Bass ban

[Stan]

On the Leinster provincial council website there is mention of a debate between Mick Wallace and Simon Coveney on lifting the bass ban.The link is http://leinster-provincial-council.com/page37.htm

The minister quoted the ban to Wallace and I think that it may be worth clubs / individuals sending him an email on this. The more contact that we can keep with him on this matter the better.

On behalf of the Borough SAC I have sent the following:

Dear Mr.Coveney,

On behalf of the Borough SAC I would like to thank and congratulate you for defending the current ban on commercial bass fishing.
It is marvellous to see such a great resource protected for future generations and of course rod caught bass are worth far more to the country than those caught in a net.

Yours faithfully,


Stan Ryan
Chairman
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Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture , Food and Marine Information, Simon Coveney, if he will undertake new research to determine the stock levels of Irish sea bass in Irish waters with a view to looking at the feasibility of allowing small boats to fish for sea bass for even a small period of the year and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Deputy Simon Coveney: This is a particularly sensitive issue. Irish vessels are currently precluded from landing sea bass under the Bass ( conservation of stocks ) regulation 2006, SI no 230 of 2006, and the Bass (restriction on sale) regulations 2007, SI no. 367of 2007. The complete ban for the commercial fishing of sea bass applies to Irish fishing vessels in all areas. Theses regulations were introduced as a co-ordinated set of measures with sea bass fishing conservations by-laws.

The by-laws impose a bag limit on anglers of two bass in any one period of 24 hours and a ban of fishing for bass during the spawning season from , 15 May – 15 June in any given year

[Tanglerat]

Already discussed here: http://www.sea-angling-ireland.org/bull ... 12&t=39559 Stan, so i'll close off this thread. Good letter to the Minister, other concerned anglers could follow suit.

That reminds me - I emailed Mick Wallace about this in May, but haven't had a reply from him. I suppose he's had other things on his mind since.........