Ok Lads here's is my response. It isn't perfect and please ignore the grammer and spelling mistakes.
Please take a few minutes to respond yourself. Even if you think licenceing would be great and you support the Marine Bill its better they know what you think than have them think you don't care what happens.
Please respond to this email address by tomorrow.
marinebillconsultation@defra.gsi.gov.uk Hi There,
I write in response to the marine bill consultation. As a sea angler from the north east of England I would like to express my thoughts about some of the content of the marine bill which specifically relates to recreational Sea angling.
1. I see a sea angling licence as nothing other than a tax on people who fish in the sea. I personally dont care if you made the seas around are country the best recreational fishing grounds in the World (Given past history I doubt your ability) I would still begrudge paying to fish in the sea. The right of an English man to use rod, line and bait to catch fish from the sea predates the magna carte, how fitting is it that a labour government with numerous stealth taxes under its belt seeks to set another, this time at the expense of the nations anglers.
Not only would a sea angling licence take away something that has been the right of UK anglers since time began it could impact negatively on the angling business' across our region. With fewer fish in the sea than ever before, having to pay to fish in the sea could well reduce the number of people who want to participate in this sport. Holiday makers seeing a sign for a fishing trip from many of our local ports could be put off taking that trip by the extra expense incurred by having to purchase a license. Obviously with less people fishing the angling shops could also suffer too.
Be warned that there are roughly 2 million of us "Sea Anglers" and a large percentage are disgruntled and will to express this at the ballott box.
2. Within the Marine Bill and drafts of the RSA Strategy that I have read there is mention of "Bag Limits" for anglers. At first reading I felt this must be a joke. THere is no research evidence that angling has ever damaged fish stocks. The commercial fishing industry for years unpoliced by yourselves has brought the nations fish stocks to near extinction for some species and now you have the cheek to suggest anglers have been part of that equation. This is an insult to my intelligence. Further to this has any thought been given to the effect that a bag limit could have on the countries charter fishing fleet?
The amount of people wanting to go sea fishing could also be hit by the introduction of restrictions of catches. After paying: sometimes in excess of 40 pounds for a days angling from 1 of the north east's charter ports, 20 pounds upwards on bait and lures etc, £30 or more on fuel to get to the port, and the expenses incurred for accommodation and food for those who stay over for the night before trip, the thought of only being allowed to keep a couple of fish for the pan from their days catch could be enough to see a lot of boat anglers retire from the sport. The introduction of bag limits could also impact negatively on the numerous angling clubs which are to be found in almost every town on the coast between Hull and the borders of Scotland.
3. With regard to the marine bill as a whole and the manner in which DEFRA have conducted themselves with regard to the marine bill I am totally disgusted. Upon recieving a copy of the marine bill document "A sea change" my initail thoughts were - My god who is going to want to read that. Fortunatly with the help of friends on the internet I managed to pick out some bits relevant to my beloved hobby. I am horried that this document could impact on the nations angling community yet no real attempt was made by DEFRA to make this document accesible to the avearge person. Also I feel rather let down that except from a little information on your DEFRA website no real attempt was made to engage the countries 2 million sea anglers in this consultation. If I hadnt sought the information myself I would never have known about the marine bill. So what about the rest of the sea anglers who dont even know about your Bill ? Where was the poster in the angling shop ?? where was the flyer at the end of the pier ?? where was the article you placed in sea angler magazine to let us all know about your bill ?? There wasnt any was there. This is a total disgrace and you have let us down.
Regards - Glenn Kilpatrick
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Topic: My Response To The Marine Bill (Read 184 times)