Amazing news - anglers are actually given a chance to vote!!

[John D]

Hi everybody.

I have just heard some absolutely amazing news within the past couple of days.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland have started a consultation process, the results of which will determine whether or not the bass laws in the south are replicated in the North. As per usual the commercial fishermen's press have been widely informed about this process whereby up until now not one single angling press agency has a clue that this is going on. Therefore anglers are starting with a disrespectful and unfair disadvantage. But anglers actually have a very real, rare and unique opportunity to act with guaranteed results if they get behind it in good numbers! It doesn't matter where you're from and it's so easy to do the thing that needs to be done. All you need to do is open the attached word file, write the word 'Agree' six times on the form, type in your name and the date then send it off to the specified e-mail address. It’s important that you agree to all the points on the form if you want the Northern Ireland bass legislation to be the same as in the south and their bass stocks protected for anglers.

This might not seem like a big deal to some of you guys but believe me it is! Take the following points into consideration.

This is probably the very first time anywhere in European history that anglers get to play a very direct role in the management of a marine fish species - please DO NOT let this opportunity pass us by!!!
If the law is passed up North it then makes it much more difficult for any Minister to go and change the laws in the South.
If the law is not passed up North then it will undermine our efforts to protect our current laws in the South.
If you're any way interested in the development and progress of Ireland as a whole then it further strengthens the growing and improving relationship between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Yours faithfully,
John D.

[Determined Dan]

brillant news . thats my vote sent. all the best with it.

[saving private brian]

i think this is brilliant.once again the north and south r bonding together like neva before.its great to see the fisheries laws the same as much as the fone networks,gas services,electricty networks (etc) that will be in the coming years.we r a beautiful island so lets protect our fishing industry together.

[wilky83]

A brilliant idea my vote is sent, but a close season from may 15th to august 15th up north if the vote is won!

[red]

i havent read the proposal properly as i havent had time yet but a lot of people mentioned its 15th may-15th august but the form says its till 15th june. i wouldnt agree with it if it was august, our main point in keeping the comercials away from the bass was tourism, and most of them come here during our so called summer. it would be madness for us to agree for the north to shut it for most of the summer, the south could follow these guidlines and the tackle shops, guides, B&B's etc that we were telling the politicians we were trying to protect, would loose an absolute fortune.
ill also be putting on the form in the comments section that i reckon the minimum keeping size should be at least 45cms and a maximum size of 55cms.

[Tanglerat]

Consultation paper says 15th June. Where does 15th august come from?

[doggie3131]

done

[JAMMYJOEY]

It's about time ! I've also contacted DARD to ask them if there are any plans to introduce a no commercial fishing zone around our shore. Anywhere between 5 - 10 miles would do and up to 30 would be great. Angling needs to be seen for the boost to our economy that it can provide and it's time that the commercial lobby were made to go a bit further afield to look for their fish instead of lifting them off the doorstep.

[Davebouy]

Done.

[The Austrian]

done

[red]

Consultation paper says 15th June. Where does 15th august come from?

dunno, ive seen a few posts on this and a few people have mentioned the 15th of august. think i saw it on the irish bass facebook page too.
ill have a proper read off it tomorrow and print/sign it then

[John D]

Hi lads.

Many thanks to all of you who have sent in your vote.

Just for the record I would like to point out that the closed season until the 15th August is simply a bad typing error.

The closed season up North is planned to be from May 15th until June 15th just like the South!

And while I am writing here can I ask you all to please bring this vote to the attention of all anglers that you know, not just bass anglers or even sea anglers. I believe this opportunity for anglers in general to have a direct say is too good of an opportunity to miss out on. So tell the world if you can

Tight lines,
John D.

[Donnyboy1]

I had replied in the other thread but I'll put it here also.

Prohibition of fishing for Bass by any means other than rod and line

I think this should be changed, I know its put in place to stop the illegal netters (and I was fuming when I was on the beach last night and saw a huge string of them - most likely to catch the spring tide. And the Bass were hoping around me as I was playing in the waves with my kids) but this terminology also affects recreational spearfishing!

I love bass and fishing for them, sometimes with a rod spinning or bait, sometimes with my boat and sometimes with a speargun. I want to give freelining a go also!

How can the text be modified, as there is a whole spearfishing community that would get behind this if the wording was altered?

Most spear fishermen I know are actually a lot more conversationally minded than the majority of anglers I know, and although its a small enough scene in Ireland its fairly big in the UK and mainland Europe. I know all spearfishermen in the north and beyond will support this but only if the above is changed to be more accurate to eliminate netting specifically.

Anyway, that's just my thoughts, What do ye reckon?

[John D]

I also posted this in the other thread but I think I'd better post here too for the benefit of the wider public domain.

Hi Dannyboy,

I don't think having the wording changed is going to happen unfortunately because this is a Government document.
In saying that though, the consultation process could really do with all spear fishermen's support and your support too please. High numbers is the only way that the submissions from anglers is going to outnumber the submissions from commercial fishermen.
Can I safely assume that you'd prefer no commercial fishing (including no spear fishing) but higher numbers of Bass for angling than commercial fishing (including spear fishing) with lower numbers of Bass?

But that's not to say that spear fishing is not allowed under the new laws, I actually just don't know.
Perhaps the best thing to do would be to write 'I Agree' to all the proposals on the submission and in the 'Any other comments' box write about your desire to be allowed spear fish?

Please support this consultation process and tell as many anglers of all backgrounds to lend their support.

Many thanks and tight lines,
John D.

[Donnyboy1]

Done earlier today on all counts John

Most of the Irish spearfishermen will do the same also I imagine, and most likely a lot of UK (both NI and mainland) spearfishermen will do the same also (and there is also a lot of discussion on the spearfishing forums about this), or at least most have expressed their support of these measures... just not the rod and reel only part.

Incidentally I don't think there is such a thing of commercial spearfishing, or apenea (breath hold) fishing or foraging. Spearfishing is generally not allowed on scuba (as its perceived as unfair) so no fear there either.

Hopefully shore or boat anglers can see the spearfishermen are not the bad guys and then we can all focus on the illegal non conservation entities out there! If any shore fishermen can include a little that its the illegal netters, people who take schoolies and people who exceed the 24hr bag limit that need to be targeted not all non rod and reel users.

[John D]

Good point Dannyboy. I'll speak nicely of you spear fishermen

Thanks,
John D.

[hugo]

It's a very good point, especially since one of the grounds of the main argument is the benefit to tourism, and diving/spearfishing is definitely growing.

But once the general motion is accepted by the authorities, the fine details can be varied by way of an addendum or a supplementary ministerial order, this happens all the time with legislation. They could tag on a permission for recreational spearfishing subject to the same limits as anglers. There's a remote chance that some poachers might try to take it up, but frankly, the few I knew would hardly be able to get into the bath...

[John D]

[teacher]

Thanks John. That's done. Took about 1 minute. Time well spent.

[marcocork]

Done.

Thanks well done !!!