MFA to meet NE Anglers

[LeonRoskilly]

see:

http://www.anglers-net.co.uk/sacn/latest/index.php?view=596

Get along if you can

[Doc]

Not sure if anyone from NESA attended this meeting, Scarboro possibly a bit too far south, although issues discussed did relate to the area as a whole. Approximately 25 anglers from Hull, Bridlington, York, Filey, Scarboro & Whitby attended.

The new Marine Fisheries Agency wheeled out their top brass in the district inpector Mike Parker, Nicola Clarke from the Inshore Waters Policy Unit at DEFRA - London (Nicola was/is dealing with the Bass MLS consultation) and their local area officers.

The range of topics discussed varied from sea angling rod licences, bag limits, Enforcement, Sea Fisheries Committees and the quality (declining) of the angling around the coast.

The general concensus was that the meeting was worthwhile, nothing concrete came of it, however, it is another point of contact to inform of damaging or illegal activity. The issues of bag limits and sea angling rod licences were discussed at length, with the MFA insisting that neither issues are firm proposals at governmental level, although from a personal point of view they are certainly on the radar, and government rarely lets go of a potential revenue generator. Its interesting that the commercial sector are now pushing for sea anglers to be licenced and bag limits introduced, whether this is a realistic aim for them or just sour grapes remains to be seen.

The meeting lasted just over two hours and was dominated by a couple of subjects, although increasing MLS for some species was also discussed as was the introduction of MLS for species where there are currently none. Enforcement was identified as a concern, and the MFA indicated that they would be working much more closely with the inshore fisheries managers (NESFC) and indeed all stakeholders in order to identify and resolve issues of enforcement and breach of legislation.

The MFA agreed that the meetings should continue in the future, and the next one is scheduled for 6 months time, by which some of the current issues may be better defined and or resolved (Sea angling rod licences, bag limits & Bass MLS).

Cheers



Doc