Bass being commercially exploited again!?

[Tomaszek]

Hey look - it might be worth trying to get some data (figures and numbers) from MSC.

http://www.fishonline.org/advice/avoid/?item=46

Avoid eating seabass captured by pelagic trawls. Trawl fisheries target spawning and pre-spawning fish; are responsible for high levels of dolphin by-catch, and deplete stocks available for inshore and recreational fisheries.

What do you think? I will shoot them an email and see what happens.

[Pat]

A - I dont have an expert opinion!

In the absence of anything coming from SAI - Here is one idea in relation to data from this site

In shore angling reports there is a template as far as I’m aware
Those templates have headings including time and species number of anglers etc
Extract the data from the entire database which references ‘Bass’
Isolate each unique session from the data –

On average an angler spends four hours fishing and most will incorporate at least four of the following

1. Travel costs – fuel
2. Bait costs –
3. Gear costs
4. Food costs
5. Possible accommodation costs

Calculate the average that an angler spends on the above items and then extrapolate the costs over the data extracted from the database above for all incidences and number of anglers incurred

SAI represents a small portion of the anglers in Ireland and angling reports an even smaller proportion but it’s a start and its real data from a genuine real source over considerable time and instances.

It might mean something who knows – what concerns me is the amount of activity on this site based around catching Bass, talking about them, when and how, and gear and all that, even arguing about them, but when it comes to down to it……..

Here's a stat for you: According to the Failte Ireland document 'A New Strategy for Irish Angling Tourism,' '....by 2006, Ireland was attracting approximately 103,000 overseas anglers,....expenditure by overseas anglers in Ireland is estimated at €66m.' In the full strategy document, which I can't get access to yet, there are more detailed statistics. It might be possible to extract an estimate of the proportion of these anglers who partake in bass angling and, thereby, their spend and, consequently, value added to the economy on an annual basis.

[Pat]

Ah, found something.

In 2004 Failte Ireland and the Fisheries Board commissioned TNS mrbi to conduct a study of anglers in key source markets. Key source markets for research were: UK, Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and the USA.

This research found that, of our overseas anglers, approx 30,000 were visiting for the purposes of sea angling.

Using statistical sampling, they further found that, of these, 45% were mainly here for the purpose of fishing for Bass.

Combining these figures with those above from the Strategy for Irish Angling Tourism, it could be said that Bass fishing generates €8.65M per annum in foreign currency revenue (or added value) for the economy.

Now that's something you can use while talking to the politcians.

[captain AHAB]

Ah, found something.

In 2004 Failte Ireland and the Fisheries Board commissioned TNS mrbi to conduct a study of anglers in key source markets. Key source markets for research were: UK, Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and the USA.

This research found that, of our overseas anglers, approx 30,000 were visiting for the purposes of sea angling.

Using statistical sampling, they further found that, of these, 45% were mainly here for the purpose of fishing for Bass.

Combining these figures with those above from the Strategy for Irish Angling Tourism, it could be said that Bass fishing generates €8.65M per annum in foreign currency revenue (or added value) for the exchequer.

Now that's something you can use while talking to the politcians.

brilliant stuff man,real progress

[beachbuddy]

Nice stuff Pat,
that will go nicely in my letter to my td down the road along with some photos of my damaged car tyres .Hopefully that kind of info will make the point of long term income to the economy rather than a short term gain.
Just out of curiousity has anyone heard any rumours on the reopening of salmon drift net fishing,as its been mentioned more than once to me down this neck of the woods by 2 EX salmon netsmen who used fish cork harbour and still hold licences to do so
Keep the info coming

[Pat]

On average an angler spends four hours fishing and most will incorporate at least four of the following

1. Travel costs – fuel
2. Bait costs –
3. Gear costs
4. Food costs
5. Possible accommodation costs

Calculate the average that an angler spends on the above items…..

Just developing Jim's idea a bit further.....

There are 3,073 registered users of Sea Angling Ireland. From a statistical sampling point of view this could be construed as a representative sample of the sea angling population as a whole.

Valid marketing research could be conducted by doing a poll of SAI users, either by pm or e-mail. Users could be asked:
- Do they fish for bass?
- What are there are their annual costs incurred over the following
categories:
- Travel/Fuel costs
- Bait/Gear costs
- Food costs
- Accommodation costs
- How many bass do they catch in a season (average)?
- How many bass do they keep (average)? What size (average)?

From this data the revenue generated by this small population and the tonnage caught & retained could be calculated. This could be projected onto the entire Irish Sea Angling population. Figures for the latter could be obtained from, say, Irish Angler magazine. Surely, they have conducted market research of their own to ascertain the potential size of their target market.

To put a few figures on this by way of example. Suppose it was ascertained that 45% of SAI users fished for bass; that they spent on average €600 per annum; that they retained 5 fish per annum, averaging 4lbs, and it was further ascertained that there were 100k sea anglers in Ireland; then, it could be extrapolated that the domestic bass fishery (outside of the 'export' element calculated above) was worth €27.0M for 40.82 tonnes harvested or €661,386 per tonne. Now would the commercial industry get that price per tonne? Would the economy get that return per tonne?

[captain AHAB]

On average an angler spends four hours fishing and most will incorporate at least four of the following

1. Travel costs – fuel
2. Bait costs –
3. Gear costs
4. Food costs
5. Possible accommodation costs

Calculate the average that an angler spends on the above items…..

Just developing Jim's idea a bit further.....

There are 3,073 registered users of Sea Angling Ireland. From a statistical sampling point of view this could be construed as a representative sample of the sea angling population as a whole.

Valid marketing research could be conducted by doing a poll of SAI users, either by pm or e-mail. Users could be asked:
- Do they fish for Bass?
- What are there are their annual costs incurred over the following
categories:
- Travel/Fuel costs
- Bait/Gear costs
- Food costs
- Accommodation costs
- How many Bass do they catch in a season (average)?
- How many Bass do they keep (average)? What size (average)?

From this data the revenue generated by this small population and the tonnage caught & retained could be calculated. This could be projected onto the entire Irish Sea Angling population. Figures for the latter could be obtained from, say, Irish Angler magazine. Surely, they have conducted market research of their own to ascertain the potential size of their target market.

To put a few figures on this by way of example. Suppose it was ascertained that 45% of SAI users fished for Bass; that they spent on average €600 per annum; that they retained 5 fish per annum, averaging 4lbs, and it was further ascertained that there were 100k sea anglers in Ireland; then, it could be extrapolated that the domestic Bass fishery (outside of the 'export' element calculated above) was worth €27.0M for 40.82 tonnes harvested or €661,386 per tonne. Now would the commercial industry get that price per tonne? Would the economy get that return per tonne?

now were gettin places,this is the exact type of stuff when accurately put together that even our crooked bozo politicians cant argue with

[JimH]

Thats it Pat

the data exists in the database of SAI - any good script writer should be able to pull it out drop it into MS excel - and do the math - one hour at the most - its a valid true data source that actually exists for a start......

any other existing forums.....or similar sources?

[SandTiger]

Hey look - it might be worth trying to get some data (figures and numbers) from MSC.

http://www.fishonline.org/advice/avoid/?item=46

Avoid eating seabass captured by pelagic trawls. Trawl fisheries target spawning and pre-spawning fish; are responsible for high levels of dolphin by-catch, and deplete stocks available for inshore and recreational fisheries.

What do you think? I will shoot them an email and see what happens.

Think cetacean Tommy. Get the Irish dolphin huggers on-board and you have another branch of supporters. You could even make Sea Shepherd aware, as I'm sure Paul Watson would relish the cause.

[SandTiger]

Just developing Jim's idea a bit further.....

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications ... 31154700/0

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=drew+r ... =firefox-a

Hope these are of use.

[JimC]

The “angler” is not alone on this one.

The Fishery boards (all) are against the proposal and their submissions will/do reflect this. I am told that the Marine Inst. are against as well. Don’t know if Bord Failte are putting a submission but would be surprised if they did not.

Many angling-tourism related people and organisations have already contacted the politicians involved and their local representatives.

It would be nice to think that we had one unifying organisation but it seems unlikely such is the diversity of the stakeholders.

It is important to do your bit as an individual as well as a group.
Send in your emails – contact your local organisations – It is the least we can do.

The workings of politics is strange…Votes are what counts… not necessarily what is right or fair!

Has anybody been speaking with IFSA & EFSA? The apparent silence is deafening!

[SandTiger]

Has anybody been speaking with IFSA & EFSA? The apparent silence is deafening!

Don't forget http://www.eaa-europe.org/ Jim

[Mohawk]

You could even make Sea Shepherd aware, as I'm sure Paul Watson would relish the cause.

Hope he leaves his newest secret team members and their "doughy vessel" behind though there're all we need down here on the south coast tiggs

Any word from IFSA and EFSA etc as others asked, has anyone contacted either body to get their position on the matter

[SandTiger]

You could even make Sea Shepherd aware, as I'm sure Paul Watson would relish the cause.

Hope he leaves his newest secret team members and their "doughy vessel" behind though there're all we need down here on the south coast tiggs

Any word from IFSA and EFSA etc as others asked, has anyone contacted either body to get their position on the matter

They'll be short handed without the Ady Gil to conduct ramming operations

[Pat]

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications ... 31154700/0

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=drew+r ... =firefox-a

Hope these are of use.

These are excellent. A condensed version of the online questionnaire is a format that could be adopted under the auspices of SAI.

[SandTiger]

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications ... 31154700/0

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=drew+r ... =firefox-a

Hope these are of use.

These are excellent. A condensed version of the online questionnaire is a format that could be adopted under the auspices of SAI.

Thought you'd appreciate them

I presume Tommy can work MySQL?

[Tomaszek]

I presume Tommy can work MySQL?

Sure I can. Let me finish with the posters, first. They should be ready today. Hopefully will post on here this evening.

[teacher]

EAA are aware of this.

Add Irish Seal Sanctuary to the list of organisation that have made a submission against the proposal.

[JimH]

Not wishing to blur the focus - there might be an opportunity here - another 'congregation of anglers' en masse so to speak

SALMON WATCH IRELAND SEMINAR
2.30 pm Saturday 30th. January 2010

LIMERICK STRAND HOTEL
Ennis Road (at Sarsfield Bridge)
LIMERICK

WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR OUR SPRING SALMON?

Dr. Philip McGinnity
University College Cork

Dr. Niall O’Maoileidigh
Marine Institute

Dr. Paddy Gargan
Central Fisheries Board

The Seminar is an opportunity for both Anglers and Conservationists to hear the views of the leading Irish Scientists on issues affecting the Salmon in its struggle for survival and to understand why rivers are Closed, Open for Catch and Release or have a Surplus.Topics to be covered include the distinguishing genetics of multi-sea winter salmon, the current state of the stocks and what might be done to enhance stocks. As you can see, all of our top marine scientists will be giving a presentation and you might seriously consider travelling.

[Mohawk]

there might be an opportunity here
SALMON WATCH IRELAND SEMINAR

I wouldn't complicate matters with Salmon anglers when push comes to shove they are fighting another fight entirely! It would also make it sound an almost anti all types of commercial fishing campaign and may only serve to weaken the bass side