Anglers collecting peelers will soon need a permit

[@Spring@]

Anglers wanting to collect crab from the shore for bait in the NESFC area will soon have to have a permit if a new bye law proposed by NESFC is passed on the 25th July. I have learnt this morning via email that the proposed bye law if introduced will require collectors of crab from either boat or shore (including anglers) to register with NESFC for a permit which will then allow them to collect only 10 shore crab (velvet or green shore crab) each day.

Im sure the 2 angling reps on NESFC will be keen to hear the thoughts of North East anglers regarding this matter. I personally think it stinks but I wont be surprise if it is the first of many permits and licences required by anglers in the future.

[Edited on 11/7/2006 by @Spring@]

[mark]

well if it stops the aggressive dickheads who come charging over to you with a mouthful of abuse cos your collecting bait on \'their\' patch I\'m all for it.

not that it will though, they\'ll just get a permit and still gather everything that crawls, and threaten you even more cos they\'ve not got a permit, wether you have one or not

[fishfinder]

[sless]

theres laws against getting undersize crabs and lobsters but when some people get caught they get a slap on the wrist and told dont do it again
well in south shields they do

[@Spring@]

Hi Mark,

This will stop those people collecting everything that crawls and you as well as there is to be a 10 crab a day limit. That could be 5 velvets and 5 green crab

I now have Nigels permission to publish his email so Here goes

Dear all,

just got the articles through this am from the NESFC wrt the above byelaw.

The byelaw is the permit to fish for Lobster, crab, velvet crab and whelk and applies to all of the NESFC district (River Tyne to Donna Nook (Humber Estuary)). The proposal will amend the present byelaw by prohibiting the collection and retention of the above species unless the collector holds an annual permit issued by the NESFC.

For those not actively involved in the commercial sector (hobby or unlicensed fishermen), a new limited annual shellfish permit will be issued, this permit and the restrictions applied will be strictly per vessel irrespective of the number of persons on board. The allowances will remain the same i.e., 2 lobsters or 10 crab (of any of the species specified in total, not per species) and 30 whelk per day per vessel. The byelaw also goes on to state that these restrictions will apply to anyone not using a vessel (collection from the shore), which is a change from the old regulation.

However, the biggest change is the introduction of the green shore crab into the species list, therefore, according to the byelaw, to collect green shore crab for use as bait within the district, you will have to have an annual permit and cannot collect more than 10 shore crabs per day. This is a significant change, and one that obviously restricts angling activity, from a personal point of view I buy mine along with others from outwith the area, however, I know other members and many anglers collect their own (including velvets etc.) and they will/could be open to prosecution.

I\'ve spoken to the dCFO this am over this issue and at the present they are keen to proceed with the byelaw (to get in by January 1st 2007), it appears that there are no conservation drivers to protect shore crab, although he did state that there had been a noticeable decline at and around Flamboro Head, I pointed out that it was probable that velvets were as much responsible for this. It looks like they just wish to lump all crabs together to simplify the legislation, although he did mention that one fisherman was landing a couple of boxes of shore crab each week to send to Portugal (this I know goes on in other areas), however, I don\'t think it likely that there is any financial benefit from sending a couple of boxes of shore crab all the way to Portugal.

The proposal goes before the committee on 25th July, and I need to gauge the feeling of the sector, any additional thoughts would help, we also need to put this out to a wider audience, any takers (Glenn)?

Cheers for now, and I look forward with anticipation to comments!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nigel

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nigel Proctor BSc. (hons) MIBiol, CIBiol
Marine Projects Manager

[codonly]

CALM DOWN.how do think its going to work,from berwick to the tees,is a vast area it will cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to police these areas every tide ,it aint going to happen,a recent prosecution by the fisheries people returned £450 it cost probably £20,000 to bring the case to court.POINTLESS

[sless]

you would be knackered stevie

[tony.codling]

looks like I spoke too soon
See the topic , HARVEST

[codonly]

i!ll tell you what would be good,if some thieving tw@t got caught robbing someones traps and ended getting done.JUSTICE

[tonyfromalnwick]

Is it just from the Tyne to the Humber?

Will I have all of Northumberland to myself?

[MT]

just a couple of points.

imposible to enforce if everyone stood up for there rights.

i stuggle to stock up for the winter as it is without this year trying to stock up for the next 30years or so.

wouldnt be able to continue to fish winter without the crab prob use upwards of 1000 a year at the moment.

been crabing for over twenty years now and havnt seen any reduction in the amount available just more going for them.

should consentrate their efforts on stopping the mindless slaughter of undersize fish before they waste time, energy and money chasing law abiding persons enjoying there sport.

[MT]

without wanting to stir things up or change the subject.
do the rivers not belong to the people and the traps to the river then the crabs to the persons living around that area.
personally i put traps in my local river years ago for my own and everyone else who using the river convinence. when i go down to the river and someones in \"my traps\" i move to where someone is not or do the rocks.
you cannot say the person is stealing the crabs as they belong to everyone from the area.
it the traps were not put in the rivers then more crabs would go into the rocks.
people shouldnt expect no one to do the traps when they not there or on holiday. although i think it is polite not to do someone elses traps if they are waiting to do them.

i!ll tell you what would be good,if some thieving tw@t got caught robbing someones traps and ended getting done.JUSTICE

[codonly]

ninga,you aint got a clue

[fozally]

Those who make the decisions should look at why specific legislation is introduced. Is it to conserve stocks of specific types of crab?.....if so write the laws up to target the problem and not have a \'catch all law\' which also knacks the law abiding fisherman who spends the time and effort collecting their own bait. After all, the people proposing the new laws quite often know something about a subject but dont know enough of the finer details to get it right the first time. I may be wrong but have they consulted any members of any Angling Associations ?

As for raiding other folks traps, its just not on. When someone goes to the bother of collecting old tyres, transporting them to the location, digging them in, waiting until they get established and crab start showing then some ignorant git helps themselves to the crab you have just spent countless hours trying to collect. I can understand why people get annoyed. It is surely an unwritten rule that you dont raid anyone else\'s tyres and if you do then at least expect some earache.

[willywetegg]

Got to say that we are all getting way ahead of ourselves here. It is not a law and I doubt that it will be made a law.

In the same breath I think we need to keep our eyes on what is going on and fight these ignorant people to the end.

Try not to get too carried away with your feelings untill we know exactly what is going on.

I have to say that I am very dissapointed with the NFSA, they are supposed to be looking after our interests in shore fishing. I hav\'nt seen a single thing from them that would encourage me to support them financially, the very opposite in fact.

The posts that have been left unanswered on both forums would bear this out.

This is a time for ALL shore anglers to stick together and fight this joke. If in fact it is going to happen.

Jim.

I must say that this is my own opinion and nothing to do with NESA.

Jim.

[Edited on 12/7/2006 by willywetegg]