Bass being commercially exploited again!?

[TropicThunder]

Very informative JohnD. Thank you for posting that.

Just looking through some oireachtas debates, the FIF seem to be biting down like a badger on this issue.
http://debates.oireachtas.ie/DDebate.as ... All&Page=3

Mr. Gerard O’Flynn: Two of the points raised by members are important. Deputy Connick asked about the stock situation and about consultation with fishermen. I and my colleagues acknowledge the importance of the industry-science consultation committee established by the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Tony Killeen. That committee has a great deal of potential because a gap needs to be closed between the real time experience of fishermen and what is reflected in scientific assessments. We attach considerable importance to that committee and the capacity to collate the tacit information on what fishermen experience on a day-to-day basis. For sure, there is great frustration among fishermen over the delay in having what they see on a day-to-day basis feed into scientific reports that would ultimately inform the whole decision-making process.

I do not want to miss the opportunity to refer to sea-bass fisheries. Many members will have seen sea-bass on menus in various restaurants but I assure them that this is imported, farmed fish. The problem with sea-bass is that our European colleagues, particularly our French and UK colleagues, are allowed in some instances to fish for sea-bass up to six miles from our coast. However, there is a complete ban on Irish trawlers fishing for sea-bass. We have consistently asked the Minister to consider this regulation with a view to opening up the sea-bass fishery to the Irish.
Chairman: Information Zoom Why is there a ban?

Mr. Gerard O’Flynn: It concerns the conservation of stock and a strong angling lobby. We recognise the importance of the fishery in terms of tourism and angling but see some room for manoeuvre in terms of allowing for a fishery beyond six or 12 miles from our coast which should not cause any harm to the stock. We fear that if a quota or total allowable catch, TAC, were imposed on the fishery, other countries would be seen to have a record while we would not.
.

[teacher]

Some updates on the campaign are now being posted on the IrishBass.org website:

http://www.irishbass.org/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=66

Apologies for the lack of information at the moment. We're trying to do a lot with very little money and time.

Hoping to get update emails out this week to anyone who has signed up.

[JimC]

Just wondering….
I know that the Stand at the Angling Show was sponsored by Mara Media. I take it that the stand at the City West is being sponsored by the people running that show.
There have been posters produced and printed (Tomi did the artwork).
There were leaflets produced and handed out at the show.
Who paid for the printing?...

[teacher]

Who paid for the printing?...

A member of IrishBass.org is carring the cost at the moment, I guess on behalf of IrishBass.org. At some point we need to consider raising funds but it has to be transparent and accountable and that's why we have't done it already.

Doing a rough calculation, three or four of the original people behind IrishBass have spent ballpark over 2,500 euro over the last few years on various things.

[teacher]

Doing a rough calculation, three or four of the original people behind IrishBass have spent ballpark over 2,500 euro over the last few years on various things.

Also, I guess we've put a similar number or more man hours into it!

[John D]

I would just like to echoe one of teacher's points in relation to the group 'irishbass'.

There have been a number of updates made to the site that we would like people to view.
We would also like people to take the opportunity to become a friend of 'irishbass' by lending the group your name and e-mail address.

Becoming a friend of 'irishbass' increases the level of interest and support that the group desires and deserves.

If you would like more information on what work has been recently carried out by 'irishbass' and would like to become a friend of the group please visit www.irishbass.org

Many thanks,
John D.

[jd]

If anyone else wants some posters to place in their local tackle shops or other prominent places drop me a pm with your details..

[seanie35]

i have 2 batches of 5 blue posters lamenated left over, first 2 people to pm me their address i will post them

[Mick001]

Hi Guys
Just spotted that the ipetitions is also advertised in the Total Sea Fishing Magazine (Feb2010).
I see some of you are having problems getting into the Link, below the link again. I just accessed it and signed the petition...

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/sbbce/

[high low]

Welcome aboard Paul!

It's all up in the air at present due to lack of any concrete information coming from the men in suits! Nobody really knows what's happening.

I wonder do you participate on any angling forums in Holland may-be you can post a link to this thread on them and or post an image of one of Tommy's posters for Dutch anglers that visit Ireland to let their feelings be heard on the issues facing the Irish Bass

Thank you very much Mohawk.

I have written an article (in dutch) on your struggle against the FIF-proposal with a link to the Irishbass website. I've posted this article on a dutch seafishing website and on the forum of the Dutch Seabass federation, of which I am a member.
A lot of fellow dutch anglers have already signed the online petition.

Last week I received a reaction to the letter I wrote to mr. C. Lenihan: "Your correspondence will be brought to the attention of Minister Lenihan as soon as possible."

Keep up the good work lads!

With kind regards,

Paul

P.S.: that fellow next to Matt Hayes in the Youtube-clip looks exactly like my fishing-guide.

[John D]

high low, if you're refering to your guide that you use in Ireland for bass fishing then it probably is your guide because the guy standing beside Matt Hayes in the video is a bass guide here in Ireland!

[high low]

high low, if you're refering to your guide that you use in Ireland for Bass fishing then it probably is your guide because the guy standing beside Matt Hayes in the video is a Bass guide here in Ireland!

Yeah, I know.

[The Austrian]

Very good article posted on WSF from Mike Thrussell

Irish Bass Stocks in Danger
Mike Thrussell 01 February, 2010 09:30:00

When in Ireland last year I became aware that commercial pressure was coming to bear for the bass protection legislation to be lifted. Currently no angler may take more than two bass per day immaterial of whether you’re a sports fisherman, and all commercial bass fishing is prohibited, as I understand it.

This originally innovative legislation, brought in in 1990, has been a massive contributor to the re-establishment of Irish bass stocks and a major player in the large numbers of UK anglers visiting Ireland to enjoy the bass and general sea fishing the country offers.

I understand from Irish anglers that the proposed legislation is already on the Minister’s desk and could be implemented at any time. They also tell me that the information is said to be somewhat based on UK scientific reports on the supposed improved stocks of bass in the Irish Sea. Well I live on the shores of the Irish Sea in Wales and if our bass stocks are on the up, then I’d like to see some proper proof because anglers will tell you this is not the case judging by our overall catch returns! In fact during 2009 bass catches were generally rubbish in the Irish Sea!

mt_irish_bass.jpg

Irish Bass Fishing


News is also reaching me that UK and European anglers are appalled at this possible change in attitude and wish to do what they can to support fellow Irish anglers in their quest to get this inevitably highly damaging legislation binned.

Such is the strength of feeling that many say they will not visit Ireland for any form of sea angling if this legislation is introduced as a form of boycott. Strong words, but I feel heartfelt and not to be underestimated. Given the sheer numbers of sea anglers visiting Ireland, you can also see why hotels, guesthouses and particularly Bed and Breakfast businesses are extremely worried that this legislation, if confirmed, will severely damage business incomes, not to mention the pubs, restaurants, charter boats, tackle shops and small boat hire businesses.

It will also hit the ferry companies who enjoy massive trade from anglers travelling over to Ireland. This comes just at the wrong time for the Swansea/Cork ferry which is scheduled to be reintroduced this summer. It makes you think that if anglers do boycott Ireland in numbers this once highly popular ferry service for those looking to fish the south and southwest of Ireland will be massively handicapped even before it gets to set sail.

Speaking to anglers who regularly travel to Ireland they are hurt and aggrieved that a few commercial fishermen, who will contribute little overall to the Irish economy in the long term, can take precedence over sea anglers who have proven spending power within the Irish economy and tourism industry. A minority of commercial fisherman will gain for a short period of time, but the majority with a long term contribution to make financially will be overlooked. How can that be logic?

Frankly, as someone who’s been travelling to fish and work in Ireland for nearly 30-years and with over a hundred magazine articles published on Irish angling, I’m amazed that after such innovative work previously done and achieved in Ireland regarding fisheries policies over the past two decades, and it is considerable, they consider taking a gargantuan step backwards putting in danger the massive achievements and reputation they’ve worked hard to earn.

It would make slightly more sense if long term fact finding surveys on bass to assess their current stock levels, the interchange between UK and Irish bass stocks which is highly important given the poor bass stocks currently off the Welsh coast, and their migration and feeding patterns were conducted, documented and understood before any legislation in any shape of form be even considered. You only get the one chance to cock it up or get it right when it comes to fish stocks, and fisheries policies over the years have a poor record when it comes to long term protection and sustainability!

mt_irish_bass2.jpg

Typical Irish Bass Law Sign


I would implore the Irish government to first think carefully, then to fully reconsider the real implications of this potential bureaucratic disaster before it’s too late!
If any anglers would like to add their signature to support Irish anglers and get their point over, then you can do so on the following link. I have!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/sbbce/

[bassuk]

i hope someone in your goverment looks at this forum,i am coming over to ireland for the first two weeks in may as i do every year.all in all it will cost me and the wife about £1200. for the ferry a cottage fuel food meals out a pint or two .now i am only one angler who comes twice a year to fish .if they do let the commercial boats fish for bass .can they tell where i can take my money and fish .iceland looks the biz for cod ,or the states for the bass. how many more like me are there, out there how much will you make from the one dead bass it wont be £1000 thats what i pay to catch one for the pot. thats my rant frank all the best lads i hope they see sense then again it might be (no i cant say things like that i will be banned from the forum )

[red]

hi bassuk,
any chance youd send a letter like that to our minister in charge of it all, detailing how much it costs you to come over, accomodation, bait, petrol, spending money, etc. if we got a lash of letters from people asross Europe they might make someone see sense. 1 letter from the likes of you could do more good than 10 from us in Ireland.
heres his address if you can
Tony Killeen,
Harmony Row,
Ennis,
County Clare.
Ireland.

put in your home address cos you will probably get a responce from him. also, if you have any other friends that come over could you ask them to do the same,
thanks a million,
denis/red.

[beachbuddy]

Could'nt agree more Denis,these are the financial FACTS that would make the relevant people sit up and take note.Don't fear though great work has been done by certain people behind the scenes and very soon a survey on what us anglers input to the economy should be available soon on the forum as a pilot survey has just been completed just a bit of fine tuning before its opened to the public forums.
Tight lines

[Danny M.]

Posters are up in:
Hayes fishing shop Wexford Town
Scallans fishing shop Wexford Town
Dannys fishing shop Enniscorthy Town

All said they would voice thier opinions against the introduction of commercial fishing for Bass to their customers.

I will hand in a poster tomorrow to Murphys fishing shop in Wexford Town.

Danny.

[John D]

Hi Bassuk,

I would just like to echoe what denis/red has suggested to you.

A short letter to Minister Conor Lenihan (Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, 29-31 Adelaide Road, Dublin 2, Ireland), Minister Tony Killeen (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food using the address provided in the previous post above) and Minister Martin Cullen (Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, 23 Kildare Street, Dublin 2, Ireland).

I think and feel that these facts and figures you provide would provide a real wake up call and be extremely useful to our cause. All you need to say at the start of your letter is that you feel that bass should be given more protection and not fished for commercially and here are the reasons why - then just write out exactly what you wrote out in your post above.

Yours faithfully,
John D.

[jd]

I'd like to reiterate that a short letter posted to the minister (and your local TDs) is more effective than an email. Certainly follow up with an email.

[jd]

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