SACN Press Release - No Licence

[Oblickta]

It seems our efforts haven't fallen on deaf ears, well done to all involved and keep up the good work

No Sea Angling Licence

[davem2005]

Something to smile about at last.

Jonathan R Shaw (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Marine, Landscape and Rural Affairs) and Minister for the South East), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
I met sea angling representatives at the Angling summit on 18 February where a number of concerns were raised with me regarding the introduction of a chargeable licence for sea angling. I have also discussed the issue direct with anglers around the coast, as have my officials. In view of the concerns expressed, including the extent to which sea anglers expected to see benefits from the charge, I have decided not to proceed with enabling powers in the Marine Bill to introduce a sea angling licence.
I will, none the less, continue with a package of other measures that aim to provide benefits for anglers, including a review of nursery areas for the protection of bass stocks and of inshore netting, and a pilot study on area-based restrictions to support sea angling. I have also recently announced measures to increase protection of tope, a key species for anglers.
I will reconsider the arguments for introducing a recreational sea angling licence at some stage in the future in the light of progress on the aforementioned measures.

[The Great Wallsendo]

What's the next fight we can take to the Government?

[marksworld]

like iv'e said all along, knew it would not materilise!!!

[Topfly]

Good news Dave Leon, they will now just stop us fishing where we want to fish.

[alf]

I wonder if has got anything to do with a General election that is due within the next two years.

[red rock]

gutted i wanted to shell out my cash to get nothing in return well done to all the people concerned. next question is will they really do anything about the inshore netting

[loopy]

Only a battle won (a big one) not the war yet, Dave and I attended a meeting in London last week with Natural England hosted by DEFRA along with the CEFAS scientist on marine protected Area's ,no take zones and a new one on us highly protected areas. To quote one of the CEFAS guys "be under no illusion they will happen" . When asked by Richard Ferre` what are they, how many and where are they to be, Natural England stated they did not know, muttered something about confidentiality and the words conflict resolution came up a lot. So we just have to wait until April. There is no doubt that DEFRA went back after the meeting in Newbiggin and told the man from the ministry that the word licence did not go down to well.
All those that attended the meeting and returned a response on the strategy or e-mailed Nicola Clarke at DEFRA HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.
Mr Shaw is doing some of his own conflict resolution.

[sless]

bugger
i wanted one

[red rock]

bugger
i wanted one

maybe next time sless

[sless]

im going to protest
hahahha

well i did my little bit

[ScottyJim]

Great news. It's a step forward. Still can't understand the politicians though. Martin Salter, the Labour spokesman for angling (who still wants a licence imposed), wants now to increase the MLS to counter the over-exploitation of fish stocks. Can't these simpletons get through their thick heads, that commercial fishermen are still fishing the same grounds, with the same gear, catching the same size of fish. They will still kill the same undersize fish. Increasing the MLS means that they have to throw back, dead, even more discards. And because they can keep fewer, they will fish even harder to make up the difference, thus meaning even more discards. It's obvious that they have to get the commercials to change their gear to only catch bigger fish. They have to impose a MCS (minimum catch size). Politicians are clowns, but I'm sure everyone knows that already.

[fozally]

I want a refund.

[Sheepy]

Good news! I always used to fork out for a coarse fishing license as a teenager and never saw bugger all being done with the money anyway.

[Red5]

Goes back to the question I asked at Newbiggin, How can they promise us bigger and more fish when we are part of the EU and therefore the CFP. Obviously they all thought we were all stupid and would just pay it without complaining, as they have no intention of stoppping the commercials from plundering the seas and therefore cannot promise us fish!