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Baramundi Bob
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« on: September 07, 2007, 08:09:16 AM » |
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To all SOS members
Spurdog protection
Will Etive and Sunnart finally be safe from commercial exploitation?
The Scottish Sea Anglers conservation Network (SSACN See [here] ) has just received a long awaited letter from the Scottish government confirming some great news that was first discussed at our meeting a few weeks ago,
As a result of a three year campaign by SOS and now adopted by SSACN, the officers within the Scottish governments fisheries dept (SEERAD) are campaigning for Spurdog protection. at the Eu fisheries talks later this year.
They believe that Spurdog are a migratory fish and that an overall protection for the Spurdog would be far more suitable than closing of small areas like Etive and Sunnart.
Paul McCarthy (Fish Stock Conservation Team) states in his letter
Starting with spurdog, as I said at the meeting, we are taking steps towards better conservation of the species. We will seek an extension of the 5% by-catch rule,that applies in the North Sea, to EC and international waters of ICES zones I, IIIa, V, VI, VII, VIII, XII and XIV (effectively all waters of the western Atlantic) as part of this year's autumn fisheries negotiations This would prevent a targeted fishery for spurdog anywhere in the western Atlantic by EU vessels. I appreciate that your preferred solution would be more localised closures of Lochs Sunnart and Etive. However, given that spurdog are a widely migratory species we feel the more general 5% by-catch rule would be of greater benefit to the stock overall. Perhaps we can review the position after this year's December Council.
If successful this will stop the Apollo or any other vessel from targeting the spurdog and will also help stop the bycatch of common skate.
It is likely that the proposals will receive opposition from other Eu member states but Paul’s offer to review the situation after the Eu talks suggests the Scottish government will act unilaterally if the proposals fal.
If you sent an email/letter to your MSP then give yourself a pat on the back. Thanks to you all.
Whether this proposal is successful or not it demonstrates that recreational sea anglers can make a difference, and shows the need for all Scottish anglers and visitors to get behind SSACN and support them with their campaigns. Together we can make a difference.
There could also be protection for the Porbeagle on the way
From Paul McCarthy’s letter
Finally, I note your point on shark finning and we share your general concerns about the practice. I am aware of wider concern that the ratio of fin weight to shark weight is set too high. However, at most only nine Scottish boats carry a shark finning permit and I am unconvinced that taking action at a Scottish level would do much to protect shark stocks generally and may negatively impact on the UK's ability to participate in any review of the Shark permit regulations and therefore influence effective actio at the EU level.
You may be interested to note that the Commission has suggested a number of ways to manage porbeagle catches, one of which is a bycatch provision similar to spurdog. I believe the UK would be supportive of this measure.
In a separate email received by SSACN, confirming our growing status within the exec. the Head of inshore fisheries confirmed that plans for the economic survey are underway and that a Scottish government Steering Group will include SSACN as well as VisitScotland and Fisheries and Tourism officials.
We have a long long way to go but there is no doubt we are heading in the right direction
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