EU Article 47 – Sea Angling Quota Spells Disaster For UK Sea Fishing Industry

Hi Everyone,

Not only have we got the Marine Bill and MPAs to contend with now Europe is trying to influence what we do or perhaps do not if they get their way. The following link is from Ireland and can be read in conjunction with the article on the NFSA Conservation Committee under the News Section. This proposed allocation of RSA Quota from the overall quota is allegedly to counter a French problem where so called “peasant Fishers” are allowed to net without any regulation and sell what they net. DEFRA were caught off guard as this came out of the blue they have canvassed views of the RSA and Commercial sector. In the meantime Brussels has opened a right can of worms as can be seen from the link but Ireland is not alone Greece Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia and Malta have prompted there MEPs to raise protests at Strasburg. Whilst this is directed primarily at Charter boat and small boat Anglers if they start with them shore anglers may well be next. Socome on lads and lasses lets have some e-mails and tele calls to your locally MEP and tell them what we think of the proposals.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1216/fishing.html EU proposals for angling quotas
Tuesday, 16 December 2008 14:01 The EU Commission has drawn up proposals to impose catching quotas on pleasure angling.

Because of falling stocks of fish, officials want to impose controls on sea and shore angling and to deduct these catches from the quotas of the commercial fishing industry.

The proposals could have a serious effect on tourist earnings from angling.

Sea anglers catch cod, pollack, ling, shark and other species, as do commercial fishermen and the EU officials want these considered in allocating quotas to each nation, so that they would be deducted from what commercial fishermen are allowed catch.
While details of the proposals are still being examined by interests in the sea angling sector, they would have a negative effect on the Irish angling industry, which is a major tourism economic asset.

Shore angling which takes catches of sea fish would also be included in the EU proposals, but they will not be finalised in time to effect this week’s negotiations.

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Sea Angling Under Attack

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http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/1216/fishing_av.html?2463841,null,230