MCZ's on Countryfile

[charlieannear]

It's on right now on BBC1, so it will be available on iPlayer later.  I'll add a link to it when it's available...

[Adam F]

'Not enough evidence on the 100+ rejected zones'

 

No.... What you really mean is that commercial pressure was greater in these areas as opposed to enough evidence.

[charlieannear]

Sorry for this next rant. I got a bit annoyed watching that...

 

The Brixham scallopers were incredible (quotes paraphrased).

• "It's been going on for generations, it's OK"- Not the way that you do it it hasn't, and it really isn't OK.
• "Where we do it it's only sand and stones, there's nothing else there to damage, no corals or anything"- Exactly!  There isn't anything else because scalloping using towed gear has smashed everything else to bits, and it is done so often that nothing on the seabed gets the chance to re-establish. If it was stopped, within a few years there would be all sorts of stuff on this ground which at the moment is only sand and stones.  It would be a richer fishery.
• "If they make the area an MCZ, we'd have to go to someone else's ground"- Or how about trying something sustainable?

Do these people think the images from underwater in Lyme Bay are fabricated?

 

I imagine that this is the kind of argument that some people had in the last century when the National Trust, National Parks, Nature Reserves, SSSI's, AOONB's, etc started to be established.

I wonder what our countryside would be like now without them.

I expect this is the kind of arguments which some farmers had when they were told to stop using DDT and defoliant, and stop ripping out hedges, and stop filling the rivers with nitrate run off.

I wonder what our countryside would be like now if these practices hadn't been stopped.
 

Sorry, I feel better now.

[Adam F]

I did the same mate. I was ranting around the living room too!

 

As you say, he wasn't the best spokesperson was he.

 

I appreciate commercial pressures and I know it's easily for us who go and catch a few sustainable table fish to be holier than thou... Most people can't do this and need to buy fish... And with the recent upsurge in TV chefs its En vogue.... But just because 'that's the way it's always been' it doesn't make it right.

 

Hanging used to be the 'way it's always been' and than doesn't happen anymore.

 

I've dived both Lyme bay and the Lulworth banks extensively and I can tell you he is talking utter bo$$ocks... These areas are not sand and stone they are small reefs, ledges and banks covered in hard and soft coral and invertebrates. The areas that have been scallop dredged need to be seen to be beloved. They are like deserts with oasis around them. NOTHING is left... Nothing at all.

[Paul J]

Look what happened to the coal miners- why do commercials think they are so special?

[ChrisE]

I entirely agree with all of the senitements above.  I once tried to run a similar argument on WSF and got so fed up with the ignorance and abuse that it attracted from commercial fishermen that I no longer post there on conservation matters.  A true dialogue of the deaf ....

[johnt]

To be fare some of the evidence that I've read is laughable. Also there are plenty out there pushing for MCZ's who want to stop ALL fishing and certainly do not differentiate between commercial and recreational. Luckily Reference Sites (no fishing at all) are few and far between so far but only because most were rejected. As usual anglers are caught in the middle. Personally I trust the Eco types less than the commercials.    

[Paul J]

I'd like to understand why so many are anti MCZ's, it seems everyone was behind HFW's campaign to reduce discards but totally went against him on the MCZ issue.Why?

 

I understand there has to be a good reason to introduce one and in some cases there has not been sufficient evidence.

I understand the point where people are wary of the eco brigade.

I understand the commercials are resistant to change and only look at the short term gain/loss

I understand why people think its divers trying to get places to themselves

 

But why are so many recreational anglers against the MCZ's? is it just a perceived loss of freedom? unnecessary restrictions and a mistrust of government intentions?

 

PJ

[Rob]

Indeed pockets of well populated and varied species can not be bad, so what if it disrupts angling in the short term, people need to put on the binoculars and take off the reading glasses!

[great white]

A few well stocked and protected areas may well be one of the best ways to protect a small piece of our fish stocks.

 

I have not looked into this too closely, but agree that RSA's are being short sighted if they stand against this just on principle.

 

Charlie

[Matt]

Perhaps they should have a tax on their damage to the seabed. Scollops arnt a breadline food source so i see no reason why the endconsumer shouldnt pay.