Stuie Posted February 23, 2016 Report Posted February 23, 2016 Tuesday, 23rd February, 2016 Reminder to Specimen and Species anglers of bass rule changes for 2016 Specimen anglers and species hunters are being reminded to return all bass alive to the sea from now until July 1st 2016 in line with the EU conservation measures for 2016. The Angling Trust has agreed to implement a ‘measure & release’ rule for anglers who wish to enter bass caught into its popular Sea Specimen Awards Scheme between now and July 1st 2016. This rule will allow specimen fish to be recorded based on the total length of bass allowing anglers fishing from the shore, or without access to certified scales at the point of capture of a specimen fish, to measure fish before returning them alive to the sea. Specimen weights have been converted into lengths using the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network's (SSACN) Give Fish A Chance online converter. The changes to the scheme will begin immediately and the rules of the scheme will be amended accordingly. Anglers competing in the Angling Trust’s popular Species Hunt challenge are also being reminded to return all bass caught untilJuly 1st. Any pictures of bass entered that look to be dead or taken away from the point of capture will not be accepted. Recreational anglers have always sort to preserve stocks of all species of fish and many years ago formulated a 'catch & release' scheme for both boat and shore competitions. More recently the Specimen Awards Scheme introduced a ‘weighed at sea’ category to allow anglers to return protected or threatened species that would have previously been required to be weighed on land to claim a Specimen Award. The inclusion of ‘measure & release’ in the Sea Specimen Award Scheme reflects a legal requirement for bass caught by recreational anglers to be returned during the first six months of 2016 as well as the hard-fought campaign by the Angling Trust to allow the 'catch & release' of bass during this period. From July 1st until the end of 2016 recreational anglers will be allowed to retain one bass per day. ENDS --------------------------------------------------------------------- Further information: Anglers wishing to make a claim for a specimen bass can buy a durable bass measuring tape for only £3 from the Bass Anglers' Sportfishing Society (BASS) website. The Specimen Award Scheme is open to individual Angling Trust members and members of Angling Trust member clubs. To find the new specimen lengths for bass in your Region, and for more information about the Sea Specimen Awards Scheme, CLICK HERE. For more information download the Angling Trust’s guide to ‘All the facts about the 2016 EU bass fishing measures’. Contacts: Eric Gerry, Specimen Award Scheme Administrator, email:ericgerry@aol.com James Lewis, Angling Trust Regional Officer and Species Hunt Administrator, email: james.lewis@anglingtrust.net Picture: Credit: Matt Powell, Fishing and Foraging Wales Angling Trust: The Angling Trust is the national representative and governing body for angling in England. It is united in a collaborative relationship with Fish Legal, a separate membership association using the law to protect fish stocks and the rights of its members throughout the UK. Joint membership packages with Fish Legal are available for individuals, clubs, fisheries and other categories. Find out all about the Angling Trust and its work atwww.anglingtrust.net or call us on 01568 620447 Quote
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