EU Monitoring of Recreational Fisheries (Article 47)

[rebelfisherman26]

yes glad to see someone thinking the way i do my self.
have been pushing on one local canadate and have a senator on board aswell this past couple of months, on the issue AND YES THANKS BOYS I HAVE BEEN GETTING ALOT OF INFO FROM HERE AND I THANK EVERY ONE FOR THERE INFObig question are we going to vote the same egits in again but we have to find the happy medium and not to fall out with our inshore fishermen for i was once one myself and i hope people dont have short memories and forget all the angling outings and competions we all had around the coast and hiried the boats and all the sessions and crac

[rebelfisherman26]

WHO IS OUR VOICE to represent us and fight for our rights on the forth comming article 47 issue due for descision in jan09 i think they might want to make a move SOON . I would gladly PAY MEMBERSHIP TO ANY ORGINISATION THAT WOULD REPRESINT AND VOICE THE OPINIONS OF SEA ANGLERS THROUGH OUT THE COUNTRY.AND IF there is none we will need to do it ourselfes

[Ashley Hayden]

I also would love to know the answer to that question. Maybe I have lived under a stone for too long. It is not in my nature to undermine those who might be doing this important and necessary job, and for all I know they could be doing a great job. But I have a good radar system, and keep my ear close to the gound, and unfortunately (fully accepting that it could be me) I do not hear or see anything substantial.

So please. Who is representing my needs as an angler and dealing with the primary issue that is effecting all of sea angling, namely lack of fish? I hear nothing, so I assume nothing. Please enlighten me, I'm open minded, easy going, and more than willing even to lend a hand.

With no Codling worth talking about on our beaches other than odd isolated catches, why not mark 2009 as the year that all sea anglers came together once and for all, and got motivated for the good of the sport and the wider marine environment.

[Ashley Hayden]

The point is being missed here. There are no fish due to mismanagement. Those who mismanaged are fisheries are now trying to rectify the situation by "further misguided management of our fisheries".

The answer is to build up stocks again and then implement a sustainable and thought out management plan. Sea anglers, in fact all stakeholders (by which I mean all those interested in the marine environment) can play a part in this. But to do so the lobby needs to organise now, or the mismanagers will implement this crazy unworkable article 47.

To me, (and I am open to being corrected), sea angling organisations have moulded to lack of fish, witness reduced size limits, as against rallying to preserve what we once had, by offering realistic alternative solutions to overfishing.

[uvox]

I've written to all my constituency TDs, the senators I know personally, and to the two hopefuls who have already put their local election manifestos, sorry, I mean Christmas Cards, into my letter box three weeks ago.

As I see it, I'd bet most politicians, local and national, don't even know Article 47 exists, so the first step is to ask them to explain it to me, the implications, and what position they have on this. I'll post any replies I get if you're interested.

It's not just a question of what body will represent anglers, but of representing yourself as a citizen who fishes first... please don't leave it to the next guy to at least contact one of your local TDs or councillors, write that letter to the local or national paper, or win letter of the week on seascapes...

[dogfish]

It is alleglly the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers

[uvox]

[quote="uvox"]I've written to all my constituency TDs, the senators I know personally, and to the two hopefuls who have already put their local election manifestos, sorry, I mean Christmas Cards, into my letter box three weeks ago.
[/quote]

And Dick "Is that a gun in your pocket or are you just pleased to see me? Oh, it IS a gun." Roche too.

[rebelfisherman26]

ya would be very interested to see how ya get on have also been trying to contact our local radio station highland radio but they seem to be a bit aferaid .political infulance

[uvox]

Will do.

In the best Wexford tradition (where I am now), it's time to get the pike from the thatch (generally though coarse fish keeps better in a freezer) and evoke the memory of 1798...

[rebelfisherman26]

Have wrote a letter to the federation council and no reply yet will up date the topic when and if I get any info

[Tanglerat]

It is alleglly the Irish Federation of Sea Anglers

Then we're in trouble.

And I mean no disrespect to the IFSA, either nationally or locally, when I say that. There are some very very good active campaigners within the ranks of the IFSA, who can be found on this site and elsewhere. These are guys that I have a lot of admiration and respect for.

However, my impression of the IFSA is that it is an organisation that is dedicated to organising matches and comps. And fair play to them, they're very good and successful at that.

The IFSA represents only it's own members, not the general angler at large. We need either the IFSA to refocus their attentions, or we need a completely new organisation that does not do comps/matches, but that focuses instead on conservation/anglers rights etc.

I don't want this to be an IFSA bashing threat. Nor should it be about debating the pro's/cons of the IFSA. That's not this site's function. This subject is much too serious for that. And if it tends that way, I'll be first to lock/delete it myself.

So, if not the IFSA, then who?

[uvox]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opi ... 67148.html

Today's Irish Times editorial on annual EU quota regulation negotiations:

[quote]As a small, fish-rich State, we should welcome that development. The initiative should not be derailed because of a proposal to include pleasure angling within the compass of conservation. The recreational sector is now so large in Europe – and stocks so stressed – that catches by anglers are affecting endangered species. In some instances, undersized fish are being sold to commercial outlets. Because of this trend, licensing and catch controls already apply to pleasure angling in the US and Australia. Initial proposals from the EU Commission affecting anglers appear to be unworkable, but they can be modified to ensure compliance and ease of enforcement. All fishermen have a duty to co-operate.[/quote]

[Mohawk]

Tanglerat your dead right this is way too big for the IFSA alone and as you said they only represent their own members, who are only a fraction of the huge amount of anglers who will be affected. This effects everyone from the once in awhile mack basher to international competition anglers. I think all anglers need to have a united voice and that is where the likes of IFSA and EFSA etc could play their part. May-be it's time to form a group to unite anglers for the sole purpose of RULE 47.

This could have serious effects on accommodation, tackle suppliers, charter boats, boat sales, angling publications the list is endless so they are more voices than just anglers that could be relied upon for support!

I haven't heard any more good bad or indifferent on the subject has anyone else?

[dogfish]

However, my impression of the IFSA is that it is an organisation that is dedicated to organising matches and comps. And fair play to them, they're very good and successful at that.

I agree with you Tanglerat,I am not here to "bash" the IFSA as know a lot of the committee members involved BUT The IFSA were formed to promote the sport of Sea Angling and are therefore the main Voice of the Irish Sea Angler along with the Central Fishiery Board. The National Federation of Sea Anglers in England are both Promoters and Lobbyists for angling in England,So in my opinon the IFSA along with CFB is the voice of Sea Anglers in Ireland.
There is a Joint assoccation in Ireland where the Game,Course and Sea anglers not sure what it is called i think it is Angling Ireland Initative (AII) stand to be corrected.

[jd]

I think you are thinking of the Angling Council of Ireland. This is what is recognised by the Sports Council.
There is a proposal for a full time official, in the mean time Tom Lillis is the acting EO.

[uvox]

I've said this before, but why are you waiting for any organisation to represent you? There's a local election coming up AND a referendum on Lisbon. Get on to your local and national representatives. There is no point in campaigning for this in six months time. Plus, effectively what you need to campaign for is a reasonable system that's linked to some enforceable system of credible stock management. It won't be "stopped."

From yesterday's Irish Times:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opi ... 67148.html

"The recreational (fishing) sector is now so large in Europe – and stocks so stressed – that catches by anglers are affecting endangered species. In some instances, undersized fish are being sold to commercial outlets. Because of this trend, licensing and catch controls already apply to pleasure angling in the US and Australia. Initial proposals from the EU Commission affecting anglers appear to be unworkable, but they can be modified to ensure compliance and ease of enforcement. All fishermen have a duty to co-operate."

So far the only thing I have seen from the aforementioned body is the reference to the tourist industry impact (ref: Irish Times Angling Notes 22nd December). And they're not alone in that, with some politicians taking the same line. Excuse me, but the tourist industry has private and state lobby bodies up the ying-yang not only representing its case, and it is also one that priced itself out of business to the extent that a lot of Irish people go abroad on holidays. What a misguided strategy to ostensibly represent the interests of visitors to this country and business interests instead of tax-paying citizens on the receiving end.

[Ashley Hayden]

Yes boys the Irish Times says it all. The mismanagers are giving themselves a pat on the back at the good work done. To increase quota on already biologically endangered fish stocks.

At least the EU has recognised that bringing the recreational sector into the equation is going to be difficult, but that will not stop the powers that be from implementing regulations nonetheless.

Concientious anglers for years have been practising conservation, and pulling their hair out while the sport they love and the wider marine environment has been mined for profit. Please all who might read this blog, sea anglers are being pulled into something that was not of our making, like as if we are in some way responsible for the emptying of the seas. I for one refuse to be tarred with that brush. I will help in the solution but it will have to be on terms far removed from what the establishment is going to lay on our doorstep.

The end game is in sight, so again I ask, Is their anyone going to come together and fight for what is right. If this site is the home of sea angling in Ireland, then let the members show their mettle. I for one will throw my hat in the ring.

Yours...

[Ashley Hayden]

Uvox, My experience of individual representation on particular issues, whether local, national, or as in the case of fish stocks "International", is the official letter ackknowledging your concern, then nothing. A collective response is the only answer. If the members of this forum are serious about their sport and the wider marine environment, and there is no doubt from responses to this debate and others that intelligent and concerned people do exist around the country, then pool together and lets get some momentum on this...

[rebelfisherman26]

yes you are all right, no disrepect to any body that represents anglers
and promotes fishing of all types
but here is an idea to run by you all the game anglers have fista and tafi who represent themI am a member of both and am attending a meeting and am putting foward a proposal to have fista lobby on behalf of sea anglers and fight for our cause cause in my eyes we need to do somethining and do it fast i will look foward to more replies please help me
I have a son and hopefully more to come let them enjoy the same childhood and fun i had how many of ya all sneeked of with your rods all the fun of it and proble still do
we do need some regulation but let us tell the goverment and advise them on it not them telling us all the time not the return of the days of the landlord please

[Ashley Hayden]

For me it is not so much about anglers rights, as the right for all to have a fully functioning and healthy marine environment. I too would love my grand children to witness what I did in my childhood. I am only 48 now, the seas when I was introduced to fishing were teeming with life, and that was after 25 years of post war industrial fishing.

A new plan has to be put in place, commercial as well as public interests have to be addressed in that new scheme. This will only be achieved by a strong united lobby in support of the marine environment in total. So a uniting of disperate groups who seek a common goal is in principal a step in the right direction...