Bass Petition

[Andrew Burt]

Hi,
once again there is a lot of politics surrounding the latest ICES (International Council for the Exploratation of the Seas). Anglers and conservationists all over Europe are working hard to prevent a total collapse in the bass stock caused by over fishing. Please read the attached briefing paper and consider signing the petition.

Briefing Paper

http://bit.ly/2fFIKgr

Petition Link via SOS (Save Our Seabass)

http://www.saveourseabass.org/en/send-email/

Direct Link to Government Website

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/172441

 

[Graham Young]

While bass stocks are definately struggling for anglers to blame just commercial bass fishers for the situation is somewhat hypocritical.

According to figures used by the Angling Trust in 2012 anglers caught and kept between 230 and 440 tonnes of bass not an inconsiderable amount considering the falling bass stocks. I don't know how to provide a link to the figures that works but it was put on the trusts site on 27-11-13



I am not posting this in order to persuade anglers not to sign the petition I have signed it myself but things are not as they are being pictured, it needs a concerted effort by both parties.

 

[Andrew Burt]

While bass stocks are definately struggling for anglers to blame just commercial bass fishers for the situation is somewhat hypocritical.

According to figures used by the Angling Trust in 2012 anglers caught and kept between 230 and 440 tonnes of bass not an inconsiderable amount considering the falling bass stocks. I don't know how to provide a link to the figures that works but it was put on the trusts site on 27-11-13



I am not posting this in order to persuade anglers not to sign the petition I have signed it myself but things are not as they are being pictured, it needs a concerted effort by both parties.

Thanks for your reply Graham. The figures you quote are from the Sea Angling 2012 study by CEFAS. It is available on the MMO website, I have had trouble attching a link as well so hopefully this works:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.....marinemanagement.org.uk/seaangling/index.htm

It is irrelevant to the situation today, a lot has happened since. What I will say is that a bag limit of 3 fish per angler was introduced whilst commercial landings continued to rise. Last year recreational anglers had a 6 month catch and release only followed by a one fish per session only bag limit whilst inshore netsman had their quota increased by the UK government. Proposals for 2017 is a monthly catch limit and 6 month C&R closed season. It is not hypocritical to say the netting has caused the crisis, it is the truth. Most sea anglers and organisations such as the AT and BASS are not asking that they do not have limits impossed but that they are fair and will help bass stocks recover and the fishery become sustainable. When taking the advice from ICES they are not saying that the recreational bag limits are unfair or should not be imposed upon them but simply that the government does not ignore the advice once again.

 

[Dave Taylor]

Signed.

 

[Andrew Burt]

Thanks to those who have signed. The petition has now passed 10000 signatures!

 

[Rhys Perry]

Signed.
Doesn't help that seabass is the number 1 trendy choice of fish on practically every restaurant menu these days.

 

[Graham Young]

Thanks for your reply Graham. The figures you quote are from the Sea Angling 2012 study by CEFAS. It is available on the MMO website, I have had trouble attching a link as well so hopefully this works:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.....marinemanagement.org.uk/seaangling/index.htm

It is irrelevant to the situation today, a lot has happened since. What I will say is that a bag limit of 3 fish per angler was introduced whilst commercial landings continued to rise. Last year recreational anglers had a 6 month catch and release only followed by a one fish per session only bag limit whilst inshore netsman had their quota increased by the UK government. Proposals for 2017 is a monthly catch limit and 6 month C&R closed season. It is not hypocritical to say the netting has caused the crisis, it is the truth. Most sea anglers and organisations such as the AT and BASS are not asking that they do not have limits impossed but that they are fair and will help bass stocks recover and the fishery become sustainable. When taking the advice from ICES they are not saying that the recreational bag limits are unfair or should not be imposed upon them but simply that the government does not ignore the advice once again.

Thank you for that Andrew it was information I was unaware of