish together regular,split the cost,how is it proven who is fishing and not helping,but i take your point.

[moocher]

Same with TV licence - some pay, some don't - up to the individual to take the chance I guess.

but take it from me - when the licence comes in and I'm next to someone WITHOUT a licence, rest assured I will be making a phone call!

it won't be one rule for some and one for another - ALL anglers.

I wouldn't worry too much anyway, it will probably be the people who leave cr@p everywhere, bait wrappers, old line, hooks, fish guts on promenades, piers and beaches, who won't pay a licence! and as usual, the good guy gets it in the neck!

If we truly want to stop this going ahead and make our feelings known to such an incompetent govnt. who can't even safeguard 25 million people's personal details from going astray - then it's no good discussing it on a forum. Make a difference and let your feelings known direct to Downing St.

Imagine if all of the UK sea anglers marched to Downing St to protest - AND THAT SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE TACKLE DEALERS / MANUFACTURERS AS THEY WILL BE AFFECTED TOO.

it would be headline news believe me - make a noise now UK sea anglers - before it's too late.

with quotes like this we have already lost the fight...

[moocher]

[QUOTE=loopy;116293]

The anti blood sport's with people power and there non stop lobbying of this government over fox hunting succeeded. Could we with several million potential voting anglers in this country?

where did you get this from......there has been more foxes killed after the so called ban,and very few convictions.

[davem2005]

Moocher,
I think there is a little bit of a parralel here.

In the case of the hunts its up to the prosecution to prove the hounds did not accidently come across the scent of a live one.

Its a kind of mass non compliance....now theres a thought.

The question is how best to use the time between now and march 31st to get the best deal possible for anglers. Defra are looking for as many different opinions and asmuch data as possible. The reason they quote is they dont have any data on anglers catches, the guys from cefas who do the surveys for defra admitted as much.

The question is do we help supply that data or are we just giving them ammo to start charging us. Stock surveys in general are done from boats...this does not give them any data on what is actually being caught from the beaches and how those catches have changed over recent years. If they had that data (ie historical match results) it could be used to prove that catches have declined (or improved) over the years, but is also likely to be used to justify the license fee.

Room for discussion I think.

Cheers
Dave.

[moocher]

pollocks to the licsence

The major concern is not the license fee itself but more about the restriction of where you can fish? and that you will not be allowed to collect bait i.e. crabs or worm and will be forced to purchase these from licenseed suppliers probally at a exorbitant rates.

Giving defra the statistics of match catchs both historically at the present rates will just mean that defras statitons will be able to make their case for limiting the areas where you can fish.

Leisure angling bag limits would NOT help conservation as most anglers are responsible but we need to ensure we act responsibly and do not give Defra any ammunition

This could be acheived by ensuring that in match fishing that we only kill the fish in circumstances when they will be eaten?

Which means we either alter the way these matches are judged or eusure we increase size limits and exclude species that you would not eat?


The leisure angler is not the guilty party in the decline in the fish stocks?

Fish species quotason trawlers does not help conservation but removal would not help either?

The chucking back of tonnes of dead fish because a quota for that species has been reached is a far greater crime that fishing without a license.

scrapping the random way fish species are taken from the sea is as far as I can see is the only real solution to fish conservation.

[Topfly]

Tell them nowt, lobby like hell, and if they do impose a license, be prepared to go to jail if you get caught without one the way things are i will not be buying one.

[Hedley]

Nob on Top Fly - I will not pay either !!!!!!